Chapter 1: A Brief History of Cognitive Neuroscience
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1.1 Explain the origins of the field of cognitive neuroscience.
1.2 Describe the roots of the debate over localization of function.
1.3 Explain the ways in which brain structure was studied.
1.4 Understand the philosophical origins of cognitive psychology.
1.5 Discuss behaviorism and its principal tenets.
1.6 Explain how and why cognitive psychology came to the forefront of the psychological fields.
1.7 Identify the different methods that are used to measure brain function and structure.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What term was coined by Thomas Willis as a consequence of the case of Anne Green?
a. psychopathology
b. cognition
c. neurology
d. psychosis
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Remembering
2. Aside from saving Anne Green’s life, Thomas Willis and Christopher Wren also
a. created very accurate drawings of the brain.
b. came up with the names of a number of brain structures.
c. took the first steps that led to cognitive neuroscience.
d. All of the answer options are correct.
ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Understanding
3. Each of the following are reasons why Willis is considered one of the early figures in cognitive
neuroscience EXCEPT:
a. He named many brain parts.
b. He gave frequent lectures on specific brain regions.
c. He was among the first to link behavioral deficits to brain damage.
d. He created very accurate brain images.
ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Remembering
4. While studying brain function, it is often useful to think of development in terms of ____________,
which is the perspective of _____________________.
a. cognition; cognitive neuroscience c. blood flow; magnetic resonance imaging
b. survival; evolution d. dysfunction; psychopathology
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Analyzing
5. Which stance would most likely hold an assumption that physical elements of the brain are responsible
for the conscious mind?
a. monism c. dualism
b. behaviorism d. relativism
ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Analyzing
6. René Descartes posited that the mind was separate from the body. However, he implicated a single
brain structure, the pineal gland, as having what function?
a. regulating feelings and emotions c. moderating cognitive processes
b. connecting the mind and the body d. adjusting behavior
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Remembering
7. Considering the perspective recommended for approaching cognitive neuroscience, which of the
following would best explain how a cognitive function may have developed?
a. learning and reward c. neurological dysfunction
b. integration with technology d. hunting and gathering
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Analyzing
8. A central issue of modern cognitive neuroscience is whether specific human cognitive abilities
a. arise from networks of brain areas working together.
b. are determined by the shape and size of the human skull or the brain beneath.
c. are best studied using the scientific method.
d. can be best identified using the Golgi silver method of staining or fMRI.
ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: 1.2 The Brain Story
OBJ: 1.2 MSC: Understanding
9. The discipline of phrenology was founded by
a. Broca and Wernicke. c. Ramón y Cajal and Sherrington.
b. Fritsch and Hitzig. d. Gall and Spurzheim.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.2 The Brain Story
OBJ: 1.2 MSC: Remembering
10. Phrenologists believed that the contour of the skull could provide valuable information about an
individual’s cognitive capacities and personality traits. This approach was based on the assumption
that
a. skull protrusions are caused by disproportionate development of the brain areas beneath
them, which are responsible for different specific functions.
b. certain traits such as aggressiveness lead to life experiences and injuries that alter the
shape of the skull in specific ways.
c. life experiences and injuries that alter the shape of the skull in specific ways lead to certain
traits, such as aggressiveness.
d. the development of the skull bones directly influences the configuration of the soft brain
areas beneath them, which are responsible for different specific functions.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 1.2 The Brain Story
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1.1 Explain the origins of the field of cognitive neuroscience.
1.2 Describe the roots of the debate over localization of function.
1.3 Explain the ways in which brain structure was studied.
1.4 Understand the philosophical origins of cognitive psychology.
1.5 Discuss behaviorism and its principal tenets.
1.6 Explain how and why cognitive psychology came to the forefront of the psychological fields.
1.7 Identify the different methods that are used to measure brain function and structure.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What term was coined by Thomas Willis as a consequence of the case of Anne Green?
a. psychopathology
b. cognition
c. neurology
d. psychosis
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Remembering
2. Aside from saving Anne Green’s life, Thomas Willis and Christopher Wren also
a. created very accurate drawings of the brain.
b. came up with the names of a number of brain structures.
c. took the first steps that led to cognitive neuroscience.
d. All of the answer options are correct.
ANS: D DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Understanding
3. Each of the following are reasons why Willis is considered one of the early figures in cognitive
neuroscience EXCEPT:
a. He named many brain parts.
b. He gave frequent lectures on specific brain regions.
c. He was among the first to link behavioral deficits to brain damage.
d. He created very accurate brain images.
ANS: B DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Remembering
4. While studying brain function, it is often useful to think of development in terms of ____________,
which is the perspective of _____________________.
a. cognition; cognitive neuroscience c. blood flow; magnetic resonance imaging
b. survival; evolution d. dysfunction; psychopathology
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Analyzing
5. Which stance would most likely hold an assumption that physical elements of the brain are responsible
for the conscious mind?
a. monism c. dualism
b. behaviorism d. relativism
ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Analyzing
6. René Descartes posited that the mind was separate from the body. However, he implicated a single
brain structure, the pineal gland, as having what function?
a. regulating feelings and emotions c. moderating cognitive processes
b. connecting the mind and the body d. adjusting behavior
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Remembering
7. Considering the perspective recommended for approaching cognitive neuroscience, which of the
following would best explain how a cognitive function may have developed?
a. learning and reward c. neurological dysfunction
b. integration with technology d. hunting and gathering
ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: 1.1 A Historical Perspective
OBJ: 1.1 MSC: Analyzing
8. A central issue of modern cognitive neuroscience is whether specific human cognitive abilities
a. arise from networks of brain areas working together.
b. are determined by the shape and size of the human skull or the brain beneath.
c. are best studied using the scientific method.
d. can be best identified using the Golgi silver method of staining or fMRI.
ANS: A DIF: Medium REF: 1.2 The Brain Story
OBJ: 1.2 MSC: Understanding
9. The discipline of phrenology was founded by
a. Broca and Wernicke. c. Ramón y Cajal and Sherrington.
b. Fritsch and Hitzig. d. Gall and Spurzheim.
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.2 The Brain Story
OBJ: 1.2 MSC: Remembering
10. Phrenologists believed that the contour of the skull could provide valuable information about an
individual’s cognitive capacities and personality traits. This approach was based on the assumption
that
a. skull protrusions are caused by disproportionate development of the brain areas beneath
them, which are responsible for different specific functions.
b. certain traits such as aggressiveness lead to life experiences and injuries that alter the
shape of the skull in specific ways.
c. life experiences and injuries that alter the shape of the skull in specific ways lead to certain
traits, such as aggressiveness.
d. the development of the skull bones directly influences the configuration of the soft brain
areas beneath them, which are responsible for different specific functions.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: 1.2 The Brain Story