Deck 2: Neuroscience and Behavior

Question 1

To excite or inhibit an action potential in a receiving neuron, a neurotransmitter must cross the

A) axon.
B) synaptic gap.
C) glial cell.
D) endocrine glands.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in speaking?

A) Occipital
B) frontal
C) temporal
D) parietal

Answer 2

B

Question 3

To monitor the electrical activity in the brain that is triggered by hearing one's own name, researchers would make use of a(n)

A) MRI.
B) PET scan.
C) EEG.
D) brain lesion.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Depressed mood states are linked to ________ levels of serotonin and ________ levels of norepinephrine.

A) low; low
B) high; high
C) low; high

Question 5

The limbic system structure that regulates hunger is called the

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

Question 6

Melissa has just completed running a marathon. She is so elated that she feels little fatigue or discomfort. Her lack of pain is probably the result of the release of

A) ACh.
B) endorphins.
C) dopamine.
D) norepinephrine.

Question 7

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are ________ that are released by the ________ gland.

A) neurotransmitters; pituitary
B) hormones; pituitary
C) neurotransmitters; thyroid
D) hormones; adrenal

Question 8

Although Ron has no genital sensations, he is capable of an erection if his genitals are stimulated. Ron's experience is most indicative of a

A) hemispherectomy.
B) severed spinal cord.
C) split brain.
D) reward deficiency syndrome.

Question 9

While listening to operatic solos, musicians process the lyrics and the tunes in separate brain areas. This most clearly illustrates the functioning of different

A) neurotransmitters.
B) reticular formations.
C) neural networks.
D) limbic systems.

Question 10

In the brain, I outnumber neurons. I also provide nutrients to the neurons and help remove excess neurotransmitters. I am a

A) hormone.
B) myelin sheath.
C) glial cell.
D) gland.

Question 11

Which region of the brain appears to have the oldest evolutionary history?

A) frontal lobes
B) limbic system
C) brainstem
D) corpus callosum

Question 12

Which of the following would be most useful for detecting the brain areas that are most active as a person performs mathematical calculations?

A) a brain lesion
B) an interneuron
C) a PET scan
D) a hemispherectomy

Question 13

An axon transmits messages ________ the cell body and a dendrite transmits messages ________ the cell body.

A) away from; toward
B) away from; away from
C) toward; away from
B) toward; toward

Question 14

The successful functioning of children who have experienced the surgical removal of an entire cerebral hemisphere best illustrates the value of

A) cognitive neural prosthetics.
B) phrenology.
C) plasticity.
D) ACh antagonists.

Question 15

The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine ________ blood pressure and _______ blood sugar levels.

A) raises; raises
B) lowers; lowers
C) raises; lowers
D) lowers; raises

Question 16

The visual cortex is located in the

A) occipital lobes.
B) parietal lobes.
C) temporal lobes.
D) association areas.

Question 17

Brain scans indicate that well-practiced pianists have a larger-than-usual auditory cortex area that encodes piano sounds. This best illustrates

A) hemispherectomy.
B) tomography.
C) cognitive neural prosthetics.
D) plasticity.

Question 18

The regions of the parietal lobes that are involved in mathematical and spatial reasoning are known as

A) the amygdala.
B) reward centers.
C) the reticular formation.
D) association areas.

Question 19

The endocrine system consists of

A) association areas.
B) neural networks.
C) interneurons.
D) glands.

Question 20

Beginning at the front of the brain and moving toward the back of the head, then down the skull and back around to the front, which of the following is the correct order of the cortical regions?

A) occipital lobe; temporal lobe; parietal lobe; frontal lobe
B) temporal lobe; frontal lobe; parietal lobe; occipital lobe
C) frontal lobe; occipital lobe; temporal lobe; parietal lobe
D) frontal lobe; parietal lobe; occipital lobe; temporal lobe

Question 21

A strong stimulus can increase the

A) speed of the impulse the neuron fires.
B) intensity of the impulse the neuron fires.
C) number of times the neuron fires.
D) threshold that must be reached before the neuron fires.

Question 22

Moruzzi and Magoun caused a cat to lapse into a coma by severing neural connections between the cortex and the

A) reticular formation.
B) hypothalamus.
C) thalamus.
D) cerebellum.

Question 23

An experimenter flashes the word FLYTRAP onto a screen facing a split-brain patient so that FLY projects to her right hemisphere and TRAP to her left hemisphere. When asked what she saw, the patient will

A) say she saw FLY.
B) say she saw TRAP.
C) point to FLY using her right hand.
D) point to TRAP using her left hand.

