Deck 4: The Brain and Nervous System

Question 1

New research suggests that glial cells make up around _______________ of the brain's cells.

A) 10 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 90 percent

Answer 1

50 percent

Question 2

A collection of neurons and supportive tissue running from the base of the brain down the center of the back, protected by a column of bones, is called the:

A) spinal cord.
B) cerebellum.
C) somatic nervous system.
D) amygdala.

Answer 2

spinal cord.

Question 3

Shannon blinks as she steps off the school bus and walks into a gust of wind. This automatic reaction is regulated by the:

A) spinal cord.
B) lower part of her brain.
C) hormonal activity in her body.
D) hippocampus.

Answer 3

lower part of her brain.

Question 4

Emily is told by her physician that her symptoms are caused by the loss of myelin. Her diagnosis is most likely to be:

A) Parkinson's disease.
B) Alzheimer's disease.
C) multiple sclerosis.
D) epilepsy.

Question 5

_______________ are the brain's communication specialists, transmitting information to, from, and within the central nervous system.

A) Neurotransmitters
B) Neurons
C) Glial cells
D) Hormones

Question 6

_______________ carry orders from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and internal organs.

A) Motor nerves
B) Sensory nerves
C) Dendrites
D) Glial cells

Question 7

Which of the following neurotransmitters functions as the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain?

A) glutamate
B) GABA
C) acetylcholine
D) norepinephrine

Question 8

Which part of the neuron transmits messages to other neurons, muscles, or gland cells?

A) the cell body
B) dendrites
C) the axon
D) glial cells

Question 9

Linguistic and analytic skills are typically handled by the:

A) right half of your brain.
B) left half of your brain.
C) top half of your brain.
D) back half of your brain.

Question 10

On a hike through the hills, Tim feels a bug crawling up his leg under his pants. Which system is necessary for Tim to be aware of the bug?

A) sympathetic nervous system
B) endocrine system
C) somatic nervous system
D) autonomic nervous system

Question 11

The _______________ is a structure in the brain stem that is involved in activities like sleeping, waking, and dreaming.

A) medulla
B) pons
C) thalamus
D) cerebellum

Question 12

The somatic nervous system is also called the:

A) sympathetic nervous system.
B) parasympathetic nervous system.
C) central nervous system.
D) skeletal nervous system.

Question 13

The _______________, or "lesser brain," is involved in remembering simple skills and acquired reflexes.

A) pons
B) medulla
C) reticular activating system
D) cerebellum

Question 14

A PET scan:

A) records brain waves through electrodes taped to the scalp.
B) records biochemical changes in the brain as they are happening.
C) stimulates the brain by producing a magnetic field through a wire coil.
D) uses radio frequencies and a magnetic field to produce images of the brain.

Question 15

A cell that conducts electrochemical signals and is the basic unit of the nervous system is called a:

A) glial cell.
B) neuron.
C) neurotransmitter.
D) nerve.

Question 16

In _______________, brain cells are stimulated using a powerful magnetic field produced by a wire coil placed on a person's head that temporarily inactivates neural circuits.

A) positron-emission tomography
B) functional magnetic resonance imaging
C) transcranial direct current stimulation
D) transcranial magnetic stimulation

Question 17

Which of the following is true of spinal reflexes?

A) They are not automatic and require conscious effort.
B) Spinal reflexes control such responses as withdrawing from a painful stimulus, sneezing, and blinking.
C) They involve sending sensory messages to the spinal cord that immediately trigger a motor response.
D) They require sensory information to be sent to the brain and then back down to the spinal cord.

Question 18

Which part of a neuron acts like an antenna to receive messages from other neurons and transmits these messages toward the cell body?

A) neurotransmitters
B) dendrites
C) axons
D) glial cells

Question 19

Which of the following neurotransmitters affects neurons involved in muscle action, arousal, vigilance, memory, and emotion?

A) serotonin
B) GABA
C) acetylcholine
D) norepinephrine

Question 20

Researchers took photographs of different faces, cut them down the middle vertically, and pasted different halves together to form composite faces. The reconstructed photographs were flashed quickly to split-brain patients. It was found that the split-brain patients would:

A) name the person in the left part of the image and point with the right hand to the left image.
B) name the person in the right part of the image and point with the left hand to the left image.
C) name the person in the right part of the image and point with the right hand to the left image.
D) name the person in the left part of the image and point with the left hand to the right image.

