Question 1

LTP was first found in the:

Accepted Answer

LTP was first discovered in the hippocampus, specifically in the Schaffer collateral pathway between the CA3 and CA1 regions.

Question 2

After completing an evaluation of a patient who experienced a stroke in the left hemisphere and has possible aphasia, you have determined that some aspects of language have been spared. To what would you attribute this finding?

Accepted Answer

Some language functions may be mediated by the right hemisphere, which can compensate for damage to the left hemisphere, especially in cases of injury or disease. This is why some language abilities can be spared or recovered following a stroke in the left hemisphere.

Question 3

Teuber's study on the long - term improvement of soldiers with brain wounds in the Korean War suggests that recovery is greatest in those soldiers who were _____ at the time of injury.

Accepted Answer

Teuber's study found that younger soldiers had a better prognosis for long-term improvement in cognitive function following brain injuries sustained during the Korean War. Factors such as motivation and education did not have as significant an impact on recovery as age did.

Question 4

Ischemia often results in a sequence of events that include the entry of toxic levels of _____ into the affected neurons.

Accepted Answer

Ischemia causes a decrease in blood flow, which results in a decrease in oxygen and glucose supply to the neurons. This can lead to depolarization of the neuronal membrane and the influx of calcium ions into the cell. Elevated levels of calcium can activate intracellular enzymes that generate reactive oxygen species, leading to DNA damage and cell death. Calcium also activates enzymes that release neurotransmitters like glutamate, causing excitotoxicity and further damage to the neurons. Therefore, the toxic levels of ions that result from ischemia are mainly calcium ions.

Question 5

The size of the brain area representing the musical scale in musicians correlates with:

Accepted Answer

The size of the brain area representing the musical scale in musicians is often correlated with the age at which they began to practice, as early musical training can lead to more significant brain development in areas related to music.

Question 6

The capacity for recovery following a stroke declines as the size of the stroke _____ and age _____.

Accepted Answer

The capacity for recovery following a stroke declines as the size of the stroke increases and as the age of the individual increases. Larger strokes typically result in more extensive damage to the brain, making recovery more difficult. Similarly, older individuals generally have a reduced capacity for recovery compared to younger individuals.

Question 7

Twitchell describes recovery from hemiplegia (inability to move the contralateral limbs) as following an orderly sequence, the first step of which is:

Accepted Answer

Twitchell's observations on the recovery process from hemiplegia highlight that the first step involves the return of reflexes. This is part of the natural progression towards regaining voluntary control and movement in the affected limbs.

Question 8

Which is NOT part of the sequence of recovery from motor - cortex damage over a period of days or weeks?

Accepted Answer

The primary sensorimotor cortex's functional improvement is a direct consequence of recovery and rehabilitation, not a separate phase in the sequence of recovery from motor-cortex damage. Recovery typically involves the return of reflexes, development of rigidity, and eventually the development of voluntary movements such as grasping, rather than improvements in the primary sensorimotor cortex itself.

Question 9

Which of the following factors does NOT increase cell proliferation of hippocampal granule neurons?

Accepted Answer

Exposure to stress has been shown to decrease cell proliferation of hippocampal granule neurons, while the other factors listed (adrenalectomy, reduced daylight, Prozac) have been shown to increase cell proliferation.

Question 10

Left temporal-lobe patients showed improvements in memory after they were taught to use a strategy involving:

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that left temporal-lobe patients benefit from using imagery strategies to improve memory, as this area of the brain is often associated with processing visual information. Vocabulary and logical reasoning may also be helpful in some cases, but imagery is typically the most effective strategy. Motor reflexes are unlikely to play a significant role in improving memory.

Question 11

In the amnesic H.M., his basic IQ scores _____ with long - term follow - up exams, and his amnesia _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the amnesic H.M., his basic IQ...

Question 12

Kindling has been demonstrated to occur in the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kindling has been demonstrated to occur in...

Question 13

The work of Nudo and colleagues underscores the importance of _____ in recovery from brain damage.

Accepted Answer

Nudo and colleagues emphasized the importance of using affected body parts, i.e., engaging in motor activities or movements. This approach is called constraint-induced movement therapy, and it has been shown to enhance motor function recovery in cases of brain damage. The other options mentioned (B, C, and D) are not directly related to the findings of Nudo and colleagues.

Question 14

Sugita found that properties of neurons in area _____ changed following monkeys' adaptive changes to prisms.

Accepted Answer

Sugita found that properties of neurons in area V1 and V4 changed following monkeys' adaptive changes to prisms.

Question 15

_____ reflects brain changes that are necessary to modify neuronal ensembles that are already present.

Accepted Answer

Experience-dependent plasticity refers to changes in the brain that occur as a result of an individual's experiences and interactions with the environment. These changes involve the modification of existing neuronal circuits, which is different from experience-expectant plasticity that involves the formation of new neuronal circuits based on expected experiences during critical periods of development. Long-term potentiation and kindling are specific forms of synaptic plasticity that involve changes in the strength of connections between neurons.

Question 16

Which of the following factors increase(s) cell survival of hippocampal granule neurons?

Accepted Answer

Prozac, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), can increase the survival of hippocampal granule neurons. SSRIs like Prozac are known to have neuroprotective effects, which can enhance neuronal survival and plasticity.

Question 17

Based on the predictions from the work of Jacobs et al., which of the following occupations would you NOT expect to correlate with an increase in the size of the associated brain region?

Accepted Answer

The work of Jacobs et al. focuses on the idea that practicing a specific skill can lead to an increase in the size of the brain region associated with that skill. Typists, tap dancers, and clarinet players all use specific physical movements or skills repeatedly, which could lead to an increase in the size of the brain regions associated with finger, foot, and musical scale representation, respectively. Singers, while they do use language, are not enhancing a specific brain region through physical movement or a skill that would lead to an increase in the size of the language representation area in the same way as the other occupations.

Question 18

After a series of higher - than - normal stimulations followed by a rest period, a baseline stimulation to a neuron elicits a greater excitatory postsynaptic potential from another neuron that receives its projections. This phenomenon is known as:

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a phenomenon in which a series of high-frequency stimulations, followed by a rest period, results in an increased response of a neuron to a subsequent stimulation. This increased response is due to an increase in the strength of the synapse between the neurons involved in the stimulation. LTP is thought to be an important mechanism underlying synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Kindling is a process in which repeated low-level stimulations gradually lead to the development of seizures. Ischemia refers to a lack of blood flow and oxygen to a region of the brain, which can lead to damage to neurons in that region. Synaptogenesis is the process of forming new synapses between neurons.

Question 19

Ramachandran and Hirstein found that following hand amputations the cortical map of the hand could be detected by stroking the:

Accepted Answer

Ramachandran and Hirstein found that following hand amputations, the cortical map of the missing hand shifted to adjacent areas of the brain, including the area that represented the face. Stroking the face of the amputee resulted in sensations felt in the missing hand, indicating the presence of the cortical map in that area.

Question 20

Teuber found, in his study of brain - damaged vets, that the poorest recovery rates were in those soldiers who suffered:

Accepted Answer

Teuber found that the poorest recovery rates were in soldiers who suffered dysphasia, which refers to difficulty in producing or understanding language. This suggests that language areas of the brain may be particularly vulnerable to damage and may have limited capacity for recovery. Other deficits listed (motor, visual field, somatosensory) are not mentioned as having poorer recovery rates in the study.

Quiz 25: Extension: A - Plasticity, Recovery, and Rehabilitation of the Adult Brain