COGSCI 115 MIDTERM EXAM WITH
CORRECT ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECTLY WELL DEFINED ANSWERS
LATEST ALREADY GRADED A+ 2025 - 2026
posterior - ANSWERS-located near or toward the back
dorsal - ANSWERS-in a direction toward the top of the head
or the back
ventral - ANSWERS-in a direction toward the bottom of the
skull or the front surface of the body
lateral - ANSWERS-toward the side of the body, away from
the middle
medial - ANSWERS-toward the middle of the body, away
from the side
,examples of rewiring your brain - ANSWERS-1. driver cuts
you off --> take a deep breath and activate your
parasympathetic nervous system
2. upsetting experience --> think of the feeling of being with
someone who loves you
think of the potential better final outcome it can have
correlation between happiness and social relationship -
ANSWERS-- factor that distinguishes very happy from less
happy people --> social relationships
- happiness in college students --> social support
- on Zimet's scale: 0.71
- students should receive and provide social support
how many pounds is the brain? - ANSWERS-3 lbs
how many neurons does the brain have? - ANSWERS-86
billion
how many synaptic connections does the average neuron
make to other neurons? - ANSWERS-1000 - up to 200,000 in
Purkinje cells
,what percent of the body's oxygen and glucose is used by
the brain? - ANSWERS-20%
Levels of organization of nervous system - ANSWERS-1. cell:
individual neurons
2. tissue: nerves, ganglia
3. organ: brain and spinal cord
4. system: nervous system
soma - ANSWERS-cell body that contains the nucleus
dendrite - ANSWERS-branched extensions attached to the
soma that receive info from neurotransmitters released
from terminal buttons of other neurons
axon - ANSWERS-passes messages away from the cell body
to other neurons, muscles, glands
terminal button - ANSWERS-the bud at the end of a branch
of an axon; forms synapses with another neuron; sends
information to that neuron
, why apply neuroscience to the study of happiness? -
ANSWERS-1. control biases in research based on self-
reported ratings of happiness --> happiness is subjective
2. to discover underlying neural mechanisms of positive and
negative mood
3. enhancing well-being
4. when your mind changes, your brain changes too
growth mindset - ANSWERS-research by Blackwell & Dweck:
minority group who got special module showed dramatic
improvement in study skills
==> growth mindset most beneficial for low income but it's
less likely for them to have it but if they exhibit it, their
academic performance will be high
thoughts sculpt the brain - ANSWERS-- all mental activity
creates new neural structures
- fleeting thoughts, feelings can leave lasting marks on your
brain
- so repeatedly doing small things will lead to big changes
==> self-directed neuroplasticity
CORRECT ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECTLY WELL DEFINED ANSWERS
LATEST ALREADY GRADED A+ 2025 - 2026
posterior - ANSWERS-located near or toward the back
dorsal - ANSWERS-in a direction toward the top of the head
or the back
ventral - ANSWERS-in a direction toward the bottom of the
skull or the front surface of the body
lateral - ANSWERS-toward the side of the body, away from
the middle
medial - ANSWERS-toward the middle of the body, away
from the side
,examples of rewiring your brain - ANSWERS-1. driver cuts
you off --> take a deep breath and activate your
parasympathetic nervous system
2. upsetting experience --> think of the feeling of being with
someone who loves you
think of the potential better final outcome it can have
correlation between happiness and social relationship -
ANSWERS-- factor that distinguishes very happy from less
happy people --> social relationships
- happiness in college students --> social support
- on Zimet's scale: 0.71
- students should receive and provide social support
how many pounds is the brain? - ANSWERS-3 lbs
how many neurons does the brain have? - ANSWERS-86
billion
how many synaptic connections does the average neuron
make to other neurons? - ANSWERS-1000 - up to 200,000 in
Purkinje cells
,what percent of the body's oxygen and glucose is used by
the brain? - ANSWERS-20%
Levels of organization of nervous system - ANSWERS-1. cell:
individual neurons
2. tissue: nerves, ganglia
3. organ: brain and spinal cord
4. system: nervous system
soma - ANSWERS-cell body that contains the nucleus
dendrite - ANSWERS-branched extensions attached to the
soma that receive info from neurotransmitters released
from terminal buttons of other neurons
axon - ANSWERS-passes messages away from the cell body
to other neurons, muscles, glands
terminal button - ANSWERS-the bud at the end of a branch
of an axon; forms synapses with another neuron; sends
information to that neuron
, why apply neuroscience to the study of happiness? -
ANSWERS-1. control biases in research based on self-
reported ratings of happiness --> happiness is subjective
2. to discover underlying neural mechanisms of positive and
negative mood
3. enhancing well-being
4. when your mind changes, your brain changes too
growth mindset - ANSWERS-research by Blackwell & Dweck:
minority group who got special module showed dramatic
improvement in study skills
==> growth mindset most beneficial for low income but it's
less likely for them to have it but if they exhibit it, their
academic performance will be high
thoughts sculpt the brain - ANSWERS-- all mental activity
creates new neural structures
- fleeting thoughts, feelings can leave lasting marks on your
brain
- so repeatedly doing small things will lead to big changes
==> self-directed neuroplasticity
