Brain Anatomy: Thalamus, Occipital, Temporal, and Frontal Lobes

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of the rooting reflex in infants?

To improve vision

To start crawling

To develop language skills

To find the breast or bottle to feed (correct)

At what stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory do children start using symbols to learn?

Sensorimotor stage

Concrete operational stage

Formal operational stage

Preoperational stage (correct)

Which reflex involves a baby starting to suck when the roof of their mouth is touched?

Rooting reflex

Moro reflex

Babinski reflex

Suck reflex (correct)

What is the main characteristic of Piaget's formal operational stage of cognitive development?

Reasoning abstractly Signup and view all the answers

Which developmental reflex helps infants follow a stroking near the corner of their mouth?

Rooting reflex Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Interacting with others and communicating effectively. Signup and view all the answers

What triggers some cases of ASD according to the text?

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). Signup and view all the answers

In Piaget's model of cognitive development, what does 'schemas' refer to?

Building blocks of knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

According to Piaget's stages of cognitive development, what is accommodation?

Adapting or creating new schemas to fit new information. Signup and view all the answers

What did Piaget not adequately consider in his research, based on the provided text?

Effect of cultural settings and social interactions on cognitive development. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about the mind in contemporary psychology?

The mind is solely responsible for all behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Why might 'the mind' not play the role that Sigmund Freud initially envisioned?

Interactions with unconscious psychological forces do not shape the mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the Behavioralist perspective on human behavior?

Explaining how behavior is isolated from cognitive factors. Signup and view all the answers

In human motivation theory, what are the three fundamental motivators proposed?

Desire for power, success, and affiliation. Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective focuses on explaining psychological forces that control human behavior?

Psychodynamic Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of dendrites in a neuron's structure?

Receive electric signals from other neurons Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is associated with muscles, learning, and memory?

Acetylcholine Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of myelin in a neuron?

Allow impulses to transmit quickly along neurons Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is linked to mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal?

Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of Glutamate in neuronal communication?

Act as a major excitatory neurotransmitter Signup and view all the answers

Where is the amygdala located?

In the temporal lobe, just in front of the hippocampus Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the cerebellum?

Involved in coordinating movement and balance Signup and view all the answers

Where is the hypothalamus located?

Positioned below the thalamus Signup and view all the answers

What does the medulla control?

Heartbeat and breathing Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the pons?

Helps coordinate movement and control sleep Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the thalamus?

Regulates sleep, alertness, and wakefulness Signup and view all the answers

Where is the occipital lobe located?

At the back of the head Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is involved in receiving information from the ears?

Temporal lobe Signup and view all the answers

Why are association areas important in brain function?

They are involved in higher mental functions like interpreting information Signup and view all the answers

What does the circadian rhythm relate to?

Natural cycle of physical, mental, and behavioral processes in a 24-hour cycle Signup and view all the answers

What type of learning is associated with anticipating events based on the linking of two or more stimuli?

Classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

Who conducted the test related to Operant Conditioning?

B.F. Skinner Signup and view all the answers

In Classical Conditioning, what becomes the conditional stimulus after conditioning?

Conditional stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of Classical Conditioning?

Teaching a dog to salivate when hearing a tone Signup and view all the answers

What type of learning is associated with behaviors becoming more probable if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punishment?

Operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

In Classical Conditioning, what is the unconditional response to the unconditional stimulus?

Unconditional response Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist conducted a test associated with Classical Conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov Signup and view all the answers

'Sounding a tone before delivering an air puff, after a few trials, as soon as you hear the tone you blink' is an example of:

Classical conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What does UR stand for in Classical Conditioning?

Unconditional Response Signup and view all the answers

In Operant Conditioning, which of the following becomes more probable if followed by a reinforcer?

Desired behavior Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Physical and Psychological Effects

Chronic stress can lead to:
High blood pressure
Depression
Decreased metabolism
Increased cortisol levels
Weakened immune system
Obesity
Reduced strength and slower reaction time

Infant Developmental Reflexes

Two key developmental reflexes in infants:
Rooting reflex: when the corner of the baby's mouth is stroked or touched, they turn their head and open their mouth to follow the stroking
Suck reflex: when the roof of the baby's mouth is touched, the baby will start to suck

Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

Four stages of cognitive development:
Sensorimotor (0-2 years): experiencing the world through senses and actions
Preoperational (2-6/7 years): representing things with words and symbols
Concrete operational (7-11 years): thinking logically about concrete events
Formal operational (12 years-adulthood): reasoning abstractly and logically

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Definition: a neurological and developmental disorder affecting interaction, communication, learning, and behavior
Symptoms present from early childhood and affect daily functioning

Piaget's Theory Weaknesses

Case studies on limited children and generalizing theory
Neglecting cultural settings and social interactions on cognitive development
Interviews may not be true to life and are subject to interpretation

Piaget vs. Vygotsky

Piaget: cognitive development depends on children's interactions; cognitive development of all children is the same
Vygotsky: cognitive development depends on culture of children's society; cognitive development of all children varies according to culture

Brain Areas and Functions

Medulla: controls heartbeat and breathing
Pons: helps coordinate movement and control sleep
Cerebellum: involved in coordinating movement and balance; also plays a role in cognitive functions like language
Hypothalamus: regulates body temperature and hunger, fatigue, and hormone system
Amygdala: processes emotions and memories associated with fear
Hippocampus: stores long-term memories and makes them hard to forget

Neuron Structure and Function

Dendrites: send electric signals from neurons to the cell body
Axon: transmits electrical and chemical signals from the cell body to other neurons
Action potential: electric charges and impulses down an axon
Glial cells: support and protect neurons
Myelin: allows impulses to transmit quickly along neurons
Synapse: site of transmission of signals between two neurons

Neuropeptides

Definition: small chemical substances produced and released by neurons through regulated routes
Examples:
- Insulin
- Acetylcholine (muscles, learning, and memory)
- Dopamine (learning, attention, emotion, and memory)
- Serotonin (mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal)
- GABA (major inhibitory neurotransmitter)
- Glutamate (major excitatory neurotransmitter)

Association Areas

Important for higher mental functions like interpreting and acting on information
Responsible for thought, memory, and learning, in combination with primary areas they surround

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Description

Test your knowledge on the location and main functions of the thalamus, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, and frontal lobe in the human brain. Learn about these important structures and their roles in regulating sleep, receiving visual information, and processing auditory information.