AP Psychology · Topic 1.4
The Brain: Structures and Functions Practice
Part of Biological Bases of Behavior.
Practice questions
38
Sample questions
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Sample 1difficulty 2/5
In a series of studies, Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga tested patients whose corpus callosum had been severed to relieve severe epilepsy. Researchers flashed an image of a spoon to the patient's left visual field while the patient stared at a central dot. When asked what they saw, patients verbally reported "nothing." However, when asked to use the left hand to select an object hidden behind a screen, patients correctly chose the spoon.
The corpus callosum's normal function is best described as:
- A
Filtering sensory input on its way to the cortex
- B
Coordinating fine motor movements
- Ccheck_circle
Transferring information between the two cerebral hemispheres
- D
Producing dopamine for the basal ganglia
Why
The corpus callosum is a thick band of axons that connects and transmits information between the left and right hemispheres. The cerebellum coordinates movement, the substantia nigra produces dopamine, and the thalamus filters sensory information.
- A
Sample 2difficulty 2/5
In a series of studies, researchers tested patient H.M., who had his hippocampus and surrounding medial temporal lobe surgically removed to treat severe epilepsy. After surgery, H.M. could recall events from before the operation and could carry on a conversation, but he could not remember new acquaintances even after meeting them dozens of times. Surprisingly, he could learn new motor skills like mirror tracing, even though he had no memory of practicing them.
H.M.'s pattern of deficits provides the strongest evidence that the hippocampus is critical for which process?
- Acheck_circle
Forming new explicit (declarative) long-term memories
- B
Recognizing familiar faces seen before surgery
- C
Producing fluent speech
- D
Storing procedural skills such as bicycle riding
Why
H.M. could not form new explicit memories (anterograde amnesia) but retained procedural learning, showing the hippocampus is essential for encoding new declarative memories but not procedural ones. Speech production is associated with Broca's area.
- A
Sample 3difficulty 2/5
In a famous case study, researchers examined a railroad foreman named Phineas Gage who survived after an iron tamping rod was driven through his skull, damaging much of his left frontal lobe. Before the accident, Gage was described as responsible, hardworking, and well-liked. After the accident, friends reported he became impulsive, profane, and unable to follow through on plans. Researchers later reconstructed the path of the rod using his preserved skull.
Gage's personality changes most directly support which conclusion about the frontal lobes?
- Acheck_circle
They contribute to executive function, impulse control, and personality regulation.
- B
They control involuntary functions such as heart rate and breathing.
- C
They are responsible for forming new long-term memories.
- D
They are primarily responsible for processing visual information.
Why
Gage's case is a classic demonstration that the frontal lobes (particularly the prefrontal cortex) play a central role in executive functions, social judgment, impulse control, and personality. Visual processing is in the occipital lobe; vital functions are regulated by the medulla; memory formation involves the hippocampus.
- A
Sample 4difficulty 2/5
In a series of studies, Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga tested patients whose corpus callosum had been severed to relieve severe epilepsy. Researchers flashed an image of a spoon to the patient's left visual field while the patient stared at a central dot. When asked what they saw, patients verbally reported "nothing." However, when asked to use the left hand to select an object hidden behind a screen, patients correctly chose the spoon.
These split-brain results provide direct evidence for what concept?
- A
Equipotentiality of cortical regions
- B
The all-or-none law of neural firing
- Ccheck_circle
Hemispheric lateralization of function
- D
Neural plasticity in adulthood
Why
Split-brain studies demonstrate that the two hemispheres specialize for different functions (lateralization), with language typically in the left hemisphere. Plasticity refers to reorganization, and the all-or-none law describes neural firing thresholds.
- A
Sample 5difficulty 2/5
In a famous case study, researchers examined a railroad foreman named Phineas Gage who survived after an iron tamping rod was driven through his skull, damaging much of his left frontal lobe. Before the accident, Gage was described as responsible, hardworking, and well-liked. After the accident, friends reported he became impulsive, profane, and unable to follow through on plans. Researchers later reconstructed the path of the rod using his preserved skull.
The Gage case best illustrates which research method?
- A
Correlational survey
- B
Naturalistic observation
- Ccheck_circle
Case study
- D
Double-blind experiment
Why
A case study is an in-depth investigation of one individual or small group, often used when a condition is rare. Naturalistic observation involves watching behavior in natural settings without intervention; experiments require manipulation; surveys involve self-report.
- A