Question 1

________ is a temporary cerebral disorder accompanied by abnormal movements, unusual sensations, and/or inappropriate behavior.
A) Dyslexia
B) Apraxia
C) Aphasia
D) Parkinson disease
E) A seizure

Accepted Answer

The described symptoms are typically associated with a seizure, which is a temporary disturbance of brain function caused by abnormal electrical activity. Dyslexia, apraxia, and aphasia are all language and communication disorders, while Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by tremors, stiffness, and impaired movement.

Question 2

A person with a damaged visual association area may be
A) unable to see rows of letters.
B) declared legally blind.
C) unable to recognize letters but able to identify whole words and their meanings.
D) able to see letters but unable to associate them into words.
E) unable to understand spoken words.

Accepted Answer

The visual association area is crucial for integrating visual information and linking it with stored knowledge, which includes the ability to associate letters into words. Damage to this area can impair the ability to synthesize visual components (like letters) into coherent wholes (like words), even though the individual letters can still be seen.

Question 3

The internal capsule of the cerebrum is composed of
A) arcuate fibers.
B) longitudinal fasciculi.
C) association fibers.
D) commissural fibers.
E) projection fibers.

Accepted Answer

The internal capsule of the cerebrum is composed of projection fibers, which connect the cerebral cortex to subcortical structures such as the thalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. The other types of fibers listed (arcuate, longitudinal, association, and commissural) are found in other parts of the brain, but not in the internal capsule.

Question 4

White matter fibers that pass from one gyrus to the adjacent gyrus are called
A) arcuate fibers.
B) longitudinal fasciculi.
C) association fibers.
D) commissural fibers.
E) projection fibers.

Accepted Answer

Arcuate fibers are short fibers that connect adjacent gyri in the brain, facilitating communication between nearby areas of the cortex.

Question 5

Bob is struck on the left side of the head and is knocked unconscious. When he recovers consciousness, he can hear individual words but cannot understand the meaning of phrases or sentences. This implies damage to his
A) vestibulocochlear nerve.
B) general interpretive area.
C) speech center.
D) prefrontal lobe.
E) temporal lobe.

Accepted Answer

Damage to the general interpretive area (also known as Wernicke's area) in the temporal lobe can result in difficulty understanding the meaning of phrases and sentences, even though individual words may be heard. The vestibulocochlear nerve is responsible for hearing, but not comprehension of language. The speech center (also known as Broca's area) is responsible for the production of language, not comprehension. The prefrontal lobe is associated with executive functions such as decision making, planning, and impulse control, but not language comprehension.

Question 6

As you ascend from the medulla oblongata to the cerebrum, the functions of each successive level become
A) more complex.
B) simpler.
C) better understood.
D) less crucial to visceral functions.
E) both more complex and less crucial to visceral functions.

Accepted Answer

As you ascend from the medulla oblongata to the cerebrum, the functions indeed become more complex, involving higher cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and sensory perception. Additionally, these functions become less crucial to visceral functions, which are more so managed by the lower brain regions like the medulla oblongata, which controls vital autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Question 7

The cranial nerve that has three major branches is the
A) abducens.
B) facial.
C) vagus.
D) trigeminal.
E) glossopharyngeal.

Accepted Answer

The trigeminal nerve has three major branches - the ophthalmic nerve (V1), the maxillary nerve (V2), and the mandibular nerve (V3). The ophthalmic nerve supplies sensation to the upper part of the face, the maxillary nerve supplies sensation to the middle part of the face, and the mandibular nerve supplies sensation to the lower part of the face.

Question 8

The general interpretive area
A) is the speech center of the brain.
B) is responsible for predicting future consequences.
C) is the site of long-term memory storage.
D) allows us to interpret what is read or heard.
E) may be damaged by even a small stroke.

Accepted Answer

The general interpretive area is responsible for interpreting what is read or heard.

Question 9

Higher-order functions
A) can be adjusted over time based on experience.
B) involve complex interactions among areas of the cortex.
C) combine both conscious and unconscious information processing.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Higher-order functions involve the integration of multiple cognitive processes and can be adjusted based on experience. This involves complex interactions among areas of the cortex and can include both conscious and unconscious information processing. Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 10

If the corpus callosum is surgically cut,
A) the two cerebral hemispheres operate independently.
B) objects viewed by the left eye cannot be verbally identified.
C) objects touched by the left hand can be recognized but not verbally identified.
D) conscious decisions are made without regard to sensations from the left side.
E) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres. If it is surgically cut, the two hemispheres operate independently. This means that objects viewed by the left eye cannot be verbally identified, objects touched by the left hand can be recognized but not verbally identified, and conscious decisions are made without regard to sensations from the left side.

Question 11

The corpus callosum is composed of
A) arcuate fibers.
B) longitudinal fasciculi.
C) association fibers.
D) commissural fibers.
E) projection fibers.

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum is a band of commissural fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. Commissural fibers are a type of white matter tract that allows for communication and coordination between the two hemispheres. The other choices listed (arcuate fibers, longitudinal fasciculi, association fibers, and projection fibers) are all types of white matter tracts, but they are not specific to the corpus callosum.