Question 24

The axons of certain neurons are covered by a layer of fatty tissue that helps speed neural transmission. This tissue is

A) dopamine.
B) the myelin sheath.
C) acetylcholine.
D) an endorphin.

Question 25

The pain of heroin withdrawal may be attributable to the fact that

A) under the influence of heroin the brain ceases production of endorphins.
B) under the influence of heroin the brain ceases production of all neurotransmitters.
C) during heroin withdrawal the brain's production of all neurotransmitters is greatly increased.
D) heroin destroys endorphin receptors in the brain.

Question 26

Which of the following are governed by the simplest neural pathways?

A) emotions
B) physiological drives, such as hunger
C) reflexes
D) movements, such as walking

Question 27

Research has found that the amount of representation in the motor cortex reflects the

A) size of the body parts.
B) degree of precise control required by each of the parts.
C) sensitivity of the body region.
D) area of the occipital lobe being stimulated by the environment.

Question 28

The effect of a drug that is an agonist is to

A) cause the brain to stop producing certain neurotransmitters.
B) mimic a particular neurotransmitter.
C) block a particular neurotransmitter.
D) disrupt a neuron's all-or-none firing pattern.

Question 29

Which is the correct sequence in the transmission of a simple reflex?

A) sensory neuron, interneuron, sensory neuron
B) interneuron, motor neuron, sensory neuron
C) sensory neuron, interneuron, motor neuron
D) interneuron, sensory neuron, motor neuron

Question 30

Dr. Hernandez is studying neurotransmitter abnormalities in depressed patients. She would most likely be working from a ________ perspective.

A) personality
B) phrenologist
C) psychoanalyst
D) biological

Question 31

The effect of a drug that is an antagonist is to

A) cause the brain to stop producing certain neurotransmitters.
B) mimic a particular neurotransmitter.
C) block a particular neurotransmitter.
D) disrupt a neuron's all-or-none firing pattern.

Question 32

In the brain, learning occurs as experience strengthens certain connections in cell work groups called

A) action potentials.
B) neural networks.
C) endocrine systems.
D) dendrites.

Question 33

Which of the following is typically controlled by the left hemisphere?

A) making inferences
B) word recognition
C) the left side of the body
D) perceptual skills

Question 34

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands are called

A) agonists.
B) neurotransmitters.
C) hormones.
D) enzymes.

Question 35

When Sandy scalded her toe in a tub of hot water, the pain message was carried to her spinal cord by the ________ nervous system.

A) somatic
B) Sympathetic
C) Parasympathetic
D) central

Question 36

Following a head injury, a person has ongoing difficulties staying awake. Most likely, the damage occurred to the

A) thalamus.
B) corpus callosum.
C) reticular formation.
D) cerebellum.

Question 37

A neuron will generate action potentials when it

A) remains below its threshold.
B) receives an excitatory input.
C) receives more excitatory than inhibitory inputs.
D) is stimulated by a neurotransmitter.

Question 38

Voluntary movements, such as writing with a pencil, are directed by the

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

Question 39

Cortical areas that are NOT primarily concerned with sensory, motor, or language functions are

A) called projection areas.
B) called association areas.
C) located mostly in the parietal lobe.
D) located mostly in the temporal lobe.

Question 40

The brain research technique that involves monitoring the brain's usage of glucose is called (in abbreviated form) the

A) PET scan.
B) fMRI.
C) EEG.
D) MRI.

Question 41

Alana suffered a brain disease that destroyed major portions of her temporal lobes. Alana is most likely to suffer some loss of

A) auditory perception.
B) hunger and thirst.
C) pain sensations.
D) muscular coordination.

Question 42

An action potential refers to a

A) neural impulse.
B) synaptic gap.
C) neurotransmitter.
D) reflex.

Question 43

A failure to recognize that one's arm or leg is part of one's self is most likely to be associated with damage to the

A) amygdala.
B) hypothalamus.
C) right hemisphere.
D) sympathetic nervous system.

Question 44

Direct stimulation of the motor cortex would most likely result in

A) feelings of anger.
B) acceleration of heartbeat.
C) a sensation of being touched on the arm.
D) movement of the mouth and lips.

Question 45

An all-or-none response pattern is characteristic of the

A) activation of either the sympathetic or the parasympathetic system.
B) release of endorphins into the central nervous system.
C) release of hormones into the bloodstream.
D) initiation of neural impulses.

