The Largest Part of the Brain, Which is What you Actually See When you Look at a Brain from Above or the Side

Question: The largest part of the brain, which is what you actually see when you look at a brain from above or the side, is the neocortex. The neocortex is really a 1.5 square foot sheet of cells wadded up a bit to fit inside the head. The neurons in the neocortex form a complex neural circuit that is repeated millions of times across the cortical surface. This repeated neural circuit is called a minicolumn.

The brain contains many specialized areas associated with particular senses (vision versus audition, for example) and other areas mediating particular motor outputs (like moving the leg versus the tongue). The function of different brain areas depends not on any particular structure of the minicolumns within it, but its inputs and outputs. So even though the cell types and circuits in the auditor cortex are similar to those in the visual and motor cortices, the auditory cortex is the auditory cortex because it receives inputs from the cochlea (a part of the ear) and because it sends output to areas associated with processing auditory information and using it to guide behavior.

‘The largest part of the brain, which is what you actually see when you look at a brain from above or the side’ is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 6 comprehension questions.
The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

1. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the main point of the passage?

(A) The human brain is complex and misunderstood.
(B) Most people have minicolumns in their brains.
(C) The brain’s minicolumns are key to how it works, as are the inputs it receives.
(D) The brain understands auditory and visual inputs in different ways.
(E) The neocortex is what most of us think of as “the brain.”

2. Which of the following statements is the most specific definition of a minicolumn, according to the passage?

(A) A repeated neural circuit in the brain
(B) A less-than-full-sized column
(C) The auditory cortex input pattern
(D) A part of the brain
(E) The feedback loop between the neocortex and the rest of the brain

3. The second paragraph plays what role in this passage?

(A) It refutes the argument about the neocortex presented in the first paragraph.
(B) It clarifies a broad opinion about the human brain stated in the first paragraph.
(C) It presents a series of examples that prove the first paragraph’s thesis about the brain is correct.
(D) It supplies further details and information about a general concept presented in the first paragraph.
(E) It concludes the argument presented in the first paragraph by restating it using an anecdote about the neocortex.

4. The [Highlighted] word audition in the passage could best be replaced with which of the following words or phrases?

(A) Try-out
(B) A hearing
(C) A competition
(D) Decibel level
(E) Auditory

5. Which situation is most similar to the brain function described in the second paragraph?

(A) A sewer system is created with specific pipes for different kinds of waste being carried through it.
(B) A phone system is built out of a single type of wire which adjusts to respond to the location of the call being placed.
(C) A man keeps a capsule wardrobe that has outfits appropriate for many different occasions.
(D) The military maintains several different divisions for peacekeeping in a variety of terrains.
(E) A woman decides to use the same color of paint throughout very room in her house.

6. Based on the passage, it can be inferred that a minicolumn would be most likely to do which of the following?

(A) Remain securely in the vision function of the brain if used there.
(B) Receive input and output from a variety of senses.
(C) Control the neocortex.
(D) Respond differently to different inputs from vision or hearing.
(E) Calcify if not used on a daily basis.

7. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the author’s attitude towards the brain, based on this passage?

(A) Full of wonder, uncomprehending
(B) Aggrieved that it's not better understood
(C) Reflective and poetic
(D) Factual and explanatory
(E) Eager to convince, winning

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