UC Berkeley CogSci 1 Midterm Summer
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is Cognitive Science? - CORRECT ANSWER interdisciplinary study of the mind
and intelligence.
Cognition as information processing
manipulation of representations
Phineas Gage (Case Study) - CORRECT ANSWER Phineas Gage: railroad worker who
survived a brain injury that changed his personality and behavior;
case study examined the localization of brain function: frontal lobe controls personality and
behavior
Synapse - CORRECT ANSWER space between neurons through which they
communicate, through either electrical or chemical signals
Action potential - CORRECT ANSWER flow and exchange of ions and potassium in
response to a stimulus - the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an
impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell. They are transmitted to the dendrites
of other neurons at synapses.
3 parts of a neuron - CORRECT ANSWER axon, cell body (includes nucleus), dendrites
what are the two types of brain damage techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER lesion studies
and case study method
Angiography - CORRECT ANSWER useful in detecting certain disorders associated with
abnormalities in the arteries of the brain.
,CT scan - CORRECT ANSWER a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles
and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body, non
invasive, average temporal resolution, low spatial resolution
CAT scan - CORRECT ANSWER a method of creating static images of the brain through
computerized axial tomography. we can deblur the original axial tomographic image and
reconstruct a complete image from multiple views provided by a rotating beam. It is used to
image bone liver and brain.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - CORRECT ANSWER a technique that uses
magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans
show brain anatomy. Cannot be performed if one has metal present in the body. Clearer than a
CAT scan. Allows researcher to see white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid as well.
DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) - CORRECT ANSWER an imaging method that uses a
modified MRI scanner to reveal bundles of myelinated axons (white matter) in the living human
brain
EEG (electroencephalogram) /ERP - CORRECT ANSWER uses electroencephalography
to record electrical activity of the brain during cognitive processing can detect rapid change in
neural activity. Non-invasive and can be used on people who are fully conscious. An amplified
recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves
are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. good temporal resolution, average spatial
resolution;
MEG (magnetoencephalography) - CORRECT ANSWER a brain imaging technique that
measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) - CORRECT ANSWER the use of strong
magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions, can help
determine function of a specific region. It is non invasive, has high temporal resolution, but only
average spatial resolution
,TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) - CORRECT ANSWER is a form of
neurostimulation which uses constant, low current delivered to the brain area of interest via
electrodes on the scalp. It was originally developed to help patients with brain injuries such as
strokes
PET (positron emission tomography) scan - CORRECT ANSWER a method of examining
cerebral blood flow while a subject is carrying out a certain cognitive task. It makes uses of
radioactive isotopes called positrons which are injected into the blood stream and carried to the
brain. Image is slightly blurry. Non-invasive, low temporal resolution, and high spatial
resolution.
SPECT scan (single-photon emission computerized tomography) - CORRECT
ANSWER same as PET but a photon is injected into the bloodstream instead of a positron.
allows investigation to lock in brain activity state at the time the labeled substance is introduced
into the body. Possible to discover the location of activity in the brain when a certain subject is
engaged in a particular mental exercise
fMRI (functional MRI) - CORRECT ANSWER Similar to an MRI but provides mapping
of both function and structure. It detects changes in the magnetic state of blood and depends on
the amount of oxygen in the blood. Low invasiveness, low temporal resolution, and high spatial
resolution
fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) - CORRECT ANSWER allows
neuroimaging of brain activation by tracking blood flow via changes in hemoglobin
temporal resolution - CORRECT ANSWER A term that refers to how small a unit of time
can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time;
in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain. The
accuracy with which one can measure when an event is occurring
spatial resolution - CORRECT ANSWER A term that refers to how small the elements of
an image are; high spatial resolution means the device or technique can resolve very small
elements; in neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged.
, invasiveness - CORRECT ANSWER whether or not the equipment is located internally or
externally
David Marr - CORRECT ANSWER created a model for vision and contributed to vision
science
brain-machine interface - CORRECT ANSWER a system that detects, generates, and/or
modifies ongoing neural activity in the brain to accomplish some task
where is memory located? - CORRECT ANSWER short term memory is located in the
cerebral cortex, long term memory is scattered throughout the brain
Karl Lashley - CORRECT ANSWER He was an American psychologist and behaviorist
well-remembered for his influential contributions to the study of learning and memory. His
failure to find a single biological locus of memory in the rat's brain (or "engram", as he called it)
suggested to him that memories were not localized to one part of the brain, but were widely
distributed throughout the cerebral cortex. Many complex behaviors are products of prior
planning and organization - they are organized hierarchically vs linearly. This is not done
consciously for the most part.
synaptic plasticity - CORRECT ANSWER learning in a nervous system requires a change
in the structure or biochemistry of a synapse
Hippocampus - CORRECT ANSWER A neural center located in the limbic system that
helps process explicit memories for storage. Responsible for transfer of information from short
term memory to long term memory
damage to the hippocampus results in ? - CORRECT ANSWER anterograde amnesia, an
inability to retain new information subsequent to change
retro grade amnesia - CORRECT ANSWER much rarer than anterograde, deals with
amnesia in long term memory
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
What is Cognitive Science? - CORRECT ANSWER interdisciplinary study of the mind
and intelligence.
