Anatomy
Name the brain structure that sits directly behind the forehead and is involved in planning and reasoning.
Frontal lobe.
Which lobe is most active when you imagine the future or make reasoned arguments?
Frontal lobes.
Which lobes receive auditory information from the ears?
Temporal lobes.
Give one example of a normal brain change that can happen during adolescence (grade-appropriate).
Examples: synaptic pruning, increased myelination, improved impulse control (typical adolescent brain development).
Diseases/conditions 100 — Name one neurological disease or condition listed on the American Brain Foundation site.
Examples: stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (from American Brain Foundation list).
Which cortex is located in the back portion of the frontal lobes and helps control voluntary movement?
Motor cortex.
What is the primary function of the motor cortex?
Plan, control, and execute voluntary movements.
Which two lobes are located at the very back of the brain and process visual input?
Occipital lobes (two areas at the back).
How might practicing new skills (like learning to play an instrument) physically change brain function or organization?
Repeated practice strengthens neural pathways (synaptic connections) and can increase efficiency of related networks.
Give an example of how brain regions discussed (frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal) might be affected by a disease or injury (one example).
Example: Damage to the occipital lobe → visual problems; damage to frontal lobe → changes in planning or behavior.
Which lobes, located behind the frontal lobes, support reading and arithmetic and process senses like taste and texture?
Parietal lobes.
The somatosensory cortex receives information from the body. List three types of sensory information it processes.
Temperature, taste, touch (also movement).
Identify the lobe that is paired with the motor cortex on the opposite side of the central sulcus.
Parietal lobe (specifically somatosensory cortex lies in parietal lobe across from motor cortex).
Explain how short-term “storage” in the frontal lobes supports problem solving and planning (use classroom-level explanation).
By temporarily keeping information active (working memory), the frontal lobes let you compare options and plan steps.
From the Timeline of Psychiatry (Wikipedia), name one historical shift or milestone in how mental illnesses have been treated (short answer).
Example milestone: movement from asylums and early moral treatments toward modern psychopharmacology and evidence-based therapies.
What structure is the forward part of the parietal lobes that receives information about temperature, touch, and movement from the body?
Somatosensory cortex.
Explain one way the frontal lobes act as short-term “storage” during reasoning tasks.
They hold an idea in mind temporarily so other ideas can be compared — acting like short-term working memory.
Name the major lobes mentioned in the provided slides/document text (list at least four).
Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital (and motor cortex / somatosensory cortex).
Describe one way aging can affect brain structure or function in typical, non-pathological cases.
Slower processing speed, slight memory changes, or reduced plasticity are common non-pathological aging effects.
Describe one neurological symptom that could result from damage to the motor cortex.
Weakness or paralysis on the opposite side of the body, loss of fine motor control.
Name the lobes at the back of the brain primarily responsible for visual processing.
Occipital lobes.
Describe how the parietal lobes contribute to both sensory perception (e.g., taste) and higher cognitive tasks (e.g., arithmetic).
They process sensory inputs (taste, touch) and integrate information for tasks such as spatial orientation and arithmetic.
Describe the relative placement of frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes in the brain (front-to-back order).
Frontal (front) → Parietal → Temporal (sides) → Occipital (back).
Using information from the NOVA/PBS documentary and Brain Basics (NIH), summarize one major factor that can produce long-term changes in brain function (e.g., repeated stress, injury, learning).
Long-term stress, repeated learning/practice, or traumatic injury can cause lasting functional changes; e.g., chronic stress can alter connectivity and hormone regulation affecting cognition.
Choose a disease from the American Brain Foundation list and explain, in student-friendly terms, which part of brain function it affects and one common symptom.
(Sample) Parkinson’s disease: affects movement control (basal ganglia dysfunction) → tremors, stiffness, slow movement.