Deck 1: Origins of Behavioral Neuroscience

Question 1

The author's meaning of "consciousness" is consistent with our

A) being awake.
B) ability to detect stimuli that are present in the outside world.
C) ability to move our bodies.
D) ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings to others.
E) possessing a complicated nervous system.

Answer 1

D
Explanation: The author's meaning of "consciousness" is consistent with our ability to communicate out thoughts and feelings to others.

Question 2

A complex phenomenon that is explained using simpler phenomena is based on the process of

A) rationalization.
B) simplification.
C) generalization.
D) deduction.
E) reduction.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following would be expected of a person who has undergone the "split-brain" procedure?

A) more intense epileptic seizures
B) poor motor balance
C) putting down an interesting book held in his or her right hand
D) making obscene gestures with his or her left hand at unexpected times
E) diminished capacity to reason

Answer 3

D
Explanation: A person who has undergone the "split-brain" procedure would be expected to make obscene gestures with his or her left hand at unexpected times.

Question 4

A psychologist who argues that phobias are actually learned fears is using the process of

A) rationalization.
B) pseudoscience.
C) reductionism.
D) generalization.
E) logical discrimination.

Question 5

Surgical transection of the corpus callosum is intended to

A) reduce swelling of the brain in hydroencephalus.
B) alter long-term memory of traumatic events.
C) promote the development of the frontal lobes.
D) reduce the severity of epileptic seizures.
E) prevent the development of Parkinson's disease.

Question 6

Transection of the ________ may be useful for reducing the symptoms of ________.

A) corpus callosum; epilepsy
B) fornix; obsessive-compulsive disorder
C) stria terminalis; anterograde amnesia
D) fornix; depression
E) corpus callosum; anxiety

Question 7

A person has undergone the "split-brain" procedure to treat a clinical disorder.After her left nostril is plugged with cotton,the scent of a flower is directed to her right nostril.We would expect this odor to

A) generate a sensory message in the left hemisphere of her brain.
B) generate a sensory message in both hemispheres of this person's brain.
C) lead that person to report the smell of a flower.
D) fail to generate a verbal report of the sensory experience.
E) have no effect on consciousness or behavior.

Question 8

An important function of the corpus callosum is to

A) channel sensory information to the thalamic relay centers.
B) control the movement of the hands and fingers.
C) interconnect the cerebral hemispheres.
D) control the release of neurohormones from the pituitary.
E) channel motor information to the spinal cord.

Question 9

Epileptic seizures can be controlled by

A) administration of drugs such as cocaine or amphetamine.
B) drugs that block the action of acetylcholine in the brain.
C) removal of the cerebral cortex.
D) cutting the corpus callosum.
E) electrical stimulation of sub-cortical brain structures.

Question 10

The fact that humans have a thirst for knowledge of how things work is an example of

A) empathy.
B) spiritualism.
C) monism.
D) animism.
E) curiosity.

Question 11

In most persons,the left hemisphere of the brain

A) controls the left side of the body.
B) controls speech.
C) is involved in spatial perception.
D) receives tactile information from the left side of the body.
E) receives olfactory information from the right nostril.

Question 12

The scent of a flower sniffed through the right nostril in a "split-brain" person would be expected to

A) generate a sensory message in the left hemisphere of the brain.
B) generate a sensory message in both hemispheres of the brain.
C) lead that person to report the smell of a flower.
D) allow that person to use his or her left hand to choose a hidden plastic flower.
E) rapidly induce nausea.

Question 13

The mind-body solution proposed by René Descartes was inspired by

A) visions he had while suffering a nervous breakdown in his teen years.
B) his daughter Francine.
C) his observation of mechanical statues in a royal garden.
D) his training as a philosopher.
E) his training in music.

Question 14

Carlson argues that a key aspect of human consciousness is related to

A) our ability to communicate to others via language.
B) our ability to sleep at night.
C) the fact that humans are awake during the day.
D) the observation that brain damage can alter our awareness.
E) our ability to react to painful stimuli.

Question 15

________ is a type of explanation used by scientists.

A) Generalization
B) Induction
C) Rationalization
D) Syllogism
E) Simplification.