Cognition as information processing
manipulation of representations
Phineas Gage (Case Study) - CORRECT ANSWER Phineas Gage: railroad worker who
survived a brain injury that changed his personality and behavior;
case study examined the localization of brain function: frontal lobe controls personality and
behavior
Synapse - CORRECT ANSWER space between neurons through which they
communicate, through either electrical or chemical signals
Action potential - CORRECT ANSWER flow and exchange of ions and potassium in
response to a stimulus - the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an
impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell. They are transmitted to the dendrites
of other neurons at synapses.
3 parts of a neuron - CORRECT ANSWER axon, cell body (includes nucleus), dendrites
what are the two types of brain damage techniques? - CORRECT ANSWER lesion studies
and case study method
Angiography - CORRECT ANSWER useful in detecting certain disorders associated with
abnormalities in the arteries of the brain.
,CT scan - CORRECT ANSWER a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles
and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body, non
invasive, average temporal resolution, low spatial resolution
CAT scan - CORRECT ANSWER a method of creating static images of the brain through
computerized axial tomography. we can deblur the original axial tomographic image and
reconstruct a complete image from multiple views provided by a rotating beam. It is used to
image bone liver and brain.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - CORRECT ANSWER a technique that uses
magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans
show brain anatomy. Cannot be performed if one has metal present in the body. Clearer than a
CAT scan. Allows researcher to see white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid as well.
DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) - CORRECT ANSWER an imaging method that uses a
modified MRI scanner to reveal bundles of myelinated axons (white matter) in the living human
brain
EEG (electroencephalogram) /ERP - CORRECT ANSWER uses electroencephalography
to record electrical activity of the brain during cognitive processing can detect rapid change in
neural activity. Non-invasive and can be used on people who are fully conscious. An amplified
recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves
are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. good temporal resolution, average spatial
resolution;
MEG (magnetoencephalography) - CORRECT ANSWER a brain imaging technique that
measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) - CORRECT ANSWER the use of strong
magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions, can help
determine function of a specific region. It is non invasive, has high temporal resolution, but only
average spatial resolution
,TDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) - CORRECT ANSWER is a form of
neurostimulation which uses constant, low current delivered to the brain area of interest via
electrodes on the scalp. It was originally developed to help patients with brain injuries such as
strokes
PET (positron emission tomography) scan - CORRECT ANSWER a method of examining
cerebral blood flow while a subject is carrying out a certain cognitive task. It makes uses of
radioactive isotopes called positrons which are injected into the blood stream and carried to the
brain. Image is slightly blurry. Non-invasive, low temporal resolution, and high spatial
resolution.
SPECT scan (single-photon emission computerized tomography) - CORRECT
ANSWER same as PET but a photon is injected into the bloodstream instead of a positron.
allows investigation to lock in brain activity state at the time the labeled substance is introduced
into the body. Possible to discover the location of activity in the brain when a certain subject is
engaged in a particular mental exercise
fMRI (functional MRI) - CORRECT ANSWER Similar to an MRI but provides mapping
of both function and structure. It detects changes in the magnetic state of blood and depends on
the amount of oxygen in the blood. Low invasiveness, low temporal resolution, and high spatial
resolution
fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) - CORRECT ANSWER allows
neuroimaging of brain activation by tracking blood flow via changes in hemoglobin
temporal resolution - CORRECT ANSWER A term that refers to how small a unit of time
can be measured; high temporal resolution means capable of resolving very small units of time;
in neuroscience it describes how precisely in time a process can be measured in the brain. The
accuracy with which one can measure when an event is occurring
spatial resolution - CORRECT ANSWER A term that refers to how small the elements of
an image are; high spatial resolution means the device or technique can resolve very small
elements; in neuroscience it describes how small of a structure in the brain can be imaged.
, invasiveness - CORRECT ANSWER whether or not the equipment is located internally or
externally
David Marr - CORRECT ANSWER created a model for vision and contributed to vision
science
brain-machine interface - CORRECT ANSWER a system that detects, generates, and/or
modifies ongoing neural activity in the brain to accomplish some task
where is memory located? - CORRECT ANSWER short term memory is located in the
cerebral cortex, long term memory is scattered throughout the brain
Karl Lashley - CORRECT ANSWER He was an American psychologist and behaviorist
well-remembered for his influential contributions to the study of learning and memory. His
failure to find a single biological locus of memory in the rat's brain (or "engram", as he called it)
suggested to him that memories were not localized to one part of the brain, but were widely
distributed throughout the cerebral cortex. Many complex behaviors are products of prior
planning and organization - they are organized hierarchically vs linearly. This is not done
consciously for the most part.
synaptic plasticity - CORRECT ANSWER learning in a nervous system requires a change
in the structure or biochemistry of a synapse
Hippocampus - CORRECT ANSWER A neural center located in the limbic system that
helps process explicit memories for storage. Responsible for transfer of information from short
term memory to long term memory
damage to the hippocampus results in ? - CORRECT ANSWER anterograde amnesia, an
inability to retain new information subsequent to change
retro grade amnesia - CORRECT ANSWER much rarer than anterograde, deals with
amnesia in long term memory