Question 21

Which of the following is true of spinal reflexes?

A) They are not automatic and require conscious effort.
B) Spinal reflexes control such responses as withdrawing from a painful stimulus, sneezing, and blinking.
C) They involve sending sensory messages to the spinal cord that immediately trigger a motor response.
D) They require sensory information to be sent to the brain and then back down to the spinal cord.

Question 22

In the peripheral nervous system, _______________ carry messages from special receptors in the skin, muscles, and other internal and external sense organs to the spinal cord, which sends them along to the brain.

A) hormones
B) motor nerves
C) neuromodulators
D) sensory nerves

Question 23

Affective neuroscientists explore:

A) the biological foundations of consciousness, perception, memory, and language.
B) processes such as attachment and attitudes.
C) the biology of such basic processes as learning, conditioning, eating, and sex.
D) the nervous system's involvement in emotion, motivation, and stress.

Question 24

A young woman returns from a day at the beach to find she has developed a severe sunburn. Which neurons are sending the messages from her burned skin to her central nervous system, informing her of the pain from the burn?

A) sensory neurons
B) motor neurons
C) synaptic neurons
D) association neurons

Question 25

Reflexes above the neck, such as sneezing and blinking, are controlled by the _______________.

A) spinal cord
B) sympathetic nervous system
C) brain
D) parasympathetic nervous system

Question 26

Cognitive neuroscientists focus on:

A) the biological foundations of consciousness, perception, memory, and language.
B) processes such as attachment and attitudes.
C) the nervous system's involvement in emotion, motivation, and stress.
D) the anatomical structure of the brain.

Question 27

Cameron touches a hot iron and immediately pulls his hand away. His quick response occurs because:

A) spinal reflexes are automatic, requiring no conscious effort.
B) the brain registers the pain and responds quickly.
C) his glands have secreted chemical messengers called hormones.
D) pain information is sent to the brain faster than other sensory information.

Question 28

Shannon blinks as she steps off the school bus and walks into a gust of wind. This automatic reaction is regulated by the:

A) spinal cord.
B) lower part of her brain.
C) hormonal activity in her body.
D) hippocampus.

Question 29

A collection of neurons and supportive tissue running from the base of the brain down the center of the back, protected by a column of bones is called the:

A) spinal cord.
B) cerebellum.
C) somatic nervous system.
D) amygdala.

Question 30

Which of the following is a part of the peripheral nervous system?

A) the brain
B) the spinal cord
C) the somatic nervous system
D) the endocrine system

Question 31

The input and output of the central nervous system is handled by the:

A) lymphatic system.
B) endocrine system.
C) cardiovascular system.
D) peripheral nervous system.

Question 32

The nervous system is divided into two main parts:

A) the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
B) the brain and the spinal cord.
C) the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
D) the brain and the nerves.

Question 33

_______________ carry orders from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and internal organs.

A) Motor nerves
B) Sensory nerves
C) Dendrites
D) Glial cells

Question 34

The central nervous system consists of the:

A) parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions.
B) brain and the spinal cord.
C) muscles and glands.
D) sense organs and sensory neurons.

Question 35

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that connects to sensory receptors and to skeletal muscles is called the:

A) sympathetic nervous system.
B) parasympathetic nervous system.
C) somatic nervous system.
D) central nervous system.

Question 36

The function of the _______________ is to gather and process information, produce responses to stimuli, and coordinate the workings of different cells.

A) cardiovascular system
B) respiratory system
C) nervous system
D) lymphatic system

Question 37

In the peripheral nervous system, _______________ enable us to move, and cause glands to contract and to secrete hormones.

A) motor nerves
B) glial cells
C) dendrites
D) sensory nerves

Question 38

An important role of the spinal cord is the:

A) processing and storing of incoming sensory information.
B) control of reflexes above the neck.
C) monitoring of the activity of the internal organs.
D) control of automatic reflexes below the neck.