Question 12

Difficulties in estimating temporal relationships between events may stem from damage to
A) the prefrontal cortex.
B) the general interpretive area.
C) Broca's area.
D) Wernicke's area.
E) the temporal lobe.

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as working memory and decision-making, which are important for estimating the temporal relationships between events. Damage to this area can lead to difficulties in correctly ordering events in time. The other areas listed are more involved in language processing and production and are not as directly involved in temporal perception.

Question 13

After suffering a blow to the back of the head, Phil loses his vision. The blow probably caused damage to the
A) prefrontal cortex.
B) postcentral gyrus.
C) cerebral nuclei.
D) limbic system.
E) occipital lobe.

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information, so damage to this area could lead to vision loss. The other brain regions listed are not directly associated with vision processing.

Question 14

There are ________ pairs of cranial nerves.
A) 2
B) 6
C) 12
D) 22
E) 31

Accepted Answer

There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves that emerge from the brain and connect to various parts of the head, neck, and trunk.

Question 15

After suffering a stroke, Mary finds that she cannot move her right arm. This would suggest that the stroke damage is in the area of the ________ lobe.
A) right frontal
B) left frontal
C) right temporal
D) left temporal
E) occipital

Accepted Answer

The body's left side is controlled by the right frontal lobe, and vice versa. Since Mary's right arm is affected, it indicates damage to the left frontal lobe.

Question 16

A(n) ________ is a printed record of the brain's electrical activity over a period of time.
A) electrocardiogram
B) electroencephalogram
C) X-ray
D) MRI
E) CT scan

Accepted Answer

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a printed record of the brain's electrical activity over a period of time. A electrocardiogram (EKG) is a printed record of the heart's electrical activity, while an X-ray, MRI, and CT scan are all imaging techniques that show the structure of organs and tissues but not their electrical activity.

Question 17

The two cerebral hemispheres are separated by the
A) longitudinal fissure.
B) central sulcus.
C) transverse fissure.
D) parieto-occipital sulcus.
E) postcentral sulcus.

Accepted Answer

The two cerebral hemispheres are separated by the longitudinal fissure, which is a deep groove that runs from the front to the back of the brain, dividing it into two hemispheres.

Question 18

The cranial nerves that innervate the eye muscles are
A) I, II, and III.
B) III, IV, and VI.
C) II, III, and IV.
D) II and VI.
E) III and V.

Accepted Answer

The cranial nerves that innervate the eye muscles are III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens). These nerves control the movement of the eye and the size of the pupil. Option A is incorrect because the olfactory nerve (I) is responsible for smell and the optic nerve (II) is responsible for vision, but neither nerve controls the movement of the eye muscles. Option C is incorrect because the trochlear nerve (IV) is not included. Option D is incorrect because only the abducens nerve (VI) is included. Option E is incorrect because the trigeminal nerve (V) is not one of the cranial nerves that innervates the eye muscles.

Question 19

________ centers receive information from many association areas and direct extremely complex motor activities such as speech.
A) Frontal
B) Integrative
C) Communication
D) Terminal
E) Vocal

Accepted Answer

Integrative centers in the brain are responsible for processing and integrating information from various association areas, directing complex activities like speech, which involves coordination of multiple brain regions and functions.

Question 20

Jane suffers from chronic seizures and in order to control the problem undergoes surgery in which the fibers of the corpus callosum are cut. As a result of this surgery she would likely be unable to
A) speak.
B) move her left arm.
C) verbally identify an object placed in her left hand.
D) recognize written words.
E) touch her nose with her eyes closed.

Accepted Answer

Cutting the corpus callosum impairs communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. This means that if an object is placed in the left hand (controlled by the right hemisphere), the information cannot be transferred to the left hemisphere (which controls language processing) to verbally identify the object. Therefore, Jane would likely be unable to verbally identify an object placed in her left hand.

Quiz 13: The Brain and Cranial Nerves

________ is a temporary cerebral disorder accompanied by abnormal movements, unusual sensations, and/or inappropriate behavior.

A person with a damaged visual association area may be

The internal capsule of the cerebrum is composed of

White matter fibers that pass from one gyrus to the adjacent gyrus are called

Bob is struck on the left side of the head and is knocked unconscious. When he recovers consciousness, he can hear individual words but cannot understand the meaning of phrases or sentences. This implies damage to his

As you ascend from the medulla oblongata to the cerebrum, the functions of each successive level become

The cranial nerve that has three major branches is the

The general interpretive area

Higher-order functions

If the corpus callosum is surgically cut,

The corpus callosum is composed of

Difficulties in estimating temporal relationships between events may stem from damage to

After suffering a blow to the back of the head, Phil loses his vision. The blow probably caused damage to the

There are ________ pairs of cranial nerves.

After suffering a stroke, Mary finds that she cannot move her right arm. This would suggest that the stroke damage is in the area of the ________ lobe.

A(n) ________ is a printed record of the brain's electrical activity over a period of time.

The two cerebral hemispheres are separated by the

The cranial nerves that innervate the eye muscles are

________ centers receive information from many association areas and direct extremely complex motor activities such as speech.

Jane suffers from chronic seizures and in order to control the problem undergoes surgery in which the fibers of the corpus callosum are cut. As a result of this surgery she would likely be unable to