The Triune Brain Reading Answers

Feb 2, 2023

The Triune Brain Reading Answers comprises a total of 13 questions. This IELTS reading topic; The Triune Brain Reading Answers comprises question types such as; one word only and true/false/Not Given. To solve these questions in the IELTS reading topic, candidates must go through the passage carefully and identify the major keywords. The Triune Brain Reading Answers are to be solved by the candidates within a timeframe of 20 minutes which remains the same for all the IELTS reading assessments. To practice more such IELTS reading topics, candidates can refer to the book Cambridge 13 Readig Test 4. Moreover, candidates might consider IELTS Reading practice papers to practice such relevant questions.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

The Triune Brain Reading Answers

The first of our three brains to evolve is what scientists call the reptilian cortex. This brain sustains the elementary activities of animal survival such as respiration, adequate rest and a beating heart. We are not required to consciously “think” about these activities. The reptilian cortex also houses the “startle centre”, a mechanism that facilitates swift reactions to unexpected occurrences in our surroundings. That panicked lurch you experience when a door slams shut somewhere in the house, or the heightened awareness you feel when a twig cracks in a nearby bush while out on an evening stroll are both examples of the reptilian cortex at work. When it comes to our interaction with others, the reptilian brain offers up only the most basic impulses: aggression, mating, and territorial defence. There is no great difference, in this sense, between a crocodile defending its spot along the river and a turf war between two urban gangs.
Although the lizard may stake a claim to its habitat, it exerts total indifference toward the well-being of its young. Listen to the anguished squeal of a dolphin separated from its pod or witness the sight of elephants mourning their dead, however, and it is clear that a new development is at play. Scientists have identified this as the limbic cortex. Unique to mammals, the limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth to the parent when children are nearby. These same sensations also cause mammals to develop various types of social relations and kinship networks. When we are with others of “our kind” – be it at soccer practice, church, school or a nightclub – we experience positive sensations of togetherness, solidarity and comfort. If we spend too long away from these networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship.
Only human capabilities extend far beyond the scope of these two cortexes. Humans eat, sleep and play, but we also speak, plot, rationalise and debate finer points of morality. Our unique abilities are the result of an expansive third brain – the neocortex – which engages with logic, reason and ideas. The power of the neocortex comes from its ability to think beyond the present, concrete moment. While other mammals are mainly restricted to impulsive actions (although some, such as apes, can learn and remember simple lessons), humans can think about the “big picture”. We can string together simple lessons (for example, an apple drops downwards from a tree; hurting others causes unhappiness) to develop complex theories of physical or social phenomena (such as the laws of gravity and a concern for human rights).
The neocortex is also responsible for the process by which we decide on and commit to particular courses of action. Strung together over time, these choices can accumulate into feats of progress unknown to other animals. Anticipating a better grade on the following morning’s exam, a student can ignore the limbic urge to socialise and go to sleep early instead. Over three years, this ongoing sacrifice translates into a first class degree and a scholarship to graduate school; over a lifetime, it can mean ground-breaking contributions to human knowledge and development. The ability to sacrifice our drive for immediate satisfaction in order to benefit later is a product of the neocortex.
Understanding the triune brain can help us appreciate the different natures of brain damage and psychological disorders. The most devastating form of brain damage, for example, is a condition in which someone is understood to be brain dead. In this state a person appears merely unconscious – sleeping, perhaps – but this is illusory. Here, the reptilian brain is functioning on autopilot despite the permanent loss of other cortexes.
Disturbances to the limbic cortex are registered in a different manner. Pups with limbic damage can move around and feed themselves well enough but do not register the presence of their littermates. Scientists have observed how, after a limbic lobotomy 2, “one impaired monkey stepped on his outraged peers as if treading on a log or a rock”. In our own species, limbic damage is closely related to sociopathic behaviour. Sociopaths in possession of fully-functioning neocortex are often shrewd and emotionally intelligent people but lack any ability to relate to, empathise with or express concern for others.
One of the neurological wonders of history occurred when a railway worker named Phineas Gage survived an incident during which a metal rod skewered his skull, taking a considerable amount of his neocortex with it. Though Gage continued to live and work as before, his fellow employees observed a shift in the equilibrium of his personality. Gage’s animal propensities were now sharply pronounced while his intellectual abilities suffered; garrulous or obscene jokes replaced his once quick wit. New findings suggest, however, that Gage managed to soften these abrupt changes over time and rediscover an appropriate social manner. This would indicate that reparative therapy has the potential to help patients with advanced brain trauma to gain an improved quality of life.

