Examples of Short questions for exams in Cognitive Neuroscience: PYC 4813
Qs: Describe the role of the frontal lobes in emotional functioning with reference to the case of
Phineas Gage
Answer: According to Kalat (2016) The functions of the frontal lobe include the ability to project
future consequences resulting from current actions, the choice between good and bad actions (or
better and best), the override and suppression of socially unacceptable responses, and the
determination of similarities and differences between things or events. Also, the frontal lobes
functions are also working memory (the ability to remember recent events)
Phineas Gage’s encountered an accident at work an iron rod fell into his prefrontal cortex his left
frontal lobe got damaged, after the accident Phineas Gage went from being the best foreman to
being impulsive and making poor emotional decisions also as stipulated by (Kalat, 2016) the
prefrontal cortex situated within the frontal lobe and is important for making decisions hence his
inability to make decisions he also lost his social inhibitions (ignoring the rules of civilized conduct,
being polite), The equilibrium or balance, so to speak, between his intellectual faculties and animal
propensities, seemed to have been destroyed.
**********************************************************************************
Qs: Name three classes of Anti-depressant and give a brief explanation of the routes of action for
each:
Key Words: INHIBITOR↔BLOCK
Answer: Kalat (2016) stated the three classes of anti-depressants as follows:
Tricyclic: Antidepressant drug that blocks the re-uptake of Catecholamines (epinephrine,
norepinephrine, dopamine) and serotonin by presynaptic terminals
Serotonin Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: (SNRI’s) drugs that block the re-uptake of serotonin
and norepinephrine
Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Drugs that block reuptake of serotonin in the presynaptic
terminal.
Qs: Describe the role of the frontal lobes in emotional functioning with reference to the case of
Phineas Gage
Answer: According to Kalat (2016) The functions of the frontal lobe include the ability to project
future consequences resulting from current actions, the choice between good and bad actions (or
better and best), the override and suppression of socially unacceptable responses, and the
determination of similarities and differences between things or events. Also, the frontal lobes
functions are also working memory (the ability to remember recent events)
Phineas Gage’s encountered an accident at work an iron rod fell into his prefrontal cortex his left
frontal lobe got damaged, after the accident Phineas Gage went from being the best foreman to
being impulsive and making poor emotional decisions also as stipulated by (Kalat, 2016) the
prefrontal cortex situated within the frontal lobe and is important for making decisions hence his
inability to make decisions he also lost his social inhibitions (ignoring the rules of civilized conduct,
being polite), The equilibrium or balance, so to speak, between his intellectual faculties and animal
propensities, seemed to have been destroyed.
**********************************************************************************
Qs: Name three classes of Anti-depressant and give a brief explanation of the routes of action for
each:
Key Words: INHIBITOR↔BLOCK
Answer: Kalat (2016) stated the three classes of anti-depressants as follows:
Tricyclic: Antidepressant drug that blocks the re-uptake of Catecholamines (epinephrine,
norepinephrine, dopamine) and serotonin by presynaptic terminals
Serotonin Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: (SNRI’s) drugs that block the re-uptake of serotonin
and norepinephrine
Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Drugs that block reuptake of serotonin in the presynaptic
terminal.
