Psychology Questions- Unit 2- The Brain
Set #1
1. Describe what happened to Phineas Gage. How did this help the field of Psychology?
Phineas Gage had a metal iron go through his frontal lobe in a mining accident, this
impacted his personality. This showed scientists that different parts of the brain are
responsible for different functions, and this also lead to the creation of the lobotomy.
2. Describe the case of Charles Whitman. Explain how the following perspectives could be
used to explain his behavior: Went on a shooting spree at University. He was later
shown to have had a tumor, had a violent upbringing, and had expressed violent
thoughts in the past.
a. Biological- The brain tumour caused him to act irrationally.
b. Humanistic- Whitman had free choice to do what he did.
c. Sociocultural- Being brought up in a violent home would impact his behavior.
d.
3. Briefly describe the main function of each of the four cerebral lobes, the cerebellum,
and the brainstem. Frontal Lobe  Throughts/decisions, Parietal Lobe  Sensory
integration; Occipital Lobe  Vision; Temporal Lobe  Memory/Learning;
Cerebellum Movement; Brainstem  survival functions (Breathing, heartrate)
4. What is the reticular formation? What function does it serve?
Series of brain structures that increases alertness and awareness
5. Explain the main function of each of the following:
a. Thalamus  the brains sensory switchboard, directs other parts of brain
b. Hypothalamus  eating, drinking, body temperature, hunger
c. Amygdala  aggression, emotion, and fear
d. Hippocampus  memory processing
6. What is a homunculus? What information does it show?
A model of a human that shows the relative brain matter dedicated to different body
parts.
7. Why do you think a large amount of brain processing of sensory information is devoted
to touch, taste, and smell?
- Used a lot in everyday life; important for survival; allows for detection (smell)
8. What are the differences in function of Broca’s Area and Wernicke’s Area? What
behaviours might indicate improper function in these areas?
Broca’s Area  Speech formation (making and forming words)  inability to speak
Wernicke’s Area  Comprehending speech  inability to understand/speak
intelligibly
9. The human frontal lobe is much more developed than other mammals. Why might this
be? Humans have a greater ability for language, decision making, emotions, reason.
10. Explain this quote: “If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we
would be so simple that we couldn’t”. Discussion points
Set #2
11. List four different ways that the brain can be studied. Provide an example where each
would be useful, and where each would not be useful.
Pro
Con
1. Remove part of brain
take out part that is harming
can cause harm
2. Examine brain damage note changes in behavior
someone has brain damage
3. Stimulate brain
can get desired response
requires surgery
4. Record brain activity
non-harmful
time/costs a lot
12. What does the corpus collosum do? Connects the right and left hemispheres, allows for
coordinated responses
13. Explain the main function of both the left and the right side of the brain.
Left Symbolic thinking, detail, literal meaning Right Spatial perception, whole
picture, context
14. What is the contra-lateral division of labour?
The right-side of the brain processes sensory input from the left-side, and the left-side
processes from the right-side.
15. In what ways is the Cerebrum divided?
2 hemispheres, each into 4 lobes.
Set # 3
1. What are the differences between gyri (bump), sulci (groove), and fissures (division)? Provide a
diagram.
2. What does the Frontal Lobe do?  Higher-level thinking (reason, decisions, personality,
emotional control, memory)
3. Discuss the functions of the divisions of the Frontal Lobe (4 structures).
Primary motor cortex, broca’s area, olfactory bulb, orbitofrontal cortex (descriptions are in
PPT)
4. Why is the orbitofrontal cortex well known? What did this procedure do, both positively and
negatively? It was the location of frontal lobotomies. This procedure reduced aggression but
left patients virtually unaware of surroundings/unemotional.
5. What does the Parietal Lobe do? Sensory Integration, visuospatial awareness/perception
6. Discuss the functions of the divisions of the Parietal Lobe (3 structures).
Primary somatosensory cortex; somatosensory association cortex; primary gustatory cortex
(descriptions in PPT)
Set #4
1. What does the Occipital Lobe do (2 structures)? Vision centre of the brain
2. Discuss the functions of the divisions of the Occipital Lobe.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Primary visual cortex; visual association area (descriptions are in the PPT)
What does the Temporal Lobe do? Hearing, language, information retrieval (memory)
Discuss the functions of the divisions of the Temporal Lobe (3 structures).
Wernicke’s Area, Primary Auditory Cortex, Primary Olfactory Cortex
Discuss the results of split brain procedures.
What is brain plasticity? How is this important?
How can the environment impact brain function? Be specific in what is meant by the
environment.
Set #5
Contrast sensation and perception.
Describe the absolute threshold, subliminal stimulation, and sensory adaptation as they relate
to Sensation.
What are the five major senses? In what areas of the brain is each of these processes?
What is retina considered to be? Define rods and cones.
What is the difference between structural and functional neuroimaging.
Fully describe:
a. MRI
b. CT
c. fMRI