Question 46

An undersupply of GABA is most closely linked to

A) schizophrenia.
B) paralysis.
C) insomnia.
D) Alzheimer's disease.

Question 47

Cortisol is a stress hormone released by the

A) pituitary gland.
B) thyroid gland.
C) pancreas.
D) adrenal glands.

Question 48

According to Roger Sperry, a recognition that the mind cannot be fully explained by the activity of nerve cells is important for appreciating our human capacity for

A) lateralization.
B) neural plasticity.
C) moral responsibility.
D) developing neural networks.

Question 49

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements is called the

A) thalamus.
B) motor cortex.
C) reticular formation.
D) frontal association area.

Question 50

Because neural communication occurs within the context of both cultural influences and individual mental processes, people are best understood as

A) genetic profiles.
B) action potentials.
C) biopsychosocial systems.
D) cognitive neural prosthetics.

Question 51

Agonists are chemicals that may mimic the activity of

A) motor neurons.
B) genes.
C) synapses.
D) neurotransmitters.

Question 52

A loss of physical coordination and balance is most likely to result from damage to the

A) hypothalamus.
B) cerebellum.
C) corpus callosum.
D) amygdala.

Question 53

Association areas are located

A) only in the frontal lobes.
B) only in the frontal lobes and temporal lobes.
C) only in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes.
D) in the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes.

Question 54

A monkey with electrodes implanted in its brain is able to move a computer cursor simply by thinking about the move. This brain-computer interface best illustrates the potential value of

A) neural plasticity.
B) neurogenesis.
C) cognitive neural prosthetics.
D) magnetic resonance imaging.

Question 55

Endorphins are most directly involved in the control of

A) body temperature.
B) physical pain.
C) muscle contraction.
D) attention.

Question 56

Endorphins are neurotransmitter molecules similar to

A) dopamine.
B) serotonin.
C) morphine.
D) acetylcholine.

Question 57

Damage to the association areas in the frontal lobe is most likely to interfere with the ability to

A) formulate plans.
B) recognize familiar faces.
C) understand word meanings.
D) recognize familiar voices.

Question 58

Animal research has revealed a general reward system related to the release of the neurotransmitter

A) ACh.
B) GABA.
C) dopamine.
D) epinephrine.

Question 59

A neural impulse is generated only when excitatory minus inhibitory signals exceed a certain

A) action potential.
B) synaptic gap.
C) tomography.
D) threshold.

Question 60

A picture of a cat is briefly flashed in the left visual field and a picture of a mouse is briefly flashed in the right visual field of a split-brain patient. The individual will be able to use her

A) right hand to indicate she saw a cat.
B) left hand to indicate she saw a mouse.
C) right hand to indicate she saw a mouse.
D) left or right hand to indicate she saw a cat.

Question 61

Nerves are neural cables formed from bundles of

A) endorphins.
B) interneurons.
C) axons.
D) lesions.

Question 62

Nerve cells in the brain receive life-supporting nutrients and insulating myelin from

A) glial cells.
B) neurotransmitters.
C) motor neurons.
D) hormones.

Question 63

Neurogenesis refers to

A) the initiation of an action potential.
B) the formation of new neurons.
C) the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap.
D) the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by a sending neuron.

Question 64

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are released by the

A) thyroid gland.
B) pituitary gland.
C) adrenal glands.
D) pancreas.

Question 65

If a neurosurgeon directly stimulated parts of your sensory cortex, which of the following would you most likely experience?

A) indistinct odors
B) flashes of light
C) repetitive sounds
D) a sense of being touched

Question 66

Neurotransmitter receptor sites are primarily located on the

A) dendrites.
B) myelin sheath.
C) glial cells.
D) axon terminals.

Question 67

In the process of beginning an action potential, the threshold refers to

Question 68

Left-handers are more numerous than usual among those with

A) reading disabilities.
B) musical disabilities.
C) artistic disabilities.
D) mathematical disabilities.

Question 69

Information travels from spinal cord to the brain through

A) interneurons.
B) somatic nervous system.
C) adrenal glands.
D) the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 70

Information is most quickly transmitted from one cerebral hemisphere to the other by the

A) corpus callosum.
B) motor cortex.
C) limbic system.
D) reticular formation.

Question 71

If primed with the flashed word foot, the ________ hemisphere will be especially quick to recognize the word heel. If primed with foot, cry, and glass, the ________ hemisphere