Question 1

You begin to doze off in class but suddenly come to awareness when your name is called. The part of the brain responsible for your sudden arousal is the
A)somatic nervous system (SNS).
B)reticular activating system (RAS).
C)thalamus.
D)pineal gland.

Accepted Answer

The reticular activating system (RAS) is responsible for regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions, including the sudden arousal from drowsiness when your name is called.

Question 2

A researcher places an electrode in a cat's limbic system, which he activates. The cat suddenly jumps up and runs to the corner, showing clear indications of fear. What part of the limbic system was most likely stimulated?
A)hippocampus
B)thalamus
C)hypothalamus
D)amygdala

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is primarily responsible for processing emotions, including fear. Stimulation of the amygdala in experiments often results in fear and aggression responses, which aligns with the cat's behavior in the scenario described.

Question 3

In situations in which true danger exists, such as in military combat, the rapid response of which part of the limbic system may aid survival?
A)hippocampus
B)hypothalamus
C)thalamus
D)amygdala

Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions, including fear, which can aid in rapid response to danger, enhancing survival in threatening situations like military combat.

Question 4

Injury to even small areas of which brain part can cause deafness, blindness, or loss of any other sense, except smell?
A)thalamus
B)hypothalamus
C)hippocampus
D)amygdala

Accepted Answer

The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information, directing it to the appropriate areas of the brain for processing. Damage to the thalamus can disrupt this process, potentially causing loss of senses such as hearing, sight, and touch. However, olfactory information (related to smell) bypasses the thalamus and goes directly to the olfactory bulb, which is why smell is not affected by thalamic damage.

Question 5

The hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and parts of the thalamus make up the __________ system.
A)somatosensory
B)endocrine
C)limbic
D)reticular activating

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and parts of the thalamus are components of the limbic system, which is involved in emotion, memory, and arousal.

Question 6

Two structures that are part of the limbic system are the
A)medulla and pons.
B)reticular formation and cerebellum.
C)amygdala and hippocampus.
D)corpus callosum and brainstem.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala and hippocampus are both part of the limbic system, which is involved in emotion, memory, and motivation.

Question 7

The thalamus is a football-shaped structure in the forebrain that
A)controls posture, muscle tone, and coordination.
B)acts as a final switching station for most incoming sensory information on their way to the cortex.
C)is associated with attention, alertness, and some reflexes, such as coughing, sneezing, and vomiting.
D)regulates emotions and motives, such as hunger and thirst.

Accepted Answer

The thalamus acts as a relay station for most sensory information, directing it to appropriate areas of the cortex for processing. It does not primarily control posture, muscle tone, coordination, or regulate basic emotions and motives directly, nor is it primarily associated with reflex actions like coughing or sneezing.

Question 8

Regarding the reticular formation, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)Destruction of the reticular formation causes constant wakefulness.
B)The reticular formation lies inside the pons and medulla.
C)The reticular formation is important in the control of attention and arousal.
D)The reticular formation acts as a clearinghouse for incoming information, giving some messages priority while turning others aside.

Accepted Answer

Destruction of the reticular formation does not cause constant wakefulness; instead, it can lead to a coma or severe disruptions in consciousness. The reticular formation is crucial for regulating the sleep-wake cycle and consciousness levels.

Question 9

Which of the following is a network of fibers and cell bodies that lie inside the medulla and pons and is associated with attention, alertness, and some reflexes, such as sneezing and coughing?
A)reticular formation
B)amygdala
C)hippocampus
D)thalamus

Accepted Answer

The reticular formation is a network of neurons located in the brainstem (specifically within the medulla and pons) that plays a crucial role in controlling arousal and consciousness, including attention and alertness. It is also involved in various reflex actions such as sneezing and coughing.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT controlled by the hypothalamus?
A)sex
B)eating and drinking
C)temperature control
D)posture

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is a region of the brain that controls various autonomic functions of the body, including sex, eating and drinking, and temperature control. Posture, however, is primarily regulated by the brainstem and the cerebellum, not the hypothalamus.

Question 11

Which part of the limbic system provides a primitive "quick pathway" to the cortex when we are startled, so that we are able to react to dangerous stimuli before we fully know what is going on?
A)hippocampus
B)amygdala
C)hypothalamus
D)thalamus

Accepted Answer

The amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions and fear responses, acting as a quick pathway to the cortex for immediate reactions to potential threats, enabling a faster response to dangerous stimuli before the full situation is consciously understood.

Question 12

Damage to the thalamus may affect any of the senses listed below EXCEPT
A)vision.
B)hearing.
C)touch.
D)smell.

Accepted Answer

The thalamus is involved in processing sensory information for all senses except smell, which is primarily processed by the olfactory bulb.

