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PSYCH/COGSCI 127, COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, SPRING 2024 ANSWER KEY FOR
MIDTERM 1 VERSION A (14 FEB 2024)
NOTE: All exams contained the same questions, but they were shuffled across exams. So the order of the
questions on this answer sheet is likely NOT consistent with the order on your exam.
1. Which of the following is NOT one of the major subdivisions of the cerebral cortex?
A. Frontal lobes.
B. Parietal lobes.
C. Thalamal lobes.
D. Occipital lobes.
E. Temporal lobes.
C: Correct answer. The thalamus is a subcortical structure, not a major subdivision of the cerebral cortex.
A, B, C, D: Incorrect. These are all major subdivisions of the cerebral cortex.
Source question: Lecture 1.2, What are the major subdivisions of the cerebral cortex?
2. Which of the following statements about the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum is most correct?
A. The cerebral cortex has more neurons than the cerebellum.
B. The cerebral cortex and the cerebellum both have six layers.
C. The cerebellum contains specialized nuclei that are not found in the cerebral cortex.
D. The cerebral cortex contains specialized ions that are not found in the cerebellum.
E. The cerebellum is primarily responsible for high-level cognitive functions.
C: Correct answer.
A: Incorrect. The cerebellum contains far more individual neurons than are found in the cerebral cortex.
B: Incorrect. The cerebellum is not a six-layer structure.
D: Incorrect. The ions available in the CSF, the blood, and in cells are basically the same throughout the brain
E: Incorrect answer: The cerebellum is conventionally thought to be involved in coordination, precision, and
accurate timing of movements, as well as some aspects of language and attention. High-level cognitive
functions, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and conscious thought, are primarily associated with the
cerebral cortex, not the cerebellum
Source question: Lecture 1.2, How does the anatomical structure of the cerebral cortex differ from the structure
of the cerebellum, the thalamus and the hippocampus?
3. Which of the following statements about neuronal transduction is most correct?
A. Neurons transmit signals through the continuous flow of ions along the axon's surface.
B. Synaptic transmission between neurons occurs through direct electrical connections that allow ions to flow
freely between cells.
C. The cell body of a neuron generates the action potential, which then propagates along the dendrites to reach
the axon terminals.
D. Neurotransmitters are always excitatory and work by depolarizing the postsynaptic membrane, leading to the
generation of an action potential.
E. An action potential causes sodium ions to rush into the cell, and potassium ions to rush out.
Correct answer: E
A: Incorrect. This statement is incorrect because neuronal signals, or action potentials, are not transmitted via a
continuous flow of ions along the axon's surface. Instead, action potentials are propagated as a wave of
depolarization that moves along the axon.
B: Incorrect. While direct electrical connections (gap junctions) do exist between some neurons, most synaptic
