Deck 2: Neural and Genetic Bases of Behavior

Question 1

____ can range in length from 1/32 of an inch to more than three feet.

A) Axons
B) Soma
C) Dendrites
D) Neurons

Answer 1

Axons

Question 2

The function of dendrites is to ____.

A) send information to other neurons
B) detect stimuli inside the body and send this information from sensory receptors to the brain
C) receive information from other neurons and bring it to the soma
D) insulate the neuron

Answer 2

receive information from other neurons and bring it to the soma

Question 3

The central part of the neuron is known as the ____.

A) soma
B) dendrite
C) axon
D) myelin sheath

Answer 3

soma

Question 4

Which part of a neuron would be expected to show damage in a disease such as multiple sclerosis,which results in loss of muscle control due to impairment in brain to muscle communication?

A) Ion
B) Myelin sheath
C) Soma
D) Dendrite

Question 5

The area in which communication between two neurons occurs is known as ____.

A) the syntax
B) an action potential
C) an axon
D) a synapse

Question 6

What is one of the most important functions of the interneuron?

A) To detect stimuli in the body or in the world
B) To send commands from the brain to the muscles,glands and organs
C) To link up the sensory neurons' input signals with the motor neurons' output signals
D) To weed out damaged neurons

Question 7

Specialized cells in the nervous system that send and receive information throughout the body are referred to as ____.

A) axons
B) dendrites
C) terminal buttons
D) neurons

Question 8

This organ of our body,which comprises only about 2 percent of our total body weight,controls most of the complex aspects of our behavior and mental life.Which organ are we talking about?

A) The heart
B) The brain
C) The lungs
D) The kidneys

Question 9

What makes the impulse faster?

A) The larger the diameter of the axon,and the more myelin surrounding its outer surface,the faster the impulse.
B) Scientists have not been able find out till date what is the exact reason that makes an impulse faster.
C) The smaller the diameter of the axon,and the more myelin surrounding its outer surface,the faster the impulse.
D) The larger the diameter of the axon,and lesser the myelin surrounding its outer surface,the faster the impulse.

Question 10

When depolarization occurs in a part of the axon,the resting potential is eliminated and a brief electrochemical charge is sent to the next section far away from the soma.This electrical disturbance is called ____.

A) threshold
B) action potential
C) polarization
D) chain reaction

Question 11

An extension of the soma which carries information from the soma to the other end of itself is called the ____.

A) dendrite
B) axon
C) myelin sheath
D) synapse

Question 12

Who discovered that the brain and spinal cord are not solid masses of neurons?

A) Daniel Kahneman
B) Herbert Simon
C) Santiago Cajal
D) Erik Erikson

Question 13

He was one of the first persons to discover that neurons were separate and distinct units.He made this discovery while working in a makeshift laboratory in his attic with a $25 microscope and a single box of slides! His resulting theory on how the brain processes information earned him the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine in 1906.Who is he?

A) Herbert Simon
B) Santiago Ramón y Cajal
C) Daniel Kahneman
D) Erik Erikson

Question 14

What makes up the synapse of a neuron?

A) Synaptic cleft
B) Terminal button
C) Dendrite of another neuron
D) All of the above

Question 15

Dendrites receive information,the soma then transmits it to the axon to be sent to the other end of the axon in the form of an electrochemical impulse.Which of the following questions is being answered here?

A) How are neurochemicals created?
B) How can Parkinson's disease be treated?
C) How do neurons communicate with each other?
D) Why is memory faulty?

Question 16

The transmission of electrochemical impulses are hastened by which part of the neuron?

A) Soma
B) Terminal buttons
C) Dendrites
D) Myelin sheath

Question 17

Which type of neuron sends commands from the brain to glands,muscles,and organs to commence,cease,or inhibit something?

A) Motor
B) Sensory
C) Interneurons
D) Outerneurons

Question 18

Which of the following is not a primary component of a neuron?

A) Glial cells
B) Soma
C) Dendrites
D) Axon

Question 19

Doctors know that the hippocampus is part of the limbic system and is central in the acquisition and consolidation of new information in memory.But in the case of Henry Molaison,this part of the brain was surgically removed to control his epileptic seizures.His seizures stopped but he was unable to form new memories in his brain.Then why did the doctors remove this important part of the brain in 1953,the year of Henry's brain surgery?

