1. The difference between cognitive neuroscience and cognitive psychology is that cognitive neuroscience

can only be studied using an MRI scanner. incorrect

only studies people with clinical or behavioral disorders. incorrect

places a special emphasis on understanding the neural underpinnings of cognition. correct

tries to model neurons with computers. incorrect

places a special emphasis on understanding the neural underpinnings of cognition.
Feedback: While cognitive psychology examines how information is handled by the mind, cognitive neuroscience provides additional insight by linking cognitive processes to brain structures and mechanisms.
Section reference: 2.1 The Neural Basis of Cognition

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2. Which statement about glial cells is false?

They physically and chemically support neurons. incorrect

They outnumber neurons. incorrect

They help neurons to function. incorrect

They are dispensable; that is, neurons can function without them. correct

Feedback: Glial cells are more numerous than neurons and provide both functional and structural support for neurons.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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3. _______ receive information from other neurons.

Axons incorrect

Soma incorrect

Synapses incorrect

Dendrites correct

Feedback: While soma and even axons can receive information from other neurons, dendrites are most commonly the recipients of output from other neurons.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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4. The space that separates neurons is called a(n)

axon. incorrect

somite. incorrect

synapse. correct

dendrite. incorrect

Feedback: The synapse is where the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) are released and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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5. Neurons are plastic; their size and shape can change

in response to injury. incorrect

during development. incorrect

during learning and memory. incorrect

All of the above correct

Feedback: Answer choices a, b, and c are all true.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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6. The part of the neuron that sends information to other neurons is called the

axon. correct

soma. incorrect

synapse. incorrect

dendrite. incorrect

Feedback: When a neuron fires, an action potential is generated down the axon, leading to the release of neurotransmitters that are received by other neurons.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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7. Although structurally symmetrical at the global level, the left and right hemispheres of the brain have been found to differ in

the number of neurons. incorrect

the number of glial cells. incorrect

the number of lobes. incorrect

some functions. correct

Feedback: At the global level, the two hemispheres appear similar, but subtle functional differences exist, such as the greater involvement of the left hemisphere in language compared to the right.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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8. Which lobe receives visual information?

Temporal incorrect

Occipital correct

Frontal incorrect

Parietal incorrect

Feedback: Although at the back of the head, away from the eyes, the occipital lobe is the destination of visual information initially received by the retina.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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9. Which lobe is most linked with higher functions such as thinking and planning?

Temporal incorrect

Occipital incorrect

Frontal correct

Parietal incorrect

Feedback: The frontal lobe is heavily involved in decision making, planning, and thinking, often in partnership with other brain regions such as the parietal lobe.
Section reference: 2.2 The Basics of Brain Structure and Function

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10. A person who has lost some language function because of a stroke would be evaluated by (among others) a(n)

neuropsychologist. correct

linguistics specialist. incorrect

polyglot (someone who can speak multiple languages). incorrect

orthopedic. incorrect

Feedback: Although such a patient would be treated by a neurosurgeon, speech pathologist, and/or physical therapist, a neuropsychologist would examine how the patient's language skills were affected by the stroke.
Section reference: 2.3 Neuroscience Methods

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11. When conducting an experiment linking brain activity to a cognitive function, it is necessary to

make sure that the equipment being used is state-of-the-art. incorrect

compare the brain activity to a baseline or control condition. correct

validate your instrumentation with other pre-established technologies. incorrect

validate your methods by corroborating with other scientists. incorrect

Feedback: A carefully chosen baseline or control condition is necessary to make sure that the observed neural activity is indeed linked to the cognitive function you are testing.
Section reference: 2.3 Neuroscience Methods

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12. Although single-cell recordings have high resolution, a major drawback is that this technique is

unable to provide insight into how neurons respond to the real world. incorrect

highly invasive and therefore not usually performed on humans. correct

statistically invalid because only one cell can be studied at a time. incorrect

too disruptive to the functioning of the neurons being studied. incorrect

Feedback: Single cell recording requires the insertion of an electrode into the brain itself, making it too invasive for research on humans in most circumstances.
Section reference: 2.3 Neuroscience Methods

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13. Brain stimulation methods (such as TMS and tDCS) help address which common issue in cognitive neuroscience research?

Low spatial resolution incorrect

Establishing cause and effect correct

Access to deeper brain regions incorrect

Isolation of genetic influences incorrect

Feedback: Brain imaging methods like fMRI or EEG can establish correlations between brain activity and cognitive function, but they are limited in what they can tell us about cause and effect (e.g., whether a neural region drives cognitive function or is merely correlated with cognitive function). Brain stimulation methods like TMS and tDCS allow researchers to safely increase or briefly interrupt activity in target brain regions, thus enabling them to assess the causal role of brain activity.
Section reference: 2.3 Neuroscience Methods

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14. Magnetic resonance imaging has proven to be an indispensable tool for

visualizing the interior of the brain. incorrect

teaching brain anatomy. incorrect

medical diagnoses. incorrect

All of the above correct

Feedback: All of these are uses of MRI.
Section reference: 2.3 Neuroscience Methods

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15. The study of how the environment affects the way genes operate is called

behavioral genetics. incorrect

epigenetics. correct

neurogenetics. incorrect

cognitive neurogenetics. incorrect

Feedback: Epigenetics is the study of how external influences during an animal's lifetime affect the genes that are expressed, and by how much. Behavioral genetics (answer choice a) is concerned with linking behavior (phenotype) to genes (genotype). Answer choices c and d are concerned with the genetics of the nervous system.
Section reference: 2.3 Neuroscience Methods