Behaviour and the Brain 2 Practice Exam

Questions and Answers

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _, this is called _:

Weakens, long-term potentiation

Weakens, long-term depression

Gets stronger, long-term depression

Gets stronger, long-term potentiation (correct)

Which description aligns with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness?

Consciousness has an unlimited capacity

Long term memory is needed for conscious experiences

The conscious spotlight can 'shine' on any brain process (correct)

Only representations that are attended become conscious

What is the 'hard problem' often referred to in consciousness studies?

The problem that when trying to explain conscious experience in physical terms, there would always be something 'left out' of the explanation (correct)

The problem that it is impossible to determine whether consciousness and attention are the same thing or not

The problem that we do not know how neurons code perceptual experiences in the brain

The problem that the functions of the brain, when taken all together, would explain why we experience things the way we do

What does the example of 'split brain' patients exemplify?

What it shows depends on whether you believe that drawing something from memory requires consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT true of mechanistic explanations?

They result in emergent properties Signup and view all the answers

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

connectional Signup and view all the answers

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

causal Signup and view all the answers

What is true?

Top-down experiments are experiments in which the parts and/or processes of a mechanism are stimulated/disrupted to see whether there is an effect on the phenomenon that the mechanism is thought to constitute, while bottom-up experiments are experiments in which a phenomenon is manipulated to see whether that affects the parts and/or processes that are thought to constitute it. Signup and view all the answers

Establishing etiological causal relevance entails

Manipulating something and establishing what the effect of that manipulation is on something else Signup and view all the answers

To follow the connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical _____.

tracers Signup and view all the answers

What are Brodmann areas?

Regions of the cortex sensitive to specific cognitive tasks Signup and view all the answers

The person who came up with the 'Neuron doctrine' is:

Santiago Ramón y Cajal Signup and view all the answers

In which cuts or views of the brain do we see both hemispheres at the same time?

Axial, sagittal, and coronal Signup and view all the answers

What are the four functions of a neuron, in the right order from dendrite to axon?

Collecting, integrating, conducting, outputting Signup and view all the answers

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _, this is called _:

gets stronger, long-term potentiation Signup and view all the answers

Important general features of memory are that it is:

(iii), (v) and (vi) Signup and view all the answers

Which description fits with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness?

Only representations that are attended become conscious. Signup and view all the answers

When ordering altered states of consciousness from least likely to have (some) degree of consciousness to most likely to have (some) degree of consciousness, what would be the best order?

coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'hard problem'?

The problem that when trying to explain conscious experience in physical terms, there would always be something 'left out' of the explanation Signup and view all the answers

What does this image intend to show?

That what we experience is determined by context Signup and view all the answers

What does the example of 'split brain' patients show?

What it shows depends on whether you believe that drawing something from memory requires consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT true of mechanistic explanations?

They result in emergent properties Signup and view all the answers

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

connectional Signup and view all the answers

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

causal Signup and view all the answers

What is true?

Top-down experiments... Signup and view all the answers

Establishing etiological causal relevance entails

Manipulating something... Signup and view all the answers

To follow the connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical _____.

tracers Signup and view all the answers

What are Brodmann areas?

Regions of the cortex sensitive to specific cognitive tasks Signup and view all the answers

The person who came up with the 'Neuron doctrine' is:

Santiago Ramón y Cajal Signup and view all the answers

In which cuts or views of the brain do we see both hemispheres at the same time?

Axial, sagittal, and coronal Signup and view all the answers

What are the four functions of a neuron, in the right order from dendrite to axon?

Integrating, collecting, conducting, outputting Signup and view all the answers

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _, this is called _.

gets stronger, long-term potentiation Signup and view all the answers

Important general features of memory include that it is:

(iii), (v) and (vi) Signup and view all the answers

Which description fits with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness?

Only representations that are attended become conscious. Signup and view all the answers

When ordering altered states of consciousness from least likely to have (some) degree of consciousness to most likely to have (some) degree of consciousness, what would be the best order?

coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT true of mechanistic explanations?

They result in emergent properties Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'hard problem' in consciousness studies?

The problem that when trying to explain conscious experience in physical terms, there would always be something 'left out' of the explanation Signup and view all the answers

What does the example of 'split brain' patients show?

What it shows depends on whether you believe that drawing something from memory requires consciousness Signup and view all the answers

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

Connectional Signup and view all the answers

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

Causal Signup and view all the answers

What is true?

