Exam 1 CogFund Review

The ______ is the part of the brain that handles visual processing. (ch.2)

• Occipital lobe

• Parietal lobe

• Temporal lobe

• Frontal lobe

The ______ is the tract of neurons connecting the hemispheres. (ch.2)

• Optic chiasm

• Thalamus

• Corpus callosum

• Lateral geniculate nucleus

Cells in the ____ respond to bars of light in specific orientations and

retinal positions. (ch.3)

• Frontal lobe

• Primary visual cortex

• Retina

• Inferior colliculus

Answer explanation

Early visual processing, which occurs in V1, involves the detection of

perceptually significant features. Individual neurons or groups of neurons

in the primary visual cortex are dedicated to processing specific features,

such as orientation, lines, and movement.

The pitch of a sound corresponds to the ____ of the sound wave. (ch.3)

• Frequency

• Amplitude

• Phase

• Complexity

Answer explanation

Pitch is the quality of sound that allows us to differentiate between

higher and lower frequency sound waves. (Higher frequency -> higher

perceived pitch, and vice versa)

Human auditory sensitivity is greatest between: (ch.3)

• 20Hz - 20kHz

• 2kHz - 5kHz

• 7kHz - 10kHz

• 10kHz - 20kHz

Answer explanation

There is relatively more space in the cochlea and auditory cortex

dedicated to lower frequencies (notice how the lowest 8,000Hz of our

auditory range is processed across much more cortical area than the

highest 8,000Hz). Human speech is in this range, thus we have heightened

sensitivity to speech sounds.

Interaural level differences between the two ears (most specifically)

allow for: (ch.3)

• Pitch perception

• Lateralization

• Lateral inhibition

• Sound localization

Answer explanation

Interaural level or time difference is the difference in arrival time of a

sound between two ears and provides cues to the angle or direction of a

sound source.

The concept that different hemispheres sometimes handle different

cognitive functions is called: (ch.2)

• Hemispherization

• Lateralization

• Lateral inhibition

• Localization

Answer explanation

Not to be confused with localization, which is that certain brain areas

or locations within the brain carry out specific functions.

The degree of activation of a given neuron corresponds to its: (ch.2)

• Peak voltage

• Duration of action potentials

• Firing rate

• Answer depends on whether it is excitatory or inhibitory

Answer explanation

The firing rate denotes the number of action potentials occurring in

a given time period. More APs = more cellular activity, as shown in the

above figure when a neuron is responding to a strong stimulus as

compared to a weak stimulus.

Which of the following does NOT describe speech from patients with

Wernicke's aphasia? (ch.2)

• Labored

• Grammatically correct

• Incoherent

• Fluent

Answer explanation

Damage to Wernicke’s area (in the temporal lobe, involved in

language comprehension) can cause Wernicke’s aphasia, characterized by

speech that is both fluent and grammatically correct, but is incoherent.

Patients are also unable to understand other people’s speech. Their main

problem is with matching words to their correct meanings. This is in

contrast to patients with Broca’s aphasia, which is characterized by slow,

labored, ungrammatical speech.

Before the cognitive revolution, psychologists focused on studying:

(ch.1)

• Perception

• Behavior

• Thought

• None of the above

Answer explanation