psych 115 midterm Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
How many levels of analysis are there in behavioral neuroscience and what does each one focus on?
Social levels (Individuals behaving in social interaction), Organ levels (Brain, spinal cord, peripheral
nerves, and eyes), Neural Systems level (eyes and visual brain regions), Brain region level (visual
cortex), Cellular level (single neuron), Circuit level (local neural circuit), Synaptic level, Molecular level
What did French Philosopher Rene Descartes believe about the mind-brain problem?
Dualism: the belief that mind and body are diff kinds of substances that exist independently. A
nonphysical mind and a physical brain. Pineal gland is where the mind and body connect
What are the differences between the 3 approaches to relating brain and behavior?
Somatic intervention (The alteration of the brain to see how behavior altered (ex. hormone, drug,
damage to brain)), Behavioral intervention (intervention in a behavior to see how brain structure or
function alters (ex. put a male in presence of female or vision, changes in brain), Brain and behavior
covary (correlation measures how much a brain and behavior measure differently, purely
observational and no manipulation, correlation does not mean causation), Behavioral neuroscientists
use all or any combination of these approaches to understand ALL brain+behavior relationships
How are ethical practices enforced in animal research?
regulation of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which maintains oversight of
animal facilities and procedures for animal care, and carries out such activities as required by law to
assure human treatment of animals, and compliance with federal regulations
What was "old phrenology" all about and why was it wrong compared to "new"
phrenology?
"Old phrenology": The idea that each of the 35 diff faculties of emotion and intellect are located in a
precise area of the brain. "New phrenology": the brain actually functions as a whole, using 100% of
the brain
What are the 4 major parts of a neuron?
1. Input zone, 2. Integration zone, 3. Conduction zone, 4. Output zone
What is the job of each of the 4 major parts of a neuron?
1. Input zone (receives info from other cells through dendrites), 2. Integration zone (cell body/soma
region where inputs are combined and transformed), 3. Conduction zone (single axon leads away
from the cell body and transmits the electrical impulse), 4. Output zone (axon terminals at the end of
the axon communicate activity to other cells)
What are the differences between the 3 types of neurons?
Multipolar neurons (have one axon, many dendrites), bipolar neurons (one axon, one dendrite),
unipolar neurons (single extension branches in 2 directions, forming a receptive pole and an output
zone)
What's the purpose of the brain's major sulci, including the longitudinal fissure?
Central sulcus seperates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe. Lateral Sulcus (Sylvian Fissure)
separates temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes. The longitudinal fissure runs the length
, of the brain and separates the two cerebral hemispheres, which are mirror images of each other in
appearance.
What are the 4 major lobes of the brain and their general function?
OCCIPITAL LOBE: Vision (back of head), PARIETAL LOBE: Body sensations (top back), TEMPORAL LOBE:
Hearing, advanced visual processing (bottom front, near temples), FRONTAL LOBE: planning of
movements, recent memory, logical and rational thinking, some aspects of emotions (front)
Which brain regions belong to which division of the brain? (Know the chart on slide 26
in lecture 1b)
Know ALL of the anatomical orientation and planes of section.
Anterior: front, Dorsal: top, Medial: middle, Ipsilateral: same side, Proximal: Nearest to point of origin,
Posterior: back, ventral: bottom, Lateral: side, Contralateral: opposite side, Distal: farthest from point
of origin, Sagittal plane: Right and left vertically, Coronal plane: front and back horizontally, Horizontal
plane: upper and lower
What's the difference between the central vs. peripheral nervous systems?
CNS: Brain and spinal cord, PNS: all parts of nervous system outside the skull and spinal column,
contains Somatic Nervous System (cranial nerves, spinal nerves), and Autonomic Nervous System
What is the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
Sympathetic nervous system: is the "response" (ex. flight or fight, threat/danger, increased heart rate
and breath) and has preganglionic neurons only in the spinal cord which prepare the body for action,
Parasympathetic: is the "recovery", preganglionic neurons arise in the cranial nerves and the sacral
spinal cord (ex. slowed down heart rate, peace, calmness)
How can you identify the brain's outer appearance?
Gyrus: peaks, Sulcus: valleys
Why is the pre- and post-central gyrus so important?
Pre-central gyrus: Primary motor cortex, Post-central gyrus: primary somatosensory cortex
What's the difference between the frontal cortex vs the prefrontal cortex?
Frontal cortex: involved in movement and contains 2 sections the pre-frontal AND motor cortex, Pre-
frontal cortex: involved in logic, planning, and organization. Individually the paired frontal lobes are
known as the right and left frontal cortex
What's the general function of the Thalamus?
Relays info from sensory organs to the cortex ("brain union station")
What's the general function of the Basal Ganglia and which regions are involved?
System of subcortical regions involved in movement (Caudate nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus,
Substantia nigra, Thalamus, Subthalamic nucleus)
What's the general function of the Limbic System and which regions are involved?