Establishing etiological causal relevance entails

Manipulating something and establishing what the effect of that manipulation is on something else Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture 1 - Introduction

Mechanistic explanations:
- Are reductionist explanations
- Do not result in emergent properties
- Can be identified through mutual manipulability
- Answer "how actually?" questions rather than "how possibly?" questions
Research methods:
- Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are examples of correlational methods
- Stimulation studies can provide a causal link between brain activity and function

Lecture 2 - History and Neurons

Neuron doctrine:
- Developed by Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Brodmann areas:
- Regions of the cortex sensitive to specific cognitive tasks
Brain visualization:
- Axial, sagittal, and coronal views of the brain are possible
Neuron functions:
- Collecting, integrating, conducting, and outputting information

Lecture 3 - Nervous System

Developing vertebrate brains:
- Divided into prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon
Nervous system organization:
- Central nervous system (CNS) includes brain and spinal cord
- Somatic nervous system involved in voluntary movements
- Autonomic nervous system involved in involuntary movements
Hypothalamus:
- Regulatory structure involved in maintaining homeostasis through hormone secretion

Lecture 4 - Methods

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
- Can be weighted for different tissue types (e.g., T1, T2, T2*)
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to visualize neural tracts
Other methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) measures electrical activity in the brain
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures magnetic fields generated by electrical activity
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can induce virtual brain lesions

Lecture 5 - Visual Hierarchy

Visual processing:
- Light is transduced to electrical signals in the eye
- Information is transmitted to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and then to primary visual cortex (V1)
Visual hierarchy:
- Increasingly complex tuning properties arise in the visual hierarchy
- Cortical assembly line: neurons in visual cortex are sensitive to increasingly complex features

Lecture 6 - Perception

Binding problem:
- The problem of how the brain determines which features (color, motion, shape) belong to the same object
Object representation:
- "Gnostic" cells at the top of the visual hierarchy could represent objects
- Objects could be represented by ensembles of neurons that together code for objects
Perceptual organization:
- Achieved through hierarchical coding and lateral and feedback processing

Lecture 7 - Plasticity and Memory

Synaptic plasticity:
- Number of synapses in the brain decreases over time
Memory types:
- Declarative memory (e.g., facts) vs. non-declarative memory (e.g., skills)
Long-term potentiation (LTP):
- Strengthening of connections between neurons when active at the same time
Place cells:
- Neurons that fire when an organism is located in a particular place in its environment

Lecture 8 - Attention and Consciousness

Global Workspace Theory (GWT) of consciousness:
- Conscious experience arises when information is globally broadcast to the brain
Altered states of consciousness:
- Coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state (in order of least to most likely to have some degree of consciousness)
Hard problem of consciousness:
- The problem of explaining why we have subjective experiences at all

Mechanistic Explanations

Mechanistic explanations are reductionist and answer "how actually" questions rather than "how possibly" questions
They can be identified through mutual manipulability

Methods of Studying the Brain

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are examples of correlational methods
Stimulation studies provide a causal link between brain activity and function

Experimental Designs

Top-down experiments: stimulate/disrupt parts and/or processes of a mechanism to see the effect on the phenomenon
Bottom-up experiments: manipulate a phenomenon to see the effect on the parts and/or processes that constitute it

Neurons and Brain Structure

To follow connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical tracers
Brodmann areas: regions of the cortex sensitive to specific cognitive tasks
The "Neuron doctrine" was developed by Santiago Ramón y Cajal
The four functions of a neuron, in order from dendrite to axon, are: collecting, integrating, conducting, and outputting

Nervous System Development

Developing vertebrate brains contain three main divisions: prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord
Humans have a somatic nervous system, used for voluntary actions like raising an arm or kicking a ball
The hypothalamus is a regulatory set of nuclei involved in maintaining homeostasis through hormone secretion

Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience

Weighting of MRI scans: T1, T2, and T2* (sensitive to blood oxygenation)
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is used to compare neural tracts between groups of people
EEG and MEG are used to measure brain activity with high temporal resolution
TMS is used to induce virtual brain lesions in humans

Visual Hierarchy

Neurons in the right LGN respond to stimulation of the left visual hemifield
The visual hierarchy: LGN → V1 (primary visual cortex) → higher visual areas
Increasingly complex tuning properties arise in the visual hierarchy due to multiple neurons projecting to single neurons higher up
A "cortical assembly line" refers to neurons in visual cortex being sensitive to increasingly complex features

Perception and Binding

The binding problem: how the brain determines which features belong to the same object
The brain represents objects through ensembles of neurons that together code for objects
Hierarchical coding and lateral/feedback processing are involved in perceptual organization
Figure-ground relationships and illusory surfaces are represented in higher visual areas

Plasticity and Memory

The number of synapses in the brain decreases over time
Non-declarative memory: skills and habits, e.g. knitting
Place cells are neurons that fire when an organism is located in a particular place
Long-term potentiation: the strengthening of connections between neurons through simultaneous activity

Attention and Consciousness

The Global Workspace Theory: consciousness arises from the global workspace of the brain
Attention is necessary for conscious experience
The "hard problem" of consciousness: explaining why we have subjective experiences at all
Split-brain patients show that consciousness can be affected by alterations to brain structure and function

Mechanistic Explanations

Mechanistic explanations are reductionist and answer "how actually" questions rather than "how possibly" questions
They can be identified through mutual manipulability

Methods of Studying the Brain

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are examples of correlational methods
Stimulation studies provide a causal link between brain activity and function