Question 39

Reflexes below the neck, such as pulling a hand away from a hot stove, are controlled by the _______________.

A) spinal cord
B) sympathetic nervous system
C) brain
D) parasympathetic nervous system

Question 40

The _______________ receives, processes, interprets, and stores incoming information from the senses and also sends out messages destined for muscles, glands, and internal organs.

A) cardiovascular system
B) central nervous system
C) endocrine system
D) lymphatic system

Question 41

The name "glial" is derived from the Greek word for "glue." It is an appropriate name because glial cells:

A) keep the axon from detaching from the cell body.
B) hold neurons in place.
C) fuse neurotransmitters to receptor sites.
D) fuse sodium ions to potassium ions.

Question 42

Which of the following includes the nucleus of the neuron, which contains genetic information, and is shaped roughly like a sphere or a pyramid?

A) the axon
B) the cell body
C) dendrites
D) glial cells

Question 43

Which of the following transmit messages away from cell bodies to neurons, muscles, or gland cells?

A) axons
B) neurotransmitters
C) dendrites
D) glial cells

Question 44

_______________ are the brain's communication specialists, transmitting information to, from, and within the central nervous system.

A) Neurotransmitters
B) Neurons
C) Glial cells
D) Hormones

Question 45

Which part of the neuron contains the biochemical machinery for keeping the neuron alive?

A) the cell body
B) glial cells
C) the axon
D) dendrites

Question 46

The functioning of blood vessels, glands, and internal organs is regulated by the:

A) autonomic nervous system.
B) somatic nervous system.
C) hippocampus.
D) lymphatic system

Question 47

As she walks out of the living room, Gloria turns off the light. In this example, which system is necessary for Gloria to perform this action?

A) sympathetic nervous system
B) parasympathetic nervous system
C) endocrine system
D) somatic nervous system

Question 48

An adult brain contains about 171 _______________ cells.

A) thousand
B) million
C) billion
D) trillion

Question 49

Which of the following statements is true?

A) The autonomic nervous system collects sensory input and sends commands to skeletal muscles.
B) The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
C) The sympathetic nervous system enables the body to conserve and store energy.
D) The parasympathetic nervous system mobilizes the body for action.

Question 50

New research suggests that glial cells make up around _______________ of the brain's cells.

A) 10 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 90 percent

Question 51

A cell that conducts electrochemical signals and is the basic unit of the nervous system is called a:

A) glial cell.
B) neuron.
C) neurotransmitter.
D) nerve.

Question 52

On a hike through the hills, Tim feels a bug crawling up his leg under his pants. Which system is necessary for Tim to be aware of the bug?

A) sympathetic nervous system
B) endocrine system
C) somatic nervous system
D) autonomic nervous system

Question 53

The somatic nervous system is also called the:

A) sympathetic nervous system.
B) parasympathetic nervous system.
C) central nervous system.
D) skeletal nervous system.

Question 54

As Molly is walking across campus, a car swerves toward her. Her heart races and sweat breaks out as she jumps out of harm's way. This mobilization of energy is due to the action of Molly's:

A) lymphatic system.
B) endocrine system.
C) parasympathetic nervous system.
D) sympathetic nervous system.

Question 55

Which part of a neuron acts like an antenna to receive messages from other neurons and transmit these messages toward the cell body?

A) neurotransmitters
B) dendrites
C) axons
D) glial cells

Question 56

The part of neurons that receive messages from nerve cells and look like the branches of a tree are called:

A) axons.
B) neurotransmitters.
C) dendrites.
D) cell bodies.

Question 57

A neuron is also called a:

A) glial cell.
B) precursor cell.
C) nerve cell.
D) neurotransmitter.

Question 58

Outgoing neural signals pass along the _______________ of a neuron to terminal branches.

A) receptor site
B) axon
C) glial cell
D) dendrites

Question 59

April spots the boy that she has a crush on sitting with his friends. Her heart begins to pound, her hands get sweaty, and her cheeks feel hot. April's _______________ has been activated.

