Chapter 13.1: Lateralization and Language

Question 1

In humans, what happens to visual information from the left and right visual field?

Answer 1

It reaches the right half of each retina, which sends messages to the right hemisphere.

Question 2

At the human optic chiasm, which axons cross to the opposite hemisphere?

Answer 2

Those from the nasal (inside) half of each retina

Question 3

Under what condition can a split-brain person describe something he or she sees?

Answer 3

After seeing it in the right visual field

Question 4

When the right hemisphere reacts to something it sees, causing a behavior that the left hemisphere can feel, how does the left hemisphere react?

Answer 4

It invents a logical-sounding explanation

Question 5

Which of these does the right hemisphere control better than the left?

Answer 5

Reactions to emotional stimuli

Question 6

What is a likely explanation for bonobos’ success at the understanding speech?

Answer 6

The bonobos started young and learned by imitation

Question 7

If human language did not evolve from other primates’ vocalizations, what else is a likely hypothesis?

Answer 7

Language evolved from gestures including mouth gestures

Question 8

What is unusual about many people with Williams syndrome?

Answer 8

Good language ability despite intellectual deficiencies

Question 9

The FOXP gene strongly affects what else, in addition to brain development?

Answer 9

The jaw and throat

Question 10

If someone is bilingual from the start, how does the brain represent the two languages?

Answer 10

Both in both hemispheres

Question 11

People with Broca’s aphasia are most impaired on producing and understanding which type of words?

Answer 11

Prepositions and conjunctions

Question 12

Which of the following is characteristic of Wernicke’s aphasia?

Answer 12

Difficulty remembering names of objects