Chapter 2: Cognitive Neuroscience

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Which of these is a medical term that refers to difficulty producing understandable speech?

a. neuralgia

b. localization

c. euthanasia

d. aphasia

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction: Knowledge From Cognitive Deficits

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Neuroscientists have learned a great deal about which brain areas contribute to different cognitive abilities through ______.

a. blood tests

b. childhood photographs of patients

c. case studies

d. research in other fields, such as sociology

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction: Knowledge From Cognitive Deficits

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. How did early brain researchers learn more about the typical human brain?

a. through studies that examined hundreds of subjects who had moderate to severe memory problems

b. by altering the brains of human subjects and charting cognitive deficits that resulted from the alterations

c. through studies that examined hundreds of subjects who had moderate to severe learning problems

d. by examining individuals with specific brain lesions to learn what type of cognitive deficits resulted

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction: Knowledge From Cognitive Deficits

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. In what important way do modern brain studies differ from the studies performed in the early days of cognitive neuroscience?

a. Modern studies allow researchers to examine brain activity in research subjects who have no problems with memory, speech, or learning.

b. Early studies were based on dozens or hundreds of human subjects, but more recent studies focus on only one or two people per study.

c. Early studies focused on the frontal lobe, while more recent studies have concentrated almost exclusively on the temporal lobe.

d. Recent studies examine more subjects but can be significantly less accurate because the subjects have no cognitive deficits.

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Introduction: Knowledge From Cognitive Deficits

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. One of the first clinical cases that contributed to our knowledge of brain function was the study of Phineas Gage, who suffered damage to his ______.

a. temporal lobe

b. frontal lobe

c. parietal lobe

d. occipital lobe

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. The ______ is important for ______.

a. temporal lobe; understanding of the passage of time

b. visual cortex; physical feelings and sensations

c. parietal lobe; listening and production of speech

d. frontal lobe; emotional regulation and decision making

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Although Jenelle is capable of fluid thought processes, she has trouble producing fluid speech. She likely has ______ aphasia.

a. Wernicke’s

b. Broca’s

c. Tan's

d. Gage's

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. A patient, Shane, tells his doctor, “Hen green the hey one.” Shane’s speech is fluent, but it makes no sense to the listener. Shane most likely has ______ aphasia.

a. Wernicke’s

b. Broca’s

c. Tan’s

d. Gage’s

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Hard

9. Broca’s area is located in the ______ lobe, while Wernicke’s area is located in the ______ lobe.

a. left temporal; left frontal

b. right temporal; right frontal

c. left frontal; left temporal

d. right frontal; right temporal

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. ______ is the inability to correctly recognize tangible things, and is associated with damage to the ______ cortex.

a. object agnosia; inferior temporal

b. Wernicke’s aphasia; inferior temporal

c. object agnosia; inferior frontal

d. Tan's aphasia; inferior temporal

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. As a graduate student in psychology, you interview a patient who is unable to distinguish between living and nonliving things. The most likely cause is damage to the patient’s ______.

a. frontal lobe

b. inferior parietal cortex

c. visual cortex

d. inferior temporal cortex

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Hard

12. Jolie suffered brain damage that caused deficits to her short-term memory, but her long-term memory was left intact. Damage in what brain area would most likely account for this short-term memory deficit?

a. Wernicke’s area

b. frontal lobe

c. hippocampus

d. temporal lobe

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Hard

13. John has sustained damage to an area of the brain known as Wernicke’s area. Which task is he likely to have difficulty with?

a. face recognition

b. sensation in his fingers and toes

c. speech comprehension

d. inanimate object recognition

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. The brain is composed of billions of ______.

a. cortices

b. neurons

c. lobes

d. synapses

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Which of these is the correct order of how neuron cells process neurotransmitters?

a. dendrites, cell body, axon, synapse

b. cell body, dendrites, axon, synapse

c. synapse, axon, cell body, dendrites

d. dendrites, axon, synapse, cell body

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. The space between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released and received is the ______.

a. gap

b. sheath

c. synapse

d. lobe

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. The ion that is mainly responsible for maintaining the positive charge found in the extracellular space of a neuron at rest is ______.

a. potassium

b. sodium

c. chlorine

d. calcium

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. For an action potential to be transmitted to the next neuron, it must first be ______ at the axon hillock.

a. reversed

b. diluted

c. generated

d. retracted

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. The four lobes of the brain all have different functions. This structure exhibits which principles?