Question 13

Which brain area was the earliest layer of the forebrain to develop during evolution and helps organize basic survival responses in lower animals, such as feeding, fleeing, fighting, and reproduction?
A)somatosensory cortex
B)endocrine
C)limbic system
D)reticular activating system

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is the earliest layer of the forebrain to develop during evolution and is crucial for organizing basic survival responses such as feeding, fleeing, fighting, and reproduction in lower animals.

Question 14

The limbic system includes the
A)medulla, hypothalamus, and thalamus.
B)medulla, cerebellum, pons, and reticular formation.
C)reticular formation, hypothalamus, thalamus, and parts of the cerebellum.
D)hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and parts of the thalamus.

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is primarily involved in emotion and memory, and key components include the hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and parts of the thalamus.

Question 15

The hypothalamus is a grape-sized structure in the forebrain that
A)controls posture, muscle tone, and coordination and stores skill memories.
B)acts as a final switching station for most incoming sensory information on their way to the cortex.
C)is associated with attention, alertness, and some reflexes, such as coughing, sneezing, and vomiting.
D)is involved in temperature control, hormone release, emotions, and motives, such as hunger and thirst.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the body by regulating temperature, controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland, and influencing emotions and basic drives like hunger and thirst.

Question 16

A sleepy driver rounds a bend and sees a deer standing in the road. The driver snaps to attention and applies the brakes, averting the accident, because his brain was aroused by the
A)parasympathetic nervous system.
B)reticular activating system (RAS).
C)thalamus.
D)pineal gland.

Accepted Answer

The reticular activating system (RAS) is responsible for regulating arousal and sleep-wake transitions. When the driver sees the deer, the RAS is activated, increasing alertness and attention, enabling the driver to respond quickly by applying the brakes.

Question 17

Which of the following is a small, football-shaped structure in the forebrain that acts as a final switching station for most incoming sensory information on their way to the cortex?
A)cerebellum
B)reticular formation
C)hippocampus
D)thalamus

Accepted Answer

The thalamus is the correct answer because it acts as a relay station for most sensory information, excluding smell, directing it to the appropriate areas of the cortex for processing.

Question 18

Which of the following does not fully mature until adolescence, which may be the reason that children have such short attention spans?
A)thalamus
B)hypothalamus
C)reticular formation
D)amygdala

Accepted Answer

The reticular formation, a network of neurons located in the brainstem, plays a crucial role in regulating attention and alertness. It does not fully mature until adolescence, which can contribute to the shorter attention spans observed in children.

Question 19

Which part of the forebrain is the size of a grape but is considered the master control center for emotion and many basic motives?
A)thalamus
B)hypothalamus
C)corpus callosum
D)cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus, despite its small size, plays a crucial role in controlling emotions and basic drives such as hunger, thirst, and temperature regulation, earning it the title of the master control center for these functions.

Question 20

Which part of the brain is responsible for hunger, thirst, sex, body temperature, and hormone secretion?
A)reticular formation
B)pons
C)hypothalamus
D)hippocampus

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, body temperature, and hormone secretion, among other functions. It plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the body.

Quiz 2: Brain and Behavior

You begin to doze off in class but suddenly come to awareness when your name is called. The part of the brain responsible for your sudden arousal is the

A researcher places an electrode in a cat's limbic system, which he activates. The cat suddenly jumps up and runs to the corner, showing clear indications of fear. What part of the limbic system was most likely stimulated?

In situations in which true danger exists, such as in military combat, the rapid response of which part of the limbic system may aid survival?

Injury to even small areas of which brain part can cause deafness, blindness, or loss of any other sense, except smell?

The hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and parts of the thalamus make up the __________ system.

Two structures that are part of the limbic system are the

The thalamus is a football-shaped structure in the forebrain that

Regarding the reticular formation, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following is a network of fibers and cell bodies that lie inside the medulla and pons and is associated with attention, alertness, and some reflexes, such as sneezing and coughing?

Which of the following is NOT controlled by the hypothalamus?

Which part of the limbic system provides a primitive "quick pathway" to the cortex when we are startled, so that we are able to react to dangerous stimuli before we fully know what is going on?

Damage to the thalamus may affect any of the senses listed below EXCEPT

Which brain area was the earliest layer of the forebrain to develop during evolution and helps organize basic survival responses in lower animals, such as feeding, fleeing, fighting, and reproduction?

The limbic system includes the

The hypothalamus is a grape-sized structure in the forebrain that

A sleepy driver rounds a bend and sees a deer standing in the road. The driver snaps to attention and applies the brakes, averting the accident, because his brain was aroused by the

Which of the following is a small, football-shaped structure in the forebrain that acts as a final switching station for most incoming sensory information on their way to the cortex?

Which of the following does not fully mature until adolescence, which may be the reason that children have such short attention spans?

Which part of the forebrain is the size of a grape but is considered the master control center for emotion and many basic motives?

Which part of the brain is responsible for hunger, thirst, sex, body temperature, and hormone secretion?