Experimental Designs

Top-down experiments: stimulate/disrupt parts and/or processes of a mechanism to see the effect on the phenomenon
Bottom-up experiments: manipulate a phenomenon to see the effect on the parts and/or processes that constitute it

Neurons and Brain Structure

To follow connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical tracers
Brodmann areas: regions of the cortex sensitive to specific cognitive tasks
The "Neuron doctrine" was developed by Santiago Ramón y Cajal
The four functions of a neuron, in order from dendrite to axon, are: collecting, integrating, conducting, and outputting

Nervous System Development

Developing vertebrate brains contain three main divisions: prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord
Humans have a somatic nervous system, used for voluntary actions like raising an arm or kicking a ball
The hypothalamus is a regulatory set of nuclei involved in maintaining homeostasis through hormone secretion

Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience

Weighting of MRI scans: T1, T2, and T2* (sensitive to blood oxygenation)
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is used to compare neural tracts between groups of people
EEG and MEG are used to measure brain activity with high temporal resolution
TMS is used to induce virtual brain lesions in humans

Visual Hierarchy

Neurons in the right LGN respond to stimulation of the left visual hemifield
The visual hierarchy: LGN → V1 (primary visual cortex) → higher visual areas
Increasingly complex tuning properties arise in the visual hierarchy due to multiple neurons projecting to single neurons higher up
A "cortical assembly line" refers to neurons in visual cortex being sensitive to increasingly complex features

Perception and Binding

The binding problem: how the brain determines which features belong to the same object
The brain represents objects through ensembles of neurons that together code for objects
Hierarchical coding and lateral/feedback processing are involved in perceptual organization
Figure-ground relationships and illusory surfaces are represented in higher visual areas

Plasticity and Memory

The number of synapses in the brain decreases over time
Non-declarative memory: skills and habits, e.g. knitting
Place cells are neurons that fire when an organism is located in a particular place
Long-term potentiation: the strengthening of connections between neurons through simultaneous activity

Attention and Consciousness

The Global Workspace Theory: consciousness arises from the global workspace of the brain
Attention is necessary for conscious experience
The "hard problem" of consciousness: explaining why we have subjective experiences at all
Split-brain patients show that consciousness can be affected by alterations to brain structure and function

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Practice exam with 40 questions covering cognitive neuroscience, sampling learning materials from lectures and chapters.

Behaviour and the Brain 2 Practice Exam

Questions and Answers

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _____, this is called _____:

Which description aligns with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness?

What is the 'hard problem' often referred to in consciousness studies?

What does the example of 'split brain' patients exemplify?

What is NOT true of mechanistic explanations?

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

What is true?

Establishing etiological causal relevance entails

To follow the connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical _____.

What are Brodmann areas?

The person who came up with the 'Neuron doctrine' is:

In which cuts or views of the brain do we see both hemispheres at the same time?

What are the four functions of a neuron, in the right order from dendrite to axon?

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _____, this is called _____:

Important general features of memory are that it is:

Which description fits with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness?

When ordering altered states of consciousness from least likely to have (some) degree of consciousness to most likely to have (some) degree of consciousness, what would be the best order?

What is the 'hard problem'?

What does this image intend to show?

What does the example of 'split brain' patients show?

What is NOT true of mechanistic explanations?

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

What is true?

Establishing etiological causal relevance entails

To follow the connections to and from a given neuron, scientists use chemical _____.

What are Brodmann areas?

The person who came up with the 'Neuron doctrine' is:

In which cuts or views of the brain do we see both hemispheres at the same time?

What are the four functions of a neuron, in the right order from dendrite to axon?

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _____, this is called _____.

Important general features of memory include that it is:

Which description fits with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness?

When ordering altered states of consciousness from least likely to have (some) degree of consciousness to most likely to have (some) degree of consciousness, what would be the best order?

What is NOT true of mechanistic explanations?

What is the 'hard problem' in consciousness studies?

What does the example of 'split brain' patients show?

Microelectrodes, eCog, and electroencephalography (EEG) are all examples of _______ methods of studying the brain.

Stimulation studies are useful because they can provide a _____ link between brain activity and function.

What is true?

Establishing etiological causal relevance entails

Study Notes

Lecture 1 - Introduction

Lecture 2 - History and Neurons

Lecture 3 - Nervous System

Lecture 4 - Methods

Lecture 5 - Visual Hierarchy

Lecture 6 - Perception

Lecture 7 - Plasticity and Memory

Lecture 8 - Attention and Consciousness

Mechanistic Explanations

Methods of Studying the Brain

Experimental Designs

Neurons and Brain Structure

Nervous System Development

Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience

Visual Hierarchy

Perception and Binding

Plasticity and Memory

Attention and Consciousness

Mechanistic Explanations

Methods of Studying the Brain

Experimental Designs

Neurons and Brain Structure

Nervous System Development

Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience

Visual Hierarchy

Perception and Binding

Plasticity and Memory

Attention and Consciousness

Studying That Suits You

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When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _, this is called _:

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _, this is called _:

When two neighboring cells in your brain are active at the same time, the connection between them _, this is called _.