Question 16

Which of the following is most consistent with the proposition that consciousness is a physiological function?

A) Consumption of a placebo pill changes our vision.
B) Damage to the brain can alter our self-awareness.
C) Inhalation of certain gases renders us aware of the environment.
D) Our awareness levels change with our emotional states.
E) Consciousness is similar across organisms with very different brain structures.

Question 17

Early humans would explain the movement of tree leaves in the wind as due to

A) mental processes in plants.
B) random motion.
C) the presence of spirits in the tree.
D) an action of God.
E) movement of fluids within the tree branches.

Question 18

Which of the following functions is associated with the right hemisphere?

A) the control of muscles of the left side of the body
B) the processing of olfactory signals from the left nostril
C) the processing of tactile signals from the right side of the body
D) the motor control of the right side of the body
E) the capacity to feel emotion

Question 19

Which of the following is true of the right hemisphere?

A) This hemisphere controls speech.
B) It receives olfactory information from the right nostril.
C) It receives tactile information from the right side of the body.
D) It controls the muscles on the right side of the body.
E) It receives olfactory information from the left nostril.

Question 20

_______ refers to the ancient belief that spirits control the movements of inanimate objects.

A) Spiritualism
B) Dualism
C) Monism
D) Animism
E) Theism

Question 21

Ancient Egyptian,Indian,and Chinese cultures viewed the ________ as the seat of thought and emotion.

A) gut
B) heart
C) brain
D) pineal gland
E) stomach

Question 22

Which of the following philosophers/scientists attributed thought and emotion to the brain?

A) Aristotle
B) Galen
C) Hippocrates
D) Plato
E) Müller

Question 23

For Descartes,the statues in the royal garden provided a(n)________ for explaining how the mind controls behavior.

A) model
B) analogy
C) generalization
D) prototype
E) syllogism

Question 24

A reflex is considered to be a(n)________ movement elicited by an ________.

A) involuntary; external stimulus
B) voluntary; internal stimulus
C) conscious; external stimulus
D) unconscious; internal stimulus
E) None of the above are correct.

Question 25

A serious complication of physiological analyses of behavior is that

A) behaviors have to be explained in terms of molecular events.
B) different physiological mechanisms may produce identical behaviors.
C) different behaviors may occur for the same reasons.
D) physiologists are only able to offer reductionist explanations.
E) Science is difficult.

Question 26

Which of the following is correct?

A) Reduction uses complex processes to explain complicated ones.
B) The goal of science is to explain simple phenomena in terms of complicated mechanisms.
C) Generalization and reduction are important tools in science.
D) Physiological psychologists only use reductionistic explanations.
E) Science involves generating - but not - testing hypotheses.

Question 27

A physiological psychologist would be most comfortable with which of the following statements?

A) The universe is a mental construction.
B) The body is a hallucination generated by the mind.
C) The body is made of matter; the mind is not.
D) Everything is made of matter and energy.
E) The body is physical and the mind is spiritual.

Question 28

The Greek scholar ______ dissected and studied the brains of cattle,sheep,dogs,and apes.

A) Aristotle
B) Galen
C) Hippocrates
D) Descartes
E) Carlson

Question 29

René Descartes would be most comfortable with which of the following statements?

A) The universe is a mental construction.
B) The body is a hallucination generated by the mind.
C) The body is made of matter; the mind is not.
D) The brain serves to cool the passions of the heart.
E) Reflexes are noted in humans, but not in animals.

Question 30

Aristotle argued that

A) the brain is the seat of thought, but not emotion.
B) the brain serves to cool the passions of the heart.
C) the brain is the seat of emotion, but not thought.
D) the brain routes sensory information to the heart.
E) injury to the brain alters emotion and thought.

Question 31

Dr.Leary argues that muscle contraction occurs because muscle fibers undergo a physical process of shortening.His explanation would invoke the process of

A) reduction.
B) syllogism.
C) generalization.
D) induction.
E) superordinate causality.

Question 32

The significance of Galvani's experiment involving stimulation of an isolated frog muscle is that it proved that

A) fluid flow along nerves causes muscles to contract.
B) the muscles are activated by electrical nerve signals.
C) reflexes can be explained using a hydraulic model.
D) a reflex is a process controlled by the mind.
E) the mind controls the movements of the body.

