Module 12 REVIEW

• 12-1 What four lobes make up the cerebral cortex, and what are the functions of the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, and association areas?

• The cerebral cortex has two hemispheres, and each hemisphere has four lobes: the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal. Each lobe performs many functions and interacts with other areas of the cortex.
• The motor cortex, at the rear of the frontal lobes, controls voluntary movements.
• The somatosensory cortex, at the front of the parietal lobes, registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
• Body parts requiring precise control or those that are especially sensitive occupy the greatest amount of space in the motor cortex and somatosensory cortex, respectively.
• Most of the brain’s cortex—the major portion of each of the four lobes—is devoted to uncommitted association areas, which integrate information involved in learning, remembering, thinking, and other higher-level functions.
• Our mental experiences arise from coordinated brain activity.

• 12-2 Do we really use only 10 percent of our brain?

• The unresponsiveness of our association areas to electrical probing led to the false claim that we only use 10 percent of our brain.
• In reality, these vast brain areas are responsible for interpreting, integrating, and acting on sensory information and linking it with stored memories.

• 12-3 How does our brain adjust to new experiences?

• Plasticity enables our brain to adjust to new experiences. While this is a lifelong ability, plasticity is greatest in childhood.
• With practice, our brain develops unique patterns that reflect our life experiences.

• 12-4 To what extent can a damaged brain reorganize itself, and what is neurogenesis?

• While brain and spinal cord neurons usually do not regenerate, some neural tissue can reorganize in response to damage.
• Reassignment of functions to different areas of the brain may also occur in blindness and deafness, or as a result of disease.
• The brain sometimes mends itself by forming new neurons, a process known as neurogenesis.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Damage to which of the following could interfere with the ability to plan for the future?
   1. Frontal lobe
   2. Temporal lobe
   3. Parietal lobe
   4. Occipital lobe
   5. Somatosensory cortex
2. Paul is having difficulty understanding what his wife is saying. Which of the following areas is most likely damaged?
   1. The frontal lobe
   2. The parietal lobe
   3. The occipital lobe
   4. Wernicke’s area
   5. Broca’s area
3. Stimulation of which of the following may cause a person to involuntarily move their arm?
   1. Somatosensory cortex
   2. Motor cortex
   3. Glial cells
   4. Reticular activating system
   5. Visual cortex
4. Which lobe of the brain is located in the top rear of the brain?
   1. Occipital
   2. Parietal
   3. Frontal
   4. Temporal
   5. Corpus callosum
5. The most noticeable difference between human brains and other mammalian brains is the size of the
   1. association areas.
   2. frontal lobe.
   3. glial cells.
   4. reticular activating system.
   5. visual cortex.
6. Cognitive neural prosthetics are placed in the brain to help control parts of the
   1. motor cortex.
   2. auditory cortex.
   3. somatosensory cortex.
   4. visual cortex.
   5. olfaction areas.
7. The ability of our brain to adapt to damage, where one area may take over the function of the damaged area, is due to
   1. lesioning.
   2. positron emission training.
   3. Broca’s area.
   4. Wernicke’s area.
   5. plasticity.
8. Neurogenesis is the process by which
   1. one brain structure takes on the functions of an adjacent structure.
   2. our brain creates new neurons.
   3. the amygdala and thalamus work together to keep the body awake and alert.
   4. association areas expand as new material is learned.
   5. the brain adapts to new learning.

Practice FRQs

1. Doctors sometimes have to remove a portion of the brain to control life-threatening seizures. Describe what the results of the removal of a portion of the somatosensory cortex would be and explain how this procedure might be affected by brain plasticity.

Answer

1 point: Removing part of the somatosensory cortex would result in a lack of sensation/inability to feel being touched in the parts of the body associated with the removed tissue. Page 113

1 point: Because of brain plasticity, the person’s brain may be able to change and reorganize new pathways based on experience. This is more likely if the person is a child. Page 116

2. Anthony plays in a high school band concert. Identify one way that each lobe of his brain is active as he participates in the concert.

(4 points)