A) This was the only part of the brain that could be easily operated upon.
B) Doctors had to choose between stopping his seizures or losing his memory to save his life.
C) The purpose of the hippocampus was not known to the doctors in the 1950s.
D) None of the above

Question 20

Why is the neuron sometimes called the workhorse of the nervous system?

A) Because 98.8 percent of the neurons in the human body reside in the brain
B) Because the neuron has the ability to detect stimuli both in the world as well as in the body
C) Because the neuron has the capacity to do all the three functions: receive,integrate,and transmit neural information
D) The brain is called the workhorse of the nervous system and not the neuron.

Question 21

One drug that delays the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin is Prozac,which is widely used in ____.

A) treating brain malfunctioning
B) treating blindness
C) treating memory loss
D) treating depression

Question 22

Which of the following is not a neurotransmitter?

A) Dopamine
B) Acetylcholine
C) Endorphins
D) Amphetamine

Question 23

What are ions?

A) Positively charged particles
B) Positively and negatively charged particles
C) Negatively charged particles
D) Neutral particles

Question 24

A flood of electrically charged ions in and out of each section of the axon constitutes the ____.

A) synaptic cleft
B) glial cells
C) neural impulse
D) synapse

Question 25

The term depolarization refers to ____.

A) the accumulation of negative ions inside the axon
B) a shift in the number of dendrites receiving positive and negative messages
C) the change in charge inside a part of the axon from negative to positive
D) neural impulses gathering on either end of a neuron

Question 26

Which situation increases the likelihood that a neuron will fire?

A) The presence of neutral neurotransmitters
B) The presence of equal amounts of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters
C) The presence of many more excitatory than inhibitory neurotransmitters
D) The presence of only inhibitory neurotransmitters

Question 27

What is the reason that the bite of a black widow spider can trigger severe muscle contractions,convulsions,and heart failure?

A) The receptors for acetylcholine are blocked
B) The receptors for dopamine are blocked
C) The receptors for acetylcholine are flooded
D) The receptors for dopamine are flooded

Question 28

When the combined stimulation received by the dendrites exceeds a certain minimum intensity,the condition is referred to as ____.

A) resting potential
B) horizon
C) inhibition
D) threshold

Question 29

When there are more positive ions outside the axon's membrane and more negative ions inside,the condition is known as ____.

A) potential rate
B) action potential
C) predetermined rate
D) resting potential

Question 30

The process of taking the neurotransmitters back into the terminal buttons from which they were initially released and repackaging them into new synaptic vesicles is known as ____.

A) reuptake
B) synaptic transmission
C) neurotransmission
D) inhibition

Question 31

A neuron fires an electrochemical impulse if its threshold limit is exceeded.Otherwise it remains in its resting state.What is this effect called?

A) Neurotransmission
B) Action potential
C) Resting potential
D) All-or-none law

Question 32

In a disease such as Parkinson's disease,which neurotransmitter is highly likely to be inhibited?

A) Cortisol
B) Dopamine
C) Acetylcholine
D) Endorphins

Question 33

Within a given neuron,the speed of the impulse is ____.

A) between 1 to 200 miles per hour
B) variable
C) constant
D) 470 miles per hour

Question 34

How are neurotransmitters removed from the synaptic cleft?

A) Recycled through reuptake
B) Broken down by enzymes
C) Eliminated through depolarization
D) Both a and b

Question 35

Which neurotransmitter is important in pain reduction?

A) Dopamine
B) Acetylcholine
C) Endorphins
D) Cortisol

Question 36

When the neuron is in a resting state,the ions floating inside the axon are mostly ____,while those outside the axon's membrane are mostly ____.

A) positively charged;negatively charged
B) negatively charged;positively charged
C) neutral;positively charged
D) negatively charged;neutral

Question 37

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are released from ____ when an action potential arrives at the axons terminal buttons.

A) the blood vessels
B) synaptic vesicles
C) dendrites
D) interneurons

Question 38

One useful way to think about a neuron is that it is like a liquid-filled balloon surrounded by a slightly different kind of liquid.The important ions in the inside and outside liquids are positively charged ____ ions and negatively charged ____ ions.

