Neurotechnology
What technology records the brain’s electrical activity using electrodes placed on the scalp?
EEG (electroencephalogram)
List three factors that increase the risks of mental illness.
Genetics, environmental factors (ex. stress, trouble coping, lack of social relationships, low self-esteem, etc)
How many lobes does the brain have?
8 (4 on both sides)
A common myth states humans only use ___% of their brain. What percent is this? What percent of the brain do humans actually use?
10%; Brain scans like PET and fMRI show that nearly all areas of the brain are active over the course of a day, even when resting or sleeping.
What device uses electrical stimulation to help treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
deep brain stimulation (DBS)
(brain pacemaker or neurostimulator are accepted as well)
Which mental illness is characterized by positive symptoms including hallucinations and delusions, as well as negative symptoms including anosognosia and emotional “flatness”?
Schizophrenia
Which part of the brain is known as the “master gland” because it controls many other endocrine glands through hormones?
Hypothalamus
This is the myth that humans can focus on two demanding tasks at the same time without losing attention. What is this called, and what is the brain really doing during this process?
Multitasking; The human brain cannot focus on two complex things at the same time. Instead of processing both tasks equally, the brain does rapid task-switching, bouncing back and forth between the activities.
What technology allows a person to use brain signals to control an external device?
brain-computer interface (BCI)
Which mental illness/disorder has the highest annual prevalence in the US?
Anxiety disorders
Which brain structure is primarily responsible for processing visual information?
Occipital lobe
The myth that your brain is fully developed by your teens is false; the frontal lobe keeps developing until around this age.
Mid 20s
What imaging technology uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of the brain?
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
(MRI offers partial credit)
Suggest a method typically used to treat or alleviate depression
Combined psychotherapy and medications (CBT + anti-depressants);
Which part of the brain is involved in forming new long-term memories and spatial navigation?
Hippocampus
It is a myth that you can not grow new cells; this process of creating new neurons happens in adults as well, and describe where in the brain this process likely happens.
neurogenesis
What technology uses sensors implanted in or around the brain to detect activity from individual neurons?
neural implants
What is a common therapy used to treat Borderline Personality Disorder?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Which part of the brain regulates vital involuntary functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure?
Brainstem
This myth says that when you sleep, your brain completely shuts down, but it is actually quite active, especially during this vivid dreaming stage.
REM (rapid eye movement)