Test Bank
Chapter 3: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Language
Multiple Choice
1. ________________________________ study the structures and functions of the nervous
system that relate to language.
a. Neuroscientists
b. Neurolinguists
c. Neuropsychologists
d. Neurologists
2. On the horizontal axis, _____________________________ refers to the top of the brain.
a. Ventral
b. Rostral
c. Caudal
d. Dorsal
3. _______________________________ pathways carry information away from the brain.
a. Efferent
b. Ascending
c. Afferent
d. Longitudinal
4. Each neuron has a single efferent nerve extension, the ______________________, which
carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.
a. Synapse
b. Presynaptic terminal
c. Dendrite
d. Axon
5. The __________________________________ is where two neurons meet.
a. Axon
b. Synapse
c. Terminal
d. Axonal connection
6. The __________________________________ contributes to the rapid relay of impulses
particularly within white matter, and also helps protect the neuron.
a. Meningeal envelope
b. Myelin sheath
c. Nervous tissue
d. Synaptic cleft
7. ___________________________________ circulate(s) in the subarachnoid space.
a. Cerebrospinal fluid
b. Oxygenated blood
c. Electrochemical impulses
d. Sodium and potassium
8. There are pairs of cranial nerves.
a. 11
b. 10
c. 12
d. 14
9. _________________________________ means that the right side of the brain processes
information from the left side of the body, and vice versa.
a. Hemispheric specialization
b. Ipsilateral
c. Lateralization
d. Contralateral
10. The ________________________________ is the location of the most unique human
qualities, reasoning, problem solving, planning, and hypothesizing.
a. Brainstem
b. Cerebrum
c. Allocortex
d. Left hemisphere
11. The ________________________________ is a band of fibers that connects the two cerebral
hemispheres.
a. Corpus callosum
b. Anterior commissure
c. Posterior commissure
d. Arcuate fasciculus
12. __________________________________ is one’s ability to attribute mental states to others.
a. Reasoning
b. Rationalizing
c. Theory of mind
d. Problem solving
13. The _________________________________ controls initiation of skilled, delicate voluntary
movements.
a. Primary motor cortex
b. Homunculus
c. Supplementary motor cortex
d. Cerebellum
14. __________________________________ is responsible for the fine coordination of speech
output.
a. Heschl’s gyrus
b. Broca’s area
c. Wernicke’s area
d. Angular gyrus
15. Key functions of the _____________________________ include(s) perceiving and
integrating sensory and perceptual information, comprehending oral and written language,
and performing mathematical calculations.
a. Occipital lobe
b. Temporal lobes
c. Frontal lobe
d. Parietal lobes
16. __________________________________ is a site in the left temporal lobe that is a critical
for language comprehension.
a. Wernicke’s area
b. Broca’s area
c. The insula
d. The angular gyrus
17. The ________________________________ is primarily responsible for regulating motor
and muscular activity.
a. Temporal lobe
b. Cerebellum
c. Corpus callosum
d. Motor strip
18. An individual’s ability to rapidly and automatically process the rules of syntax and
morphology has long been viewed as something that is hard-wired in the brain, referred to as
the _____________________________.
a. Connectionist model
b. Syntactic module
c. Fast mapping
d. Language instinct
19. Rapid analysis of the temporal characteristics of speech sounds occurs in the auditory centers
of the _____________________________.
a. Right parietal lobe
b. Right temporal lobe
c. Left temporal lobe
d. Left parietal lobe
20. Pragmatic ability draws primarily on ____________________________ functions.
a. Frontal lobe
b. Temporal lobe
c. Parietal lobe
d. Limbic lobe
21. A(n) __________________________________ is a time frame of development during which
a particular aspect of neuroanatomy or neurophysiology underlying a given sensory or
motoric capacity undergoes growth or change.
a. Growth curve
b. Sensitive period
c. Developmental period
d. Age range
22. ________________________________ relates to the capacity of the sensory and motor
systems to organize and reorganize themselves by generating new synaptic connections or by
using existing synapses for alternative means.
a. Synaptogenesis
b. Dendritic sprouting
c. Synaptic pruning
d. Neural plasticity
23. ______________________________ occurs when a child develops with little or no exposure
to a spoken or sign language.
a. Neglect
b. Plasticity
c. Linguistic isolation
d. Synaptogenesis
Essay
1. Describe the neuraxis.
2. What is gray matter and white matter?
3. Name the three layers of meninges.
4. What is CN X (vagus nerve) responsible for?
5. What are the three parts of the brainstem?
6. How does the right hemisphere contribute to semantic processing?
7. Describe experience-expectant plasticity and experience-dependent plasticity.
ANSWER KEY
Chapter 3: Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Language
Multiple Choice