A) sodium and potassium;chlorine
B) sodium and magnesium;chlorine
C) sodium and magnesium;iron
D) copper and magnesium;fluorine

Question 39

The action of neurotransmitters to receptors is likened to a(an)____.

A) car in a tunnel
B) key and a lock
C) lighthouse sweep
D) image in a mirror

Question 40

What is the relationship between the speed of the impulse and the axon?

A) The larger the diameter of the axon,and the more myelin surrounding its outer surface,the faster the impulse.
B) The smaller the diameter of the axon,and the more myelin surrounding its outer surface,the faster the impulse.
C) The larger the diameter of the axon,and the less myelin surrounding its outer surface,the faster the impulse.
D) The larger the diameter of the axon,and the more myelin surrounding its outer surface,the slower the impulse.

Question 41

Depressed and anxious moods,aggressiveness,and food cravings are associated with ____ in the brain.

A) low levels of endorphins
B) low levels of serotonin
C) high levels of dopamine
D) high levels of endorphins

Question 42

Transplanting of fetal tissues into the brains is one potential way of treating which disease?

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Cancer
C) Parkinson's disease
D) Schizophrenia

Question 43

Which neurotransmitter is involved in our ability to walk,talk,blink our eyes,and breathe?

A) Norepinephrine
B) Serotonin
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine

Question 44

Excitatory messages ____ the likelihood of an action potential,while inhibitory messages ____ this likelihood.

A) start;stop
B) increase;decrease
C) stop;start
D) decrease;increase

Question 45

What happens after neurotransmitters deliver their messages?

A) They are repackaged into new synaptic vesicles
B) They are broken down by enzymes
C) They are removed from the synaptic cleft
D) All of the above

Question 46

The ____ nervous system conserves and maintains the body's energy resources.

A) sympathetic
B) parasympathetic
C) central
D) somatic

Question 47

The brain produces endorphins in response to ____.

A) muscle decay
B) memory reduction
C) injury and physical stress
D) blood loss

Question 48

Which of the following neurotransmitters is involved in stress,wakefulness,and mood of an individual?

A) Norepinephrine
B) Endorphins
C) Acetylcholine (ACh)
D) Dopamine

Question 49

In the condition referred to as "Fight or Flight" which part of the nervous system activates the body's energy system to respond to threatening situations?

A) Peripheral
B) Somatic
C) Parasympathetic
D) Sympathetic

Question 50

Researchers believe that the memory loss exhibited in the degenerative brain disorder,known as Alzheimer's disease,is due to a sharp reduction in the supply of ____.

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

Question 51

The limbs of the body are controlled by which portion of the nervous system?

A) Peripheral
B) Autonomic
C) Somatic
D) Sympathetic

Question 52

The ____ commands movement of involuntary,nonskeletal muscles.

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

Question 53

Which of the following best describes the relationship between nerves and neurons?

A) Nerves are bundles of axons from many neurons.
B) Nerves are found in the body and neurons are found only in the brain.
C) Nerves and neurons are the same thing.
D) Nerves are limited to the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 54

The size of the bundle of nerves that makes up the spinal cord is compared to the ____.

A) thickness of a pencil
B) thickness of the thumb
C) width of a thumb
D) thickness of a pin

Question 55

Which amino acid is needed by the brain for the synthesis of serotonin?

A) Leucine
B) Lysine
C) Methionine
D) Tryptophan

Question 56

The portion of the nervous system containing all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord is referred to as the ____.

A) central nervous system
B) peripheral nervous system
C) autonomic nervous system
D) sympathetic nervous system

Question 57

What is the function of the spinal cord?

A) To transmit information from sensory neurons up to the brain
B) To transmit information from the brain down to motor neurons that initiate movement
C) To connect the brain to the rest of the body
D) All of the above

Question 58

What happens when Parkinson's disease patients are given the L-dopa drug?

A) It works as a temporary pain killer.
B) It eats up all the malfunctioning cells in the muscles so that new cells and tissues are created that will bring back the control over their muscles.
C) The brain converts it into dopamine which helps them regain control over their muscles.
D) It initiates the formation of new tissues.