Question 33

Which of the following terms best describes view of the relation between mind and body held by René Descartes?

A) Mind and body are identical.
B) Mind is the residue when the brain is formed.
C) One brain gives rise to many minds.
D) Mind and body interact at the pineal body of the brain.
E) Body movement is controlled by inanimate spirits.

Question 34

A(n)________ is a simple system that works on known principles that can be used to explain a complex system.

A) model
B) analogy
C) generalization
D) prototype
E) syllogism

Question 35

René Descartes argued that

A) the mind is an emerging property of organization of the brain.
B) only humans are capable of reflexive behaviors.
C) the brain acts to cool the passions of the heart.
D) animals are mechanical devices whose behavior is controlled by environmental stimuli.
E) humans cannot understand the nature of the real world.

Question 36

Which scientist coined the term "reflexes" to describe certain bodily movements?

A) Aristotle
B) René Descartes
C) Hermann von Helmholtz
D) Wilder Penfield
E) Luigi Galvani

Question 37

The father of modern philosophy is considered to be

A) Sigmund Freud.
B) Hippocrates.
C) Aristotle.
D) René Descartes.
E) Wilhelm Wundt.

Question 38

Galvani's experiment showed that ________ of a frog nerve caused ________ of the attached muscle.

A) electrical stimulation; relaxation
B) electrical stimulation; contraction
C) chemical stimulation; contraction
D) pressurization; relaxation
E) chemical stimulation; relaxation

Question 39

Which of the following statements is consistent with how a physiological psychologist would solve the problem of how the mind and body interact?

A) The mind is a product produced by the operations of the nervous system.
B) The body can influence the mind through the actions of the pineal gland.
C) The mind is spiritual, while the body is made from matter.
D) The mind can exist apart from the body.
E) The body is physical, but the mind is not.

Question 40

According to René Descartes,

A) the heart is the organ that controls emotions.
B) the muscles are activated by electrical signals carried by nerves.
C) nerves carry electrical messages that contract muscles.
D) a reflex is a sensory perception generated by the mind.
E) the mind controls the movements of the body.

Question 41

The physiological mechanisms of an organism can modulate behavior.Strictly speaking,these mechanisms

A) can be said to have purpose.
B) can be traced or linked to certain functions.
C) are thought to be different from species to species.
D) are not thought to be subject to evolution.
E) are present at birth and do not require environmental stimulation for complete expression.

Question 42

A key contribution of Hermann von Helmholtz to the study of neuron function was

A) a mathematical formula to describe the conservation of energy.
B) a theory of black-white vision.
C) his invention of the ophthalmoscope.
D) measuring the conduction speed through nerves of the action potential.
E) his creation of the ablation method.

Question 43

Darwin proposed the principle of

A) specific nerve energy.
B) homeostasis.
C) experimental ablation.
D) natural selection.
E) functionalism..

Question 44

Electrical stimulation of the ________ in dogs was shown by Fritsch and Hitzig in 1870 to result in ________.

A) pineal gland; contraction of the facial muscles
B) parietal cortex; the sensation of high frequency sound
C) corpus callosum; paralysis of both hind legs
D) primary motor cortex; muscle contraction on the opposite side of the body
E) left globus pallidus; atrophy of muscles on the right side of the body

Question 45

Pierre Flourens is known

A) for his development and use of the experimental ablation technique.
B) as the father of modern philosophy.
C) for creating the theory of evolution.
D) for his study of the impairment of language in stroke victims.
E) as a radical philosopher who rejected the study of how the mind controls the body..

Question 46

Genetic mutations involve

A) adverse neural development caused by drug ingestion in adulthood.
B) accidental changes in the chromosomes of sperms or eggs.
C) poor adaptation to the environment.
D) improved reproductive success.
E) only beneficial changes in the characteristics of an organism.

Question 47

The doctrine of specific nerve energies was proposed by

A) Johannes Müller.
B) Paul Broca.
C) René Descartes.
D) Hippocrates.
E) Wilhelm Wundt.

Question 48

Which of the following is consistent with Blest's (1957)study of the impact of background pattern on consumption of worms by birds?

