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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the thalamus?
What is the primary function of the thalamus?
- Acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals (correct)
- Regulates body temperature
- Influences emotional responses
- Essential for the formation of new memories
Which structure is primarily responsible for processing emotions such as fear and pleasure?
Which structure is primarily responsible for processing emotions such as fear and pleasure?
- Hippocampus
- Amygdala (correct)
- Hypothalamus
- Pineal gland
Which of the following functions does the hypothalamus NOT regulate?
Which of the following functions does the hypothalamus NOT regulate?
- Vision and hearing (correct)
- Temperature regulation
- Hormone release
- Hunger and thirst
What role does the hippocampus play in memory?
What role does the hippocampus play in memory?
Which structure is involved in regulating movements produced by skeletal muscles?
Which structure is involved in regulating movements produced by skeletal muscles?
What is the primary function of the epithalamus?
What is the primary function of the epithalamus?
Which part of the brain connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord?
Which part of the brain connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord?
Which function is associated with the midbrain?
Which function is associated with the midbrain?
What is the primary purpose of correlational research?
What is the primary purpose of correlational research?
What is indicated by a correlation coefficient of +1.0?
What is indicated by a correlation coefficient of +1.0?
What is a disadvantage of correlational research?
What is a disadvantage of correlational research?
In which of the following scenarios would you find a negative correlation?
In which of the following scenarios would you find a negative correlation?
Which of the following best describes the control over variables in correlational research?
Which of the following best describes the control over variables in correlational research?
What key takeaway distinguishes experimental research from correlational research?
What key takeaway distinguishes experimental research from correlational research?
Which of the following is a characteristic of correlational research?
Which of the following is a characteristic of correlational research?
How is the directionality problem related to correlational research?
How is the directionality problem related to correlational research?
What is the primary function of axon terminals?
What is the primary function of axon terminals?
What type of movements does the primary motor cortex initiate?
What type of movements does the primary motor cortex initiate?
Which type of neuron is responsible for conveying signals from the central nervous system to muscles?
Which type of neuron is responsible for conveying signals from the central nervous system to muscles?
What is the typical resting potential of a neuron?
What is the typical resting potential of a neuron?
Which area of the brain is primarily associated with speech articulation?
Which area of the brain is primarily associated with speech articulation?
What is the primary function of the parietal lobe?
What is the primary function of the parietal lobe?
During which phase of the action potential do sodium channels open, allowing Na⁺ to enter the neuron?
During which phase of the action potential do sodium channels open, allowing Na⁺ to enter the neuron?
Which body parts occupy a larger area in the sensory homunculus?
Which body parts occupy a larger area in the sensory homunculus?
What happens during the repolarization phase of an action potential?
What happens during the repolarization phase of an action potential?
How is resting potential maintained in neurons?
How is resting potential maintained in neurons?
What does the term 'homunculus' refer to in the context of brain mapping?
What does the term 'homunculus' refer to in the context of brain mapping?
Which mechanism contributes to the hyperpolarization phase of an action potential?
Which mechanism contributes to the hyperpolarization phase of an action potential?
Which of the following is NOT a function of the temporal lobe?
Which of the following is NOT a function of the temporal lobe?
Which structure is involved in encoding and retrieving memories?
Which structure is involved in encoding and retrieving memories?
What role does synaptic transmission play in the action potential?
What role does synaptic transmission play in the action potential?
Which area is associated with processing sounds?
Which area is associated with processing sounds?
What role is primarily associated with the left hemisphere of the brain?
What role is primarily associated with the left hemisphere of the brain?
Which structure is responsible for connecting the two hemispheres of the brain?
Which structure is responsible for connecting the two hemispheres of the brain?
What is the primary function of the midbrain?
What is the primary function of the midbrain?
Which lobe of the brain is primarily involved in executive functions such as planning and decision-making?
Which lobe of the brain is primarily involved in executive functions such as planning and decision-making?
What is a defining characteristic of the hindbrain?
What is a defining characteristic of the hindbrain?
Which brain division is primarily responsible for advanced cognitive functions?
Which brain division is primarily responsible for advanced cognitive functions?
What type of abilities does the right hemisphere typically handle?
What type of abilities does the right hemisphere typically handle?
What happens to each hemisphere of the brain in terms of body control?
What happens to each hemisphere of the brain in terms of body control?
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Study Notes
Brain Structures and Functions
- Diencephalon: Relay and processing center for sensory information.