Question 59

Once the body has been prepared to respond to a threatening situation,what mechanism calms the body?

A) Sympathetic nervous system
B) Parasympathetic nervous system
C) Somatic nervous system
D) Peripheral nervous system

Question 60

What are the two major parts of the human nervous system?

A) Central and somatic
B) Central and peripheral
C) Peripheral and autonomic
D) Peripheral and sympathetic

Question 61

The ____ is often referred to as the "master gland" because it releases about 10 different hormones that stimulate and regulate the rest of the endocrine system.

A) adrenal
B) pituitary
C) thyroid
D) gonads

Question 62

Which of the following is not a part of the endocrine system?

A) Adrenal glands
B) Gonads
C) Dendrites
D) Thyroid gland

Question 63

The pituitary gland is controlled by the ____.

A) hypothalamus
B) hippocampus
C) amygdala
D) thalamus

Question 64

What is another term for adrenaline?

A) Thyroxin
B) Oxytocin
C) Epinephrine
D) Norepinephrine

Question 65

Which technique measures over several minutes the average amount of brain activity in different regions by showing each region's consumption of sugar glucose?

A) PET
B) MRI
C) CAT
D) EEG

Question 66

A knee-jerk response is an example of which of the following?

A) Overactivity in the somatic nervous system
B) Homeostasis
C) A reflex action
D) A nonfunctioning spinal cord

Question 67

A brain-imaging technique in which thousands of X-ray photographs of the brain are taken and then combined to construct a cross-sectional brain picture is known as a(n)____.

A) PET
B) EEG
C) CAT
D) fMRI

Question 68

Which scan is particularly helpful in detecting brain abnormalities such as swelling and enlargement?

A) CAT
B) PET
C) MRI
D) fMRI

Question 69

Oxytocin is an example of ____.

A) cerebrospinal fluid
B) a toxin
C) a hormone
D) a fluid

Question 70

Which system communicates by secreting messengers,known as hormones,directly into the bloodstream?

A) Central nervous system
B) Sympathetic system
C) Autonomic nervous system
D) Endocrine system

Question 71

It takes time to calm down after stressful events because ____.

A) the thyroxin hormone production becomes slow after such events
B) the body needs to get adjusted to the environment following stressful events
C) our thinking capacity decreases
D) epinephrine and norepinephrine levels remain high following stressful events

Question 72

Which of the following is a function of the cerebrospinal fluid?

A) It allows the brain to float inside the skull
B) Connects the brain and spinal cord with the organs and tissues of the body
C) It stimulates the somatic nervous system
D) Transmits commands to the voluntary skeletal muscles by way of the motor neurons

Question 73

Which gland secretes the growth hormone?

A) Pituitary
B) Thyroid
C) Adrenal
D) Gonads

Question 74

In which scan are metal electrodes placed on a person's scalp to measure brain activity?

A) MRI
B) CAT
C) PET
D) EEG

Question 75

Which chemical messengers have at least one receptor on the membrane of every cell?

A) Endorphins
B) Hormones
C) Glial cells
D) Epinephrine

Question 76

The adrenal glands are located near the ____.

A) liver
B) hypothalamus
C) larynx
D) kidneys

Question 77

The hindbrain consists of the ____.

A) cerebellum
B) pons
C) medulla
D) All of the above

Question 78

A brain imaging technique that measures over a few seconds the average neural activity in different brain regions by showing fluctuations in blood oxygen levels is known as a(n)____.

A) MRI
B) PET
C) fMRI
D) CAT

Question 79

Which of the following is a drawback of the PET scan?

A) People are exposed to small amounts of radioactivity,making extensive scanning risky.
B) It measures the overall electrical activity of many different areas of the brain at once,making it difficult to pinpoint the exact location of specific brain wave activity.
C) It simply measures the brain's structure,rather than brain activity.
D) The cost is usually not justified.

Question 80

Animals with higher levels of ____ more strongly desire companionship,are more sexually active,and take better care of their young than those with lower levels.

A) oxytocin
B) thyroxin
C) endorphins
D) estrogens