4A
Approaches to Understanding the Brain
Approaches to Understanding the Brain
True or False: Phrenology is still considered a scientifically accurate way to measure personality.
False
True or False: The hindbrain is mainly responsible for sophisticated thinking and problem-solving.
False
True or False: The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum.
True
What is the main difference between dualism and monism in the mind-body problem?
Which structure of the hindbrain is responsible for coordinating skeletal muscle movement and balance?
The cerebellum
Name the four lobes of the cerebral cortex.
Frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.
What was the main aim of Sperry and Gazzaniga’s split-brain research?
To investigate how the left and right hemispheres function after the corpus callosum is severed.
What is the main role of the midbrain?
Relaying neural information between the hindbrain, forebrain, and spinal cord.
What is the function of Broca’s area?
Broca’s area is responsible for language production/speech expression.
What did split-brain research reveal about the left hemisphere?
The left hemisphere specialises in language expression and comprehension.
What is the role of the thalamus in behaviour and mental processes?
The thalamus filters and relays sensory information (except smell) to higher brain areas.
What is the role of association areas in the cerebral cortex?
They integrate information from motor and sensory areas to perform complex mental processes.
Explain one advantage of fMRI over PET scans.
fMRI produces higher-quality images and does not require injection of a radioactive substance.
A person experiences damage to the medulla. Identify one likely effect on their functioning.
Difficulty regulating autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, or digestion.
Explain the difference between motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas of the cerebral cortex.