1 Triune = three-in-one

2 Lobotomy = surgical cutting of brain nerves

Section 2

Solution With Explanation

Questions 14–22
Classify the following as typical of

the reptilian cortex
the limbic cortex
the neocortex

Write the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 14–22 on your answer sheet.

giving up short-term happiness for future gains

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Anticipating a better grade on the following morning’s exam, a student can ignore the limbic urge to socialise and go to sleep early instead. Over three years, this ongoing sacrifice translates into a first-class degree and a scholarship to graduate school; over a lifetime, it can mean groundbreaking contributions to human knowledge and development. The ability to sacrifice our drive for immediate satisfaction in order to benefit later is a product of the neocortex.
Keywords: limbic urge, to socialise, human knowledge and development, immediate satisfaction, neocortex
Keyword Location: 4th para, 3-9 lines
Explanation: The mechanism to sacrifice immediate pleasure, such as social contacts, and shift toward long-term advantages is controlled by the neocortex. The response is C, so.

maintaining the bodily functions necessary for life

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: The first of our three brains to evolve is what scientists call the reptilian cortex. This brain sustains the elementary activities of animal survival such as respiration, adequate rest and a beating heart.
Keywords: reptilian cortex, elementary activities, survival, respiration, beating heart
Keyword Location: 1st para, 1-3 lines
Explanation: The reptile brain controls vital biological processes including breathing and pulse. So, the response is A.

experiencing the pain of losing another

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: If we spend too long away from these networks, then loneliness sets in and encourages us to seek companionship.
Keywords: networks, loneliness, companionship, limbic cortex.
Keyword Location: 2nd para,10-12 lines
Explanation: Network loneliness is the agony of losing another. The limbic cortex is in charge of this emotion. The response is B, therefore

forming communities and social groups

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: These same sensations also cause mammals to develop various types of social relations and kinship networks. When we are with others of “our kind” – be it at soccer practice, church, school or a nightclub – we experience positive sensations of togetherness, solidarity and comfort.
Keywords: limbic cortex, social relations, kinship networks, sensations of togetherness, solidarity, companionship
Keyword Location: 2nd para, 7-10 lines
Explanation: The limbic cortex motivates animals and human beings to form communities and social groups. So, the answer is B.

making a decision and carrying it out

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: The neocortex is also responsible for the process by which we decide on and commit to particular courses of action.
Keywords: neocortex, decision, course of action, carrying out
Keyword Location: 4th para, lines 1-2
Explanation: The neocortex is responsible for taking decisions and carrying out actions. So, the answer is C

guarding areas of land

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: When it comes to our interaction with others, the reptilian brain offers up only the most basic impulses: aggression, mating, and territorial defence. There is no great difference, in this sense, between a crocodile defending its spot along the river and a turf war between two urban gangs.
Keywords: the reptilian brain, basic impulses, territorial defence, defending its spot
Keyword Location: 1st para. 8-12 lines
Explanation: As the reptilian brain offers the impulse of defending territories, the answer is A