a. globalization and specialization

b. polarization and depolarization

c. polarization and functionalism

d. localization and lateralization

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Brain

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. The frontal lobe has an important role in reasoning, while the temporal lobe has a role in language. This structure illustrates which principle?

a. functionalism

b. localization

c. specialization

d. depolarization

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Brain

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. What is the name of the technique that involves placing the subject’s head near an electrical scanner and measuring the activity of large groups of neurons?

a. magnetoencephalography

b. electroencephalography

c. single-cell recording

d. magnetic resonance imaging

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Brain

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. A researcher is interested in determining the function of mirror neurons in nonhuman subjects. Which technique might he or she use?

a. single-cell recording

b. case study

c. electroencephalography

d. magnetoencephalography

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Single-Cell Recording

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Which of these is a drawback of single-cell recording?

a. Single-cell recording does not allow researchers to monitor the activity of mirror neurons.

b. It requires surgical implantation of a needle in the brain, which makes it inappropriate for most human subjects.

c. Single-cell recording monitors the autonomic nervous system rather than a subject's conscious thoughts and actions.

d. It yields little data when used with research subjects who have epilepsy.

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Single-Cell Recording

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. After performing her first surgery on a laboratory animal, Jennifer watched her mentor perform another operation. Which of these was likely active at the time of her observation?

a. the frontal lobe

b. Wernicke’s area

c. mirror neurons

d. the inferior temporal cortex

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Single-Cell Recording

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. What are grandmother cells?

a. specific neurons that people inherit from previous generations of their families

b. brain cells that last at least three times as long as most neurons

c. frontal lobe neurons that allow us to remember specific faces that we have never seen before

d. hippocampus neurons that allow us to recognize specific faces that we have seen before

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Single-Cell Recording

Difficulty Level: Easy

26. Which type of activity does an EEG record?

a. neural stimulations that are either in the outer cortex or close to it

b. brain cell activity deep within the center of the brain

c. changes in breathing rate and pulse in human and nonhuman test subjects

d. electrical impulses throughout the human body

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Electroencephalography (EEG)

Difficulty Level: Easy

27. Dr. Tran wants to use an EEG to find out whether neural activity increases when patients see a nonsense word. Which of these options would it make sense for you to suggest to her?

a. single-cell recording

b. an event-related potential

c. a case study of one individual with memory problems

d. a case study of a few individuals with learning deficits

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Electroencephalography (EEG)

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. Which of these would be the best technique for determining which cortical brain areas are active during speech?

a. magnetoencephalography

b. magnetic resonance imaging

c. transcranial magnetic stimulation

d. positron emission tomography

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Difficulty Level: Medium

29. What do EEG and MEG have in common?

a. Neither provides accurate information on brain areas below the cortex.

b. Neither provides accurate information on the outer cortex.

c. Both use electrical scanners, which each subject puts his or her head into or next to.

d. Both use electrodes placed on the head.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Difficulty Level: Medium

30. Dr. Quan wants to assess the effect of inhibiting a particular area of the brain on a person’s behavior. Which technique would best accomplish this?

a. electroencephalography

b. magnetic resonance imaging

c. positron emission tomography

d. transcranial magnetic stimulation

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Electrical Stimulation/Inhibition of Neurons

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. Why might a neuroscientist choose to use transcranial direct current stimulation in experiments rather than transcranial magnetic stimulation?

a. TMS is no longer popular because of accuracy problems.

b. TMS is more expensive than tDCS and tDCS is easier to use.

c. Unlike TMS, tDCS is noninvasive and highly accurate.

d. Unlike TMS, tDCS has been approved for use in humans.

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Electrical Stimulation/Inhibition of Neurons

Difficulty Level: Medium

32. What do transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation have in common?

a. Both allow researchers to excite or inhibit neuron activity.

b. Both cause permanent changes in subjects’ brain activity.

c. TMS and tDCS are both invasive procedures.

d. TMS and tDCS use magnetic fields to improve cognition.