A) Background pattern made no difference in this study.
B) Birds avoided backgrounds that resembled the bark of a tree.
C) Worms were most likely to be eaten when placed on a background that contained a pattern that resembled an eye of an owl.
D) Birds rapidly approached backgrounds that contained eyespot patterns.
E) Backgrounds that contained eyespot patterns were avoided by the birds.

Question 49

The principles of natural selection and evolution were proposed by

A) Paul Broca.
B) René Descartes.
C) Sigmund Freud.
D) Johannes Müller.
E) Charles Darwin.

Question 50

_______ was among the first scientists to advocate the use of experimental techniques in the study of physiology.

A) Paul Broca
B) René Descartes
C) Sigmund Freud
D) Johannes Müller
E) Charles Darwin

Question 51

Experimental ablation involves

A) comparisons of brain size differences across species.
B) measurements of conduction velocity rates in damaged and intact nerves.
C) chronic chemical stimulation of the brain.
D) low-level electrical stimulation of the brain.
E) the study of changes in function after intentional damage to a portion of the brain.

Question 52

Which of the following is consistent with the doctrine of specific nerve energies?

A) Electrical stimulation of a sensory nerve cannot evoke a specific sensation.
B) All nerves carry a similar electrical message.
C) Exerting pressure on the eyeball can evoke pain.
D)Each brain area receives signals from all sensory systems. .
E) )Visual signals are carried by very large action potentials whereas tactile signals are carried by tiny action potentials.

Question 53

Which of the following is consistent with Galvani's experiment ?

A) The brain contains air-filled chambers.
B) Nerves are filled with air and exert a vacuum pressure..
C) Muscles comprise the mind.
D) Electrical stimulation of a nerve can evoke contraction of a muscle, even when the nerve has been disconnected from the rest of the body.
E) The brain controls the muscles of the body.

Question 54

Which of the following is true of genetic mutations?

A) Mutations have mostly beneficial effects.
B) Mutations commonly increase the survivability of affected offspring.
C) Mutations rarely result in problems for the affected offspring.
D) Most mutations are deleterious.
E) Mutations cannot confer selective advantages to the affected offspring.

Question 55

Johannes Müller proposed

A) an important role for natural selection in the evolution of behavior.
B) that language is a function of the right hemisphere.
C) that different brain channels carry out different functions.
D) that the pineal body interconnects the body with the mind.
E) that the amygdala controls thought and emotion.

Question 56

Based on his observation of brain damage and behavioral difficulties in a stroke victim,Paul Broca concluded that

A) the control of speech is a function of the left hemisphere.
B) the right hemisphere controls motor movements on the right side of the body.
C) damage to the right hemisphere impairs speech.
D) different regions of the brain control heart rate and breathing, purposeful movements, and sensory function.
E) muscle atrophy after a stroke results from a loss of fluid pressure within the brain ventricles.

Question 57

The principle of natural selection proposes that certain characteristics will become more prevalent in a species to the extent that these

A) are associated with multiple genetic mutations.
B) inhibit reproductive behaviors.
C) increase the likelihood that an organism will successfully reproduce.
D) impair adaption to the local environment.
E) impair appetite.

Question 58

Darwin's view that the natural characteristics of an organism exert useful effects is termed

A) reductionism.
B) positivism.
C) functionalism.
D) consolidation.
E) adaptation.

Question 59

Traits that can be altered via genetic mutations

A) are mostly beneficial to members of the species.
B) are psychological in nature.
C) are physical in nature.
D) exert direct actions on behavior.
E) suppress the creation of DNA.

Question 60

In his studies of nerve conduction,Hermann von Helmholtz noted that

A) electrical signal speeds differ from nerve to nerve.
B) nerve signal conduction is at the speed of light.
C) nerves conduct signals faster than do electrical wires.
D) nerves conduct signals more slowly than wires conduct electricity.
E) different sensory systems use different conduction speeds.

Question 61

A larger brain allowed primates to develop which of the following capacities and abilities?

A) the ability to huddle in the forest to keep warm.
B) use of smell to identify food
C) use of language to signal information to other members of the group
D) the ability to locomote within the forest
E) the capacity to chew and swallow food

Question 62

The severity of epilepsy may be reduced by surgical transection of the corpus callosum.