- Thalamus: Directs sensory and motor signals; involved in consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
- Hypothalamus: Regulates autonomic functions and homeostasis; controls temperature, hunger, thirst, hormone release, and emotional responses.
- Epithalamus: Contains the pineal gland; regulates circadian rhythms and melatonin secretion, influencing sleep-wake cycles.
- Subthalamus: Involved in regulating movements.
- Limbic System: Emotion, memory, and motivation.
- Amygdala: Processes emotions; involved in emotional memory formation.
- Hippocampus: Essential for forming new memories and spatial navigation; converts short-term memories into long-term.
- Brainstem: Connects cerebrum with spinal cord; controls fundamental life-sustaining functions.
- Midbrain: Processes auditory and visual information; coordinates eye movements and reflexes; involved in alertness.
- Pons: Plays a role in REM sleep.
Cerebral Hemispheres
- Cerebrum: Divided into two hemispheres, separated by the longitudinal fissure.
- Left Hemisphere: Logic, language, analytical tasks.
- Right Hemisphere: Creativity, intuition, spatial abilities.
- Corpus Callosum: Connects hemispheres, enabling communication.
Brain Lobes
- Frontal Lobe: Planning, decision-making, problem-solving, motor control, speech production, personality, and behavior.
- Parietal Lobe: Sensory processing (touch, temperature, pain), spatial orientation, aspects of language comprehension.
- Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing, language comprehension, memory formation, emotion processing.
- Occipital Lobe: Visual processing, interpreting visual information, visual recognition.
- Homunculus: Visual representation of motor and sensory cortices.
- Motor Homunculus: Represents body parts involved in motor control, with more precise areas occupying larger portions of the motor cortex.
- Sensory Homunculus: Represents sensory input from different body parts; areas with higher receptor density occupy larger areas.
Brain Plasticity
- Ability of the brain to adapt and change throughout life in response to experience.
Neuron Function
- Types:
- Sensory: Transmit sensory information from receptors to the CNS.
- Motor: Convey signals from the CNS to muscles and glands.
- Interneurons: Connect neurons within the CNS, processing information.
- Resting Potential: Neuron's membrane potential when not transmitting a signal (-70 mV).
- Action Potential: Rapid rise and fall in membrane potential.
- Depolarization: Sodium channels open, Na⁺ enters the neuron.
- Repolarization: Sodium channels close, potassium channels open, K⁺ exits, restoring negative potential.
- Hyperpolarization: K⁺ continues to exit, making the inside more negative, before normalizing.
- Synaptic Transmission: Communication at synapses through neurotransmitter release.
Action Potential Components
- Repolarization: K⁺ ions exit during the action potential, restoring negative potential.
- Restoration of Resting Potential: K⁺ efflux helps bring the membrane potential back to resting state.
- Maintenance of Resting Potential:
- Leak Channels: K⁺ leak channels allow K⁺ to move out, contributing to negative resting potential.
- Sodium-Potassium Pump: Actively transports K⁺ into the neuron while expelling Na⁺, maintaining essential ion gradients.
Neuroanatomy
- Central Sulcus: Divides the frontal and parietal lobes.
- Lateral Sulcus: Divides the frontal and temporal lobes.
Research Methods
- Experimental Research: To determine causation; involves manipulation of independent variables (IV) with high control over variables.
- Correlational Research: To identify relationships and associations, without manipulating variables; uses correlation coefficient (r) to measure strength and direction of relationships.
- Correlation Coefficient (r): Ranges from -1.0 to +1.0.
- +1.0: Perfect positive correlation.
- -1.0: Perfect negative correlation.
- 0: No correlation.
- Positive Correlation: One variable increases, the other increases.
- Negative Correlation: One variable increases, the other decreases.
- Correlation Coefficient (r): Ranges from -1.0 to +1.0.
Research Method Advantages & Disadvantages
- Experimental Research:
- Advantages: Establishes cause and effect.
- Disadvantages: Limited ethical flexibility; may lack ecological validity.
- Correlational Research:
- Advantages: More flexible; ethically easier.
- Disadvantages: Cannot determine causation, susceptible to third variables and directionality problems.
Summary Table of Research Methods
| Aspect | Experimental Research | Correlational Research |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Determine Causation | Identify Relationships/ Associations |
| Manipulation | Yes (IV manipulated) | No Manipulation |
| Control Over Variables | High | Low to Moderate |
| Causality | Can establish cause and effect | Cannot establish causality |
| Ethical Flexibility | Limited (ethical constraints on manipulation) | More flexible (observational) |
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