Question 1

In most adults, the right hemisphere of the brain is specialized for _____.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the right hemisphere of the brain is specialized for musical abilities, spatial abilities, and nonverbal abilities. However, it is important to note that brain specialization can vary between individuals.

Question 2

Your left brain doesn't know what your right brain is doing. It is MOST likely that your _____ has been severed.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is the main bundle of fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing for communication and coordination between them. If this structure is severed, the hemispheres are unable to share information and operate independently of each other, leading to phenomena such as split-brain syndrome where one half of the brain is not aware of what the other half is doing.

Question 3

Although the left and right hemispheres of the brain are specialized, they are normally in close communication through the _____.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a structure in the brain that connects the left and right hemispheres, allowing for communication and coordination between them.

Question 4

_____ are threadlike strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic information.

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes are threadlike structures made up of DNA molecules that carry genetic information in the form of genes. Genes are segments of DNA that provide instructions for the development and function of all living organisms. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into specialized cell types, but they do not carry genetic information. Heredity cells is not a scientifically recognized term.

Question 5

Evolutionary psychology studies:

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology studies how natural selection and adaptation can explain behavior and mental processes. It seeks to understand how behaviors and cognitive processes have evolved to help humans survive and reproduce in their environment.

Question 6

This is a term for the specialization of the left and right hemisphere of the brain for particular operations.

Accepted Answer

Lateralization refers to the specialization of the left and right hemisphere of the brain for particular operations. Localization refers to the specific location of brain function within a particular area of the brain, while plasticity refers to the brain's ability to adapt and change over time. Therefore, options A and C are not the best choices for this question.

Question 7

A split-brain patient is presented with the word "TENANT," with "TEN" presented to her right visual field and "ANT" presented to her left visual field. How does she respond when asked what word she sees?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A split-brain patient is presented with the...

Question 8

The case of Phineas Gage most clearly demonstrated that _____________ is/are a function of the brain - especially the frontal lobe.

Accepted Answer

Phineas Gage's personality changed dramatically after he suffered damage to his frontal lobe due to an accident, indicating that personality is a function of the brain, particularly the frontal lobe. Thought disorders, cognitive impairment, and dementia may also involve brain dysfunction, but they are not specifically demonstrated by Phineas Gage's case.

Question 9

If a trait is recessive, this means it will take _____ gene(s) for the trait to manifest itself in one's offspring.

Accepted Answer

A recessive trait will only manifest if an individual inherits two copies of the recessive allele, one from each parent. Therefore, it takes two recessive genes for the trait to appear.

Question 10

"Split-brain" is the term used to describe which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

"Split-brain" refers to surgical separation of the brain hemispheres, typically done to treat severe cases of epilepsy. This procedure results in a disruption of communication between the two hemispheres and can have various effects on a person's thinking and behavior.

Question 11

DNA stands for _____.

Accepted Answer

DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid, which is a molecule that carries genetic information in all living organisms. The other choices, A, B, and C, are not correct definitions of DNA.

Question 12

What is the bundle of nerve fibers that carries information between the brain's right and left hemispheres?

Accepted Answer

The bundle of nerve fibers that carries information between the brain's right and left hemispheres is called the corpus callosum.

Question 13

Mandisa is blindfolded and asked to identify several objects. She cannot verbally identify objects placed in her left hand, which suggests that she has had _____.

Accepted Answer

The fact that Mandisa cannot verbally identify objects placed in her left hand suggests that she may have undergone split-brain surgery, which severs the connection between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Question 14

In most adults, the left hemisphere of the brain is specialized for .

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere of the brain is typically specialized for analytical functions such as language processing, math, and logical reasoning. While the right hemisphere is involved in nonverbal functions and recognition of faces, it is the left hemisphere that is primarily responsible for these higher-level cognitive processes.

Question 15

It is likely that your genetics has absolutely nothing to do with the color of the shoes you are wearing right now. This would mean that your choice of shoe color this morning has a heritability estimate of _____.

Accepted Answer

Heritability refers to the extent to which a trait is influenced by genetics. The color of shoes one chooses to wear is a matter of personal choice and has no genetic component. Therefore, the heritability estimate for shoe color choice is 0%, making option B the correct answer. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they imply that genetics play a role in determining shoe color, which is not true.

Question 16

Genes are found on chromosomes and _____.

Accepted Answer

Genes carry the code for hereditary transmission, which is the primary function of genes on chromosomes.

Question 17

The study of principles − such as natural selection and genetic mutations − that help a species adapt to the environment and engage in similar behaviors is called _____.

Accepted Answer

The study of principles such as natural selection and genetic mutations that help a species adapt to the environment and engage in similar behaviors is called evolutionary psychology. Behavioral genetics is a field that studies how genetic factors influence behavior, while environmental psychology focuses on how the physical and social environment affects human behavior. Darwinian psychology is not a recognized field of study.

Question 18

Tongue-curling is a dominant trait. If you can curl your tongue, this means that _____.

Accepted Answer

If tongue-curling is a dominant trait, having the ability to curl your tongue means you have at least one dominant allele, which must have been inherited from at least one parent who can also curl their tongue.

Question 19

You have a close friend who has undergone surgery to separate her brain hemispheres. It is MOST likely that, prior to surgery, she suffered from _____.

Accepted Answer

Surgery to separate the brain hemispheres is a treatment for severe epilepsy, which cannot be controlled with medication. This surgery, called corpus callosotomy, prevents the spread of seizures from one side of the brain to the other, allowing the individual to lead a more normal life.

Question 20

This is a measure of the degree to which a characteristic is related to genetic, inherited factors.

Accepted Answer

The term "heritability" specifically refers to the degree to which a trait is influenced by genetic factors. It is a measure of the proportion of variation in a characteristic within a population that can be attributed to genetics.

Quiz 2: Neuroscience and Biological Foundations