Question 1

In 1848, an explosion near railroad-worker Phineas Gage sent a 1 metre long iron rod through his skull. The iron rod entered his head under Phineas's left eye and emerged from the top of his head. Describe what became known about brain functioning and personality due to this tragic accident.

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Question 2

Describe the electrical and chemical communication within and between neurons. In your essay, include an explanation of the differences in the conduction of nerve impulses in myelinated axons when compared to the conduction found in unmyelinated axons.

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Question 3

Stem-cell research is one of the hottest and most hotly debated research areas in neuroscience. Explain the reasoning behind both sides of the debate. What less controversial alternatives are neuroscientists currently pursuing?

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Question 4

Tate is eager to increase his creativity and intuition so that he can excel in his career as an engineer. He plans to sign up for an expensive course to promote the use of his right brain. As one of his good friends, what advice would you give to Tate regarding this course? What characteristics of human thought might explain the eagerness to glorify being "right-brained" and to disparage being "left-brained" (or vice versa)?

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Question 5

How can scientists study the living brain, since it is protected by the skull? The textbook notes several methods for this type of study. Describe the different approaches that have been used to explore the workings of the brain.

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Question 6

For years the conventional assumption in neuroscience had been that neurons in the central nervous system could neither reproduce nor regenerate. Then, as one researcher put it, there was a result that, "challenged everything I had read; everything I had learned when I was a student." Explain the startling results of studies that have overthrown the conventional wisdom regarding neuronal regeneration.

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Question 7

You have been asked to write an informed consent sheet for patients with debilitating, uncontrollable epilepsy to read when considering split-brain surgery. In your consent form, include the risks and the benefits that would be important for the patient to understand. Provide an example of the research findings from studies in which split-brain patient have viewed composite pictures.

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Question 8

Michael Gazzaniga has argued that without help from the left side, the right side's mental skills would probably be vastly inferior to the cognitive skills of a chimpanzee. Roger Sperry, however, has jumped to the defence of the right brain. Compare and contrast the reasoning behind each position. Where do you stand on this topic?

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Question 9

Explain how ordinary foods, herbal remedies, and recreational drugs can influence the availability of neurotransmitters in the brain. Describe the indirect path between "the dinner plate" and the brain in the case of tryptophan, including the complex involvement of carbohydrates and proteins.

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Question 10

Describe how MRIs are used in gauging activity in the left and right hemispheres of the brain while men and women perform different tasks (e.g., rhyme study).

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Question 11

The authors are careful to note that just because neurotransmitters are sometimes effective in treating disorders, that does not necessarily mean that abnormal neurotransmitter levels are causing the disorder. Explain why this is true.

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Question 12

The largest brain structure, the cerebrum, is where the highest form of thinking takes place. Describe the physical appearance of the thin layers of cells covering the cerebrum and compare the human cortex with that of other mammals. What are the names and roles of the lobes of the cortex?

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Question 13

Endorphin levels can shoot up when an animal or a person is afraid or under stress. Explain why this is adaptive through the development of your own example.

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Question 14

Many axons, especially the larger ones, are insulated with a myelin sheath. Write an essay on the importance of the myelin sheath, making sure to incorporate the following information:
* What kind of cells makes up the myelin sheath?
* What does the myelin sheath look like?
* What are two purposes of the myelin sheath?
* What happens when a person experiences the loss of myelin?

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Question 15

Your best friends from high school invite you over for pizza and a friendly game of euchre. Name six parts of the brain and explain the role each plays during your evening of food, fellowship, and euchre.

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Question 16

"I'm glad I spent time studying for this exam." When you say this to yourself, who is the "I" that is glad about this decision? We have a sense of being a conscious "self," but we also know that consciousness arises from the brain. Where in the brain is the sense of self? How have individuals answered this question? How did you react when you read about this issue?

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Question 17

In what ways do male and female brains differ physically? What does this difference have to do with behaviour? When writing your essay, include research findings from the studies of animal brains and of human brains.

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Quiz 4: The Brain: Source of Mind and Self