Lesson 3.1.3.1.1

3.1.3.1.1 Brain structures from the womb: brain stem, thalamus, cerebellum, cortex Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 3

20 questions

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Lesson 3.1.3.1.1, Brain structures from the womb: brain stem, thalamus, cerebellum, cortex: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Psychology (8182), Unit 3: Development, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which part of the brain develops early from simple neural structures and controls basic life functions?

    • The thalamus, which controls automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate in the body
    • The brain stem, which controls automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate
    • The cortex, which controls automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate in the body
    • The cerebellum, which controls automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate in the body

  2. Which brain structure is the main relay station for sensory information on its way to the cortex?

    • The cerebellum, which passes sensory information on to the cortex in the form of signals
    • The brain stem, which passes sensory information on to the cortex in the form of signals
    • The cortex, which passes sensory information on to the brain stem in the form of signals
    • The thalamus, which passes sensory information on to the cortex

  3. Which structure is involved in movement, balance and coordination?

    • The brain stem, which coordinates movement and balance by controlling breathing and heart rate
    • The thalamus, which coordinates movement and balance by relaying sensory input to the cortex
    • The cerebellum, which coordinates movement and balance
    • The cortex, which coordinates movement and balance by storing learnt skills in long-term memory

  4. Which structure is the outer layer of the brain, involved in cognition and higher functions?

    • The cerebellum, which is involved in cognition and higher functions such as thought and language
    • The cortex, which is involved in cognition and higher functions such as thought and language
    • The thalamus, which is involved in cognition and higher functions such as thought and language
    • The brain stem, which is involved in cognition and higher functions such as thought and language

  5. Which list names the four brain structures given in the specification's early brain development content?

    • Brain stem, thalamus, cerebellum and cortex
    • Thalamus, cortex, cerebellum and brain stem
    • Cerebellum, cortex, brain stem and thalamus
    • Cortex, cerebellum, thalamus and brain stem

  6. A baby's breathing and heart rate are controlled from birth. Which structure is most responsible?

    • The brain stem, which controls the automatic functions that keep the body running
    • The thalamus, which controls the automatic functions that keep the body running from birth on
    • The cerebellum, which controls the automatic functions that keep the body running from birth on
    • The cortex, which controls the automatic functions that keep the body running from birth on

  7. A child develops the ability to catch a ball, which requires balance and coordination. Which structure is most involved?

    • The brain stem, which coordinates balance and the timing of movement through automatic control
    • The cortex, which coordinates balance and the timing of movement by storing the catch in memory
    • The thalamus, which coordinates balance and the timing of movement by relaying signals to muscles
    • The cerebellum, which coordinates balance and the timing of movement

  8. Which structure would be most involved in a child learning to read and think about the meaning of words?

    • The cortex, which supports higher functions such as language and cognition
    • The thalamus, which supports higher functions such as language and cognition in the child
    • The brain stem, which supports higher functions such as language and cognition in the child
    • The cerebellum, which supports higher functions such as language and cognition in the child

  9. Which structure relays sensory information such as sight and sound before it reaches higher processing?

    • The thalamus, which relays sensory information to the cortex
    • The cerebellum, which relays sensory information to the cortex for later movement control
    • The brain stem, which relays sensory information to the cortex for later movement control
    • The cortex, which relays sensory information to the thalamus for later movement control

  10. What does the specification mean by 'neural structures in the womb'?

    • The brain's basic structures are formed only after birth, once the child begins to learn
    • The brain's basic structures are formed only in adulthood, after the cortex has finished growing
    • The brain's basic structures start to form before birth, from simple neural tissue
    • The brain's basic structures are formed only from memories that the child stores after birth

  11. Which statement about early brain development is correct?

    • Simple neural structures in the womb develop into the brain stem, thalamus, cerebellum and cortex
    • Simple neural structures in the womb develop only after birth, once the child has learnt to see
    • Simple neural structures in the womb develop only into the cortex, which then controls all the others
    • Simple neural structures in the womb never develop into any of the named brain structures at all

  12. Which development do the early brain structures reflect, according to the specification?

    • The development of autonomic functions, sensory processing, movement and cognition
    • The development of schemas, which are used to fill gaps in recall of a folk story
    • The development of depth cues, such as retinal disparity and convergence in the eyes
    • The development of memory stores, coding, capacity and duration in the multi-store model

  13. What does 'nature' mean in the context of early brain development?

    • The diet that a child eats, which shapes how the brain's structures are formed as they grow
    • Genetically given plans that shape how the brain's structures form and connect
    • The learning that a child does at school, which shapes how the brain's structures are formed
    • Natural light and weather, which shape how the brain's structures form after birth in the home

  14. What does 'nurture' mean in the context of early brain development?

    • The genetic plan that gives each brain structure its place in the head at birth for life
    • The experiences that shape how brain connections develop and are strengthened after birth
    • The pattern of the eyes' retinal images, which is fixed for every person at the moment of birth
    • The structure of the cerebellum, which is set at birth and does not change with experience

  15. Why do both nature and nurture matter in early brain development?

    • Genes give the whole brain its final shape, so experience does not change the connections
    • Genes give the basic structure, and experience shapes how the connections in the brain develop
    • Neither genes nor experience matter, because the brain structures develop by chance in the womb
    • Experience gives the whole brain its final shape, so genes play no part in the connections

  16. A researcher wants to show the role of nurture in brain development. Which evidence would be most relevant?

    • Changes in the child's eyes that are caused only by the light falling on them in the womb
    • Changes in the connections of a child's brain shaped by the experiences the child has had
    • Changes in the number of items the child's short-term store can hold, which are fixed at birth
    • Changes in the shape of the child's brain caused only by genes, which are present from birth

  17. Which of these brain structures is involved in the autonomic functions that develop early?

    • The thalamus, which controls the automatic functions that develop early in life, such as hearing
    • The cerebellum, which controls the automatic functions that develop early in life, such as balance
    • The brain stem, which controls the automatic functions that develop early in life
    • The cortex, which controls the automatic functions that develop early in life, such as breathing

  18. Which brain structure is the outer layer, with the largest role in thought, language and perception?

    • The thalamus, the central structure that relays sensory input to the rest of the brain
    • The brain stem, the lower structure that connects the brain to the spinal cord below it
    • The cerebellum, the structure at the back that supports balance and the timing of movement
    • The cortex, the outer layer that supports thought, language and perception

  19. A newborn cannot yet coordinate reaching for objects smoothly. Which structure is still developing?

    • The cortex, which is still developing the control of breathing and heart rate in the infant
    • The brain stem, which is still developing the control of breathing and heart rate in the infant
    • The cerebellum, which is still developing the coordination needed for smooth movement
    • The thalamus, which is still developing the control of breathing and heart rate in the infant

  20. A child who has rich language experiences develops stronger connections in the cortex. Which idea does this show?

    • Autonomic functions in the brain stem being unaffected by any experience the child has later
    • Nature setting the brain's connections entirely at birth, with no role for later experience
    • Motor skills in the cerebellum developing only in adulthood, after experience has ended
    • Nurture shaping the brain's connections through experience

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