developing explanations for things

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: We can string together simple lessons (for example, an apple drops downwards from a tree; hurting others causes unhappiness) to develop complex theories of physical or social phenomena (such as the laws of gravity and a concern for human rights).
Keywords: string together simple lessons, develop complex theories, social phenomena, laws
Keyword Location: 3rd paragraph, 8-11 lines
Explanation: The neocortex can explain things in the form of lessons, theories, phenomena and laws. So, the answer is C

looking after one’s young

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Unique to mammals, the limbic cortex impels creatures to nurture their offspring by delivering feelings of tenderness and warmth to the parent when children are nearby.
Keywords: limbic cortex, nurture, offspring, feelings of tenderness and warmth, children
Keyword Location: 2nd para, 5-7lines
Explanation: Limbic cortex controls mammals to nurture and take care of their young ones. So, the answer is B

responding quickly to sudden movement and noise

Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: That panicked lurch you experience when the door slams shut somewhere in the house, or the heightened awareness you feel when a twig cracks in a nearby bush while out on an evening stroll are both examples of the reptilian cortex at work.
Keywords: reptilian cortex, panicked lurch, door slams, twig cracks
Keyword Location: 1st paragraph, 5-8 lines
Explanation: Reptilian cortex controls quick response to the sudden movement (lurch) and noise like slamming of door and cracking of a twig. So, the answer is A

Questions 23–26

Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 23–26 on your answer sheet.

A person with only a functioning reptilian cortex is known as ………………….

Answer: brain dead
Supporting Sentence: The most devastating form of brain damage, for example, is a condition in which someone is understood to be brain dead. In this state a person appears merely unconscious – sleeping, perhaps – but this is illusory. Here, the reptilian brain is functioning on autopilot despite the permanent loss of other cortexes.
Keywords: brain damage, brain dead, unconscious, sleeping, autopilot, permanent loss of other cortexes.
Keyword Location: 5th para, 2-6 lines
Explanation: Reptilian brain is supporting life survival mechanisms like sleeping, respiration, and heartbeat, but not social networking and cognitive skills. This is because the person’s brain is damaged. That is why he is simply sleeping, but not performing other functions. So, the answer is brain dead.

………………… in humans is associated with limbic disruption.

Answer: sociopathic behaviour
Supporting Sentence: In our own species, limbic damage is closely related to sociopathic behaviour.
Keywords: sociopathic behaviour, limbic damage
Keyword Location: 6th para, 5-6 lines
Explanation: In our own species means humans, associated means related, and damage means disruption. So, the result of damage of limbic disruption is sociopathic behaviour and is chosen as the answer.

An industrial accident caused Phineas Gage to lose part of his ………………….

Answer: neocortex
Supporting Sentence: One of the neurological wonders of history occurred when a railway worker named Phineas Gage survived an incident during which a metal rod skewered his skull, taking a considerable amount of his neocortex with it.
Keywords: neurological wonders, Phineas Gage, skull, neocortex
Keyword Location: 7th para, 1-3 lines
Explanation: Railway work is described as industrial work. An accident during railway work is taken as an industrial accident. During the accident, a metal rod pierced into the skull of the railway worker, Phineas Gage, and a part of the neocortex was removed. So, the answer is the neocortex.

After his accident, co-workers noticed an imbalance between Gage’s ………………… and higher-order thinking.

Answer: animal propensities
Supporting Sentence: Though Gage continued to live and work as before, his fellow employees observed a shift in the equilibrium of his personality. Gage’s animal propensities were now sharply pronounced while his intellectual abilities suffered; garrulous or obscene jokes replaced his once quick wit.
Keywords: Phineas Gage, employees, co-workers, equilibrium, imbalance, intellectual abilities, higher-order thinking.
Keyword Location: 7th para, 3-6 lines
Explanation: In the paragraph fellow employees are co-workers, a shift in the equilibrium means imbalance, and intellectual abilities means higher-order thinking. Animal propensities mean a natural tendency towards animal behaviours. There is an imbalance between animal behaviour and human higher-order thinking. So, the answer is animal propensities.

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