Lo que sabemos sobre el cerebro

by Vocafy Verificado

Inglés (Estados Unidos) B2 12 preguntas Science

Explora cómo el cerebro aprende, percibe y se adapta, y distingue los hallazgos confiables de los mitos comunes.

1. 1. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué afirmación ofrece una visión más precisa?

   A friend says, “We use only 10 percent of our brain, so most of it stays inactive.”

   • Most brain regions remain unused until we learn a new skill.
   • We use many brain regions, but they are not all equally active at once.
   • The entire brain works at full capacity all the time.

   Piensa en las distintas cosas que tu cerebro controla durante un día normal.

   Show solution

   • We use many brain regions, but they are not all equally active at once.

   Incluso en reposo, el cerebro sostiene procesos como la respiración, la memoria y el monitoreo del cuerpo. La idea de que la mayor parte del cerebro permanece sin usarse es un mito.

2. 2. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   What is a better explanation of her creativity?

   Maya enjoys painting, and her friend describes her as “right-brained.”

   • Creative tasks usually involve cooperation between both sides of the brain.
   • Her painting skills show that the left side of her brain is generally less active.
   • Creative work belongs to the right side, while logical work belongs to the left.

   A favorite activity does not show how a person's whole brain works.

   Show solution

   • Creative tasks usually involve cooperation between both sides of the brain.

   Some functions depend more on one side, but this does not divide people into creative and logical brain types.

3. 3. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Por qué dormir puede ayudar con su preparación?

   After practicing a presentation, Luis considers getting a full night's sleep instead of reviewing it until dawn.

   • Sleep removes older memories so only the latest material remains.
   • Sleep replaces the need to practice the material.
   • Sleep helps stabilize memories formed during practice.

   Considera qué le sucede a un recuerdo después de aprender algo por primera vez.

   Show solution

   • Sleep helps stabilize memories formed during practice.

   Durante el sueño, el cerebro puede reactivar patrones relacionados con el aprendizaje reciente. Dormir apoya la práctica en lugar de reemplazarla.

4. 4. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Cómo suelen transmitir estos mensajes las células nerviosas?

   When you touch a warm cup, nerve cells carry information from your hand toward your brain.

   • Chemical messengers travel through the blood directly from one nerve cell to the next.
   • Electrical signals travel along cells, and chemical messengers usually carry signals across gaps between them.
   • Chemical messengers carry signals along cells, and electrical signals cross most gaps between them.

   Desplazarse a lo largo de una célula y cruzar un espacio implican procesos diferentes.

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   • Electrical signals travel along cells, and chemical messengers usually carry signals across gaps between them.

   La conexión entre las células nerviosas se llama sinapsis. En la mayoría de las sinapsis, los mensajeros químicos actúan sobre la célula receptora.

5. 5. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué ilustra este hallazgo?

   Adults practice juggling for several weeks. Brain scans show changes in regions involved in vision and movement.

   • Learning a skill permanently increases the size of the whole brain.
   • Adult learning changes behavior but leaves the brain's structure fixed.
   • The adult brain can adapt in response to experience.

   Considera si el desarrollo del cerebro debe detenerse cuando termina la infancia.

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   • The adult brain can adapt in response to experience.

   Esta capacidad de adaptación se llama plasticidad. La práctica puede cambiar las conexiones entre las células del cerebro, aunque no todos los cambios son permanentes.

6. 6. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué característica de la percepción ayuda a explicar este error?

   In dim light, a coat on a chair briefly looks like a person. A closer look reveals what it really is.

   • The brain interprets sensory information using context and expectations.
   • The eyes provide a complete image that the brain displays without interpretation.
   • The brain recognizes objects independently of earlier experience.

   Piensa en cómo la experiencia previa podría ayudarte a entender una forma poco clara.

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   • The brain interprets sensory information using context and expectations.

   La percepción no es solo un registro del mundo exterior. Las predicciones del cerebro son útiles, pero la información poco clara puede llevar a interpretaciones equivocadas.

7. 7. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   What is the most likely effect on the student's work?

   A student writes an essay while stopping to reply to messages every few minutes.

   • Higher efficiency because both language tasks are processed as one activity.
   • More mistakes and lost time as attention shifts between tasks.
   • No loss of focus because each interruption lasts only a short time.

   Consider what happens when the student returns to the essay.

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   • More mistakes and lost time as attention shifts between tasks.

   Switching tasks often means rebuilding focus and remembering where you left off. Even brief interruptions can carry this cost.

8. 8. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   Which view of stress fits this pattern?

   A minor deadline makes Nora feel alert, but weeks of intense pressure make it harder for her to concentrate.

   • Stress always improves attention, even when it continues for weeks.
   • Stress affects attention only when a task is boring.
   • The effects of stress can change with its intensity and duration.

   Compare the two periods of pressure.

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   • The effects of stress can change with its intensity and duration.

   A brief stress response can help prepare the body for action. Prolonged intense stress can impair attention and memory, with effects varying between people.

9. 9. Elige la respuesta correcta.

   ¿Qué expectativa está mejor respaldada?

   Someone wants to support brain health over time and wonders whether regular brisk walks are worthwhile.

   • Regular activity can support memory and thinking as part of a healthy routine.
   • Daily walking can completely prevent memory loss.
   • Walking benefits muscles but cannot affect the brain.

   Ten cuidado con las promesas que garantizan el mismo resultado para todos.

   Show solution

   • Regular activity can support memory and thinking as part of a healthy routine.

   El ejercicio favorece la circulación y los procesos que ayudan a mantener sanas las células del cerebro. Sus beneficios varían y no es una cura garantizada para los problemas de memoria.

10. 10. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    ¿Qué pueden concluir razonablemente los investigadores?

    A brain scan shows increased activity in a region while someone views an upsetting photograph. That region also takes part in other kinds of processing.

    • The person definitely felt fear, because this region was active.
    • The region was involved, but its activity alone does not identify a specific emotion.
    • The region controls the person's emotions independently of other brain areas.

    Piensa en la diferencia entre observar la actividad cerebral y escuchar lo que una persona relata.

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    • The region was involved, but its activity alone does not identify a specific emotion.

    Los procesos mentales suelen involucrar redes de regiones cerebrales. Los investigadores combinan imágenes cerebrales con la conducta, los relatos de las personas y otras evidencias, en lugar de considerar que una sola área activa ofrece una explicación completa.

11. 11. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    What does this study establish?

    Researchers compare adults' usual social activity with their memory test scores. More socially active adults tend to score higher, but the researchers do not change anyone's behavior.

    • Social activity caused the higher memory scores.
    • Better memory caused people to become more socially active.
    • Social activity and memory scores were related in this group.

    The researchers observed existing habits rather than assigning activities.

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    • Social activity and memory scores were related in this group.

    A relationship alone does not show that one factor caused the other. Another factor, such as general health, could influence both social activity and memory.

12. 12. Elige la respuesta correcta.

    ¿Qué conclusión no va más allá de la evidencia?

    In a controlled study, adults using a brain-training app improved more on the app's tasks than adults who did not use it. No tests of everyday attention or other thinking skills were included.

    • Training improved performance on the tested tasks, but wider benefits remain untested.
    • Improvement on the app proves that general intelligence increased.
    • The lack of everyday tests proves that the training has no useful effects.

    Revisa qué habilidades se midieron realmente.

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    • Training improved performance on the tested tasks, but wider benefits remain untested.

    La mejora no se transfiere automáticamente a otras actividades. Los beneficios más amplios requieren pruebas por separado; la falta de evidencia no demuestra que esos beneficios no existan.