Question 63

An important function of the corpus callosum is to permit sharing of information between the two hemispheres of the brain.

Question 64

________ refers to the concept in which maturation is extended,and the brain of an adolescent reaches its adult brain size.

A) Adaptation
B) Mutation
C) Trisomy 21
D) Neoteny
E) Allodyny

Question 65

Research involving animals was required in order to study and develop treatments for which of the following human diseases?

A) melanoma
B) stroke
C) bulimia nervosa
D) baldness
E) phobia

Question 66

Animal rights activists are most concerned with our use of animals

A) in hunting and trapping.
B) as a source of food.
C) as companions or pets to humans.
D) as a source of fur for coats.
E) as subjects for research.

Question 67

Genetic variety is good for a species in that

A) such diversity allows some members of the species to adapt to a new environment.
B) mutations are kept to a minimum.
C) variety promotes neural development.
D) variety reduces reproductive success.
E) None of the above are correct.

Question 68

Which of the following is an advantage associated with the development of color vision in primates?

A) the ability to locate food in the dark
B) the ability to freely move in the forest at night
C) the capacity to discriminate movement at the edge of the visual field. fruit
D) the capacity to communicate using hand signals
E) The ability to distinguish ripe from unripe fruit.

Question 69

Recent models of the nervous system have tried to understand the brain in terms of

A) mechanical devices such as levers and fulcrums.
B) the functions of computer programs.
C) the flow of hydraulic fluid through nerves.
D) wiring patterns used to produce telephone networks.
E) ion flows through axon membranes.

Question 70

The author argues that consciousness is associated with the ability of humans to use language for communication.

Question 71

Which of the following is correct regarding the genetic similarities evident among the various members of the primate families?

A) Members of the primate family share 78.8 percent of their DNA.
B) Humans and chimpanzees share 98.8 percent of their DNA.
C) Chimpanzees and gorillas share 50 percent of their genes.
D) Humans share only 1.2 percent of their genes with other primates.
E) There is little genetic similarity between the primate groups.

Question 72

Which of the following is the easiest justification for the use of animals in research?

A) Animal research is conducted so as to minimize human suffering.
B) Animal research is an important part of our food supply..
C) Animal research has led to disease discoveries and treatments that would not otherwise be possible.
D) One simply has a conversation with an animal rights activist about the validity of animal research.
E) Animal research is easier than computer simulations of human disease.

Question 73

Which of the following is an indispensable use of animals for humans?

A) research for the treatment of human disease
B) as a source of food
C) as companions to humans
D) as a source of fur
E) as contestants in reality television shows

Question 74

________ is the original name for the field which involves the study of the physiology of behavior.

A) Behavioral neuroscience
B) Biopsychology
C) Psychobiology
D) Physiological psychology
E) Biological pseudoscience

Question 75

Animism is the belief that the mind is separate from the body.

Question 76

The process of evolution

A) cannot involve genetic mutations.
B) can occur in the absence of natural selection.
C) implies genetic similarity.
D) refers to a gradual change in the structure and function of a species.
E) requires numerous mutations.

Question 77

________ are physicians trained to diagnose and to treat diseases of the central nervous system.

A) Psychologists
B) Neurologists
C) Anatomists
D) Behavioral neuroscientists
E) Experimental neuropsychologists

Question 78

The first primates

A) were the bark from trees.
B) were relatively large compared to other species.
C) dined on other primates..
D) were able to grasp objects with their hands.
E) were blind.

Question 79

Which of the following is true with regard to the use of animals by humans?

A) Owning a pet requires permission from a veterinarian.
B) Pet homes are regularly inspected by the government.
C) More suffering occurs through pet ownership than with research.
D) More animals die in research projects than die as pets.
E) No animal research has been useful for understanding and treating human disease.

Question 80

Which of the following was NOT a strategy advocated by the text author to assist you in learning the material of this text?

A) Focus on the conclusions of a series of studies, not on the premises that support the conclusion.
B) Each chapter section should be read several times.
C) Do not use a highlighter to emphasize a text concept.
D) Be active in your study of the text material.
E) Make use of the study guide.