Answers 100% Pass
How many levels of analysis are there in behavioral neuroscience and what does each one focus on?
Social levels (Individuals behaving in social interaction), Organ levels (Brain, spinal cord, peripheral
nerves, and eyes), Neural Systems level (eyes and visual brain regions), Brain region level (visual
cortex), Cellular level (single neuron), Circuit level (local neural circuit), Synaptic level, Molecular level
What did French Philosopher Rene Descartes believe about the mind-brain problem?
Dualism: the belief that mind and body are diff kinds of substances that exist independently. A
nonphysical mind and a physical brain. Pineal gland is where the mind and body connect
What are the differences between the 3 approaches to relating brain and behavior?
Somatic intervention (The alteration of the brain to see how behavior altered (ex. hormone, drug,
damage to brain)), Behavioral intervention (intervention in a behavior to see how brain structure or
function alters (ex. put a male in presence of female or vision, changes in brain), Brain and behavior
covary (correlation measures how much a brain and behavior measure differently, purely
observational and no manipulation, correlation does not mean causation), Behavioral neuroscientists
use all or any combination of these approaches to understand ALL brain+behavior relationships
How are ethical practices enforced in animal research?
regulation of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which maintains oversight of
animal facilities and procedures for animal care, and carries out such activities as required by law to
assure human treatment of animals, and compliance with federal regulations
What was "old phrenology" all about and why was it wrong compared to "new"
phrenology?
"Old phrenology": The idea that each of the 35 diff faculties of emotion and intellect are located in a
precise area of the brain. "New phrenology": the brain actually functions as a whole, using 100% of
the brain
What are the 4 major parts of a neuron?
1. Input zone, 2. Integration zone, 3. Conduction zone, 4. Output zone
What is the job of each of the 4 major parts of a neuron?
1. Input zone (receives info from other cells through dendrites), 2. Integration zone (cell body/soma
region where inputs are combined and transformed), 3. Conduction zone (single axon leads away
from the cell body and transmits the electrical impulse), 4. Output zone (axon terminals at the end of
the axon communicate activity to other cells)
What are the differences between the 3 types of neurons?
Multipolar neurons (have one axon, many dendrites), bipolar neurons (one axon, one dendrite),
unipolar neurons (single extension branches in 2 directions, forming a receptive pole and an output
zone)
What's the purpose of the brain's major sulci, including the longitudinal fissure?
Central sulcus seperates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe. Lateral Sulcus (Sylvian Fissure)
separates temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes. The longitudinal fissure runs the length
, of the brain and separates the two cerebral hemispheres, which are mirror images of each other in
appearance.
What are the 4 major lobes of the brain and their general function?
OCCIPITAL LOBE: Vision (back of head), PARIETAL LOBE: Body sensations (top back), TEMPORAL LOBE:
Hearing, advanced visual processing (bottom front, near temples), FRONTAL LOBE: planning of
movements, recent memory, logical and rational thinking, some aspects of emotions (front)
Which brain regions belong to which division of the brain? (Know the chart on slide 26
in lecture 1b)
Know ALL of the anatomical orientation and planes of section.
Anterior: front, Dorsal: top, Medial: middle, Ipsilateral: same side, Proximal: Nearest to point of origin,
Posterior: back, ventral: bottom, Lateral: side, Contralateral: opposite side, Distal: farthest from point
of origin, Sagittal plane: Right and left vertically, Coronal plane: front and back horizontally, Horizontal
plane: upper and lower
What's the difference between the central vs. peripheral nervous systems?
CNS: Brain and spinal cord, PNS: all parts of nervous system outside the skull and spinal column,
contains Somatic Nervous System (cranial nerves, spinal nerves), and Autonomic Nervous System
What is the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
Sympathetic nervous system: is the "response" (ex. flight or fight, threat/danger, increased heart rate
and breath) and has preganglionic neurons only in the spinal cord which prepare the body for action,
Parasympathetic: is the "recovery", preganglionic neurons arise in the cranial nerves and the sacral
spinal cord (ex. slowed down heart rate, peace, calmness)
How can you identify the brain's outer appearance?
Gyrus: peaks, Sulcus: valleys
Why is the pre- and post-central gyrus so important?
Pre-central gyrus: Primary motor cortex, Post-central gyrus: primary somatosensory cortex
What's the difference between the frontal cortex vs the prefrontal cortex?
Frontal cortex: involved in movement and contains 2 sections the pre-frontal AND motor cortex, Pre-
frontal cortex: involved in logic, planning, and organization. Individually the paired frontal lobes are
known as the right and left frontal cortex
What's the general function of the Thalamus?
Relays info from sensory organs to the cortex ("brain union station")
What's the general function of the Basal Ganglia and which regions are involved?
System of subcortical regions involved in movement (Caudate nucleus, Putamen, Globus Pallidus,
Substantia nigra, Thalamus, Subthalamic nucleus)
What's the general function of the Limbic System and which regions are involved?