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Electrical Stimulation/Inhibition of Neurons

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. Dr. Basabe suspects that a patient she has recently seen may have a brain tumor. Which technique would be the best option for her to use in terms of confirming this suspicion?

a. magnetic resonance imaging

b. positron emission tomography

c. transcranial magnetic stimulation

d. electroencephalography

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Brain Imaging Techniques

Difficulty Level: Medium

34. Dr. Tang is interested in measuring the differences in brain activity between two subsets of patients as they perform a task. Which method would be the most appropriate and safest one for him to use to achieve this?

a. magnetic resonance imaging

b. functional magnetic resonance imaging

c. positron emission tomography

d. transcranial magnetic stimulation

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Brain Imaging Techniques

Difficulty Level: Medium

35. Which of the following is an invasive way of imaging the brain?

a. magnetic resonance imaging

b. transcranial magnetic stimulation

c. positron emission tomography

d. functional magnetic resonance imaging

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Brain Imaging Techniques

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. Brain recording and brain imaging techniques have allowed scientists to link brain function to ______.

a. cognition

b. movement

c. speech

d. disease

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Recording Activity in the Living Brain

Difficulty Level: Easy

37. Which of these is a drawback of using brain recording techniques in scientific studies?

a. The brain recording techniques can cause permanent changes to cognition and comprehension.

b. Brain recording techniques do not allow researchers to make connections between cognitive processes and brain function.

c. The machines and technologies can be expensive and require extensive time from research subjects.

d. The procedures are all invasive and can require ingestion of radioactive substances.

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Recording Activity in the Living Brain

Difficulty Level: Medium

38. It is suggested that the brain activity seen approximately half a second before initiating a behavior is indicative of ______.

a. the mind regretting the behavior

b. the brain’s readiness to carry out the behavior

c. the actual behavior itself

d. the mind canceling the behavior

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Can All Mental Processes Be Explained in Terms of Brain Activity?

Difficulty Level: Easy

39. Which of these is a common criticism of recent studies that seek to determine a link between brain activity and conscious actions?

a. The procedures that the researchers use are too invasive and dangerous.

b. The procedures that the researchers use are too time-consuming.

c. The actions that the researchers study are too simple.

d. The actions that the researchers study are too uncommon.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Can All Mental Processes Be Explained in Terms of Brain Activity?

Difficulty Level: Medium

40. Can brain activity define behavior?

a. It can in nonhuman subjects, but there is a mind/brain divide in human subjects.

b. Activity in the center of the brain can define behavior, but activity in or near the cortex cannot.

c. No. The physical brain and the conscious mind are separate entities.

d. We do not know the answer to this question yet.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Can All Mental Processes Be Explained in Terms of Brain Activity?

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. Phineas Gage had damage to his temporal lobe.

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Patients who have suffered brain damage have mistaken furniture for people.

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Patient H. M. lost the ability to form new memories, but his long-term memory remained intact.

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. During an action potential, there is an exchange of positive and negative ions between the extracellular and intracellular fluid.

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. A variety of sophisticated cognitive tasks are a function of distributed processing in the brain.

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Brain

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Conducting a case study on a patient with damage to his or her frontal lobe has the potential to reveal a great deal of information about our brain’s role in vision.

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Brain

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Positron emission tomography is a safe and noninvasive way to image the brain.

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Brain Imaging Techniques

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Magnetic resonance imaging is a temporal image of the brain, while functional magnetic resonance imaging captures only spatial images of the brain.

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Brain Imaging Techniques

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. All behavior can be connected to specific brain activity.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Can All Mental Processes Be Explained in Terms of Brain Activity?

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Dualists believe that the human mind is more than mere neural activity.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Can All Mental Processes Be Explained in Terms of Brain Activity?

Difficulty Level: Medium

Short Answer

1. Discuss how case studies have contributed to our understanding of how damaged and undamaged brains work. Give specific examples.

Learning Objective: 2-2: How do case studies of individuals with cognitive deficits inform us about the connection between cognition and brain function?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Clinical Case Studies in Cognitive Neuroscience

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Discuss the activities that take place during an action potential, and explain why action potentials are important.

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Neuron

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. Compare and contrast the two ways of artificially stimulating or inhibiting neurons. Why do researchers use them?

Learning Objective: 2-1: How is the examination of brain activity involved in the study of cognition?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Electrical Stimulation/Inhibition of Neurons

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Compare and contrast the various brain imaging methods. Describe how they work, and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Learning Objective: 2-3: What can be learned about cognition through measurements of neuron activity in the brain?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Brain Imaging Techniques

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Define the mind-body problem, and explain how researchers have tried to solve it.

Learning Objective: 2-4: Can all behavior be explained in terms of brain activity?

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Can All Mental Processes Be Explained in Terms of Brain Activity?

Difficulty Level: Hard