A) autonomic nervous system
B) somatic nervous system
C) spinal reflex system
D) skeletal nervous system

Question 60

While Bridget is walking on the road, a bicyclist swerves toward her. Her heart races and sweat breaks out as she jumps out of harm's way. Soon, Bridget's heart rate begins to decrease. This calming reaction is due to the action of Bridget's:

A) skeletal nervous system.
B) endocrine system.
C) parasympathetic nervous system.
D) sympathetic nervous system.

Question 61

Emily is told by her physician that her symptoms are caused by the loss of myelin. Her diagnosis is most likely to be:

A) Parkinson's disease.
B) Alzheimer's disease.
C) multiple sclerosis.
D) epilepsy.

Question 62

The myelin sheath in the central nervous system is made up of:

A) neurotransmitters.
B) GABA.
C) dendrites.
D) glial cells.

Question 63

Stem-cell research is one of the hottest areas in biology and neuroscience because stem cells are:

A) pluripotent.
B) unipotent.
C) readily available in nature for research.
D) immune to most common ailments.

Question 64

The minuscule space where the axon terminal of one neuron nearly touches a dendrite or the cell body of another is called the _______________.

A) receptor site
B) dendrite
C) synaptic cleft
D) synaptic vesicle

Question 65

Constrictions that divide the myelin sheath into segments are called _______________.

A) dendrites
B) glia
C) nodes
D) sclerosis

Question 66

Which part of the neuron transmits messages to other neurons, muscles, or gland cells?

A) the cell body
B) dendrites
C) the axon
D) glial cells

Question 67

Stem cells in brain regions involved in learning and memory seem to divide and mature:

A) only during the first few months of pregnancy.
B) until the age of 1 year.
C) until puberty is reached.
D) throughout adulthood.

Question 68

Research by contemporary neuroscientists has shown that:

A) no new central nervous system cells are produced after infancy.
B) extended immobility can regrow severed spinal-cord axons in animals.
C) it is impossible to regrow spinal-cord axons after damage.
D) severed spinal-cord axons in an animal regrow if treated with certain nervous system chemicals.

Question 69

Neuroscientists have found that _______________ can inhibit the process of neurogenesis.

A) enriched environments
B) stress
C) physical exercise
D) effortful mental activity

Question 70

The site where the transmission of a nerve impulse from one nerve cell to another occurs is called a _______________.

A) synapse
B) stem cell
C) cell body
D) neurotransmitter

Question 71

One purpose of the _______________ is to speed up the conduction of neural impulses.

A) dendrites
B) axon terminal
C) myelin sheath
D) synaptic vesicle

Question 72

A nerve is a bundle of:

A) neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.
B) glial cells in the brain.
C) axons in the peripheral nervous system.
D) cell bodies in the brain.

Question 73

The human body has _______________ pairs of cranial nerves in the head, connecting directly to the brain.

A) 43
B) 12
C) 31
D) 52

Question 74

The process of neurogenesis occurs when:

A) neurons convert themselves to stem cells.
B) neurons divide to create two new neurons.
C) immature stem cells give birth to new neurons.
D) neurons convert themselves to glial cells.

Question 75

Neuroscientists have found that _______________ can kill the new neurons that have been produced through neurogenesis.

A) physical exercise
B) effortful mental activity
C) melanin
D) nicotine

Question 76

Joan is told by her physician that her symptoms are caused by a loss of myelin. Her symptoms would be most likely to include:

A) burning fever.
B) problems with vision.
C) hallucinations.
D) psychosis.

Question 77

Which of the following statements is true regarding neurogenesis?

A) Injured or damaged neurons in the central nervous system can never regenerate.
B) No new neurons are produced in the central nervous system after infancy.
C) Neurogenesis occurs in the spinal cord but not in the brain.
D) Recent research suggests that stem cells in the brain may be able to generate new neurons throughout life.

Question 78

One purpose of the _______________ is to prevent signals in adjacent cells from interfering with each other.

A) cell body
B) myelin sheath
C) dendrites
D) axon

Question 79

Many axons, especially the larger ones, are insulated by a surrounding layer of fatty material called the _______________.

A) neuromodulator
B) myelin sheath
C) dendrite
D) glia

Question 80

The human body has _______________ pairs of peripheral nerves, one nerve from each pair on the left side of the body and the other on the right.

A) 43
B) 12
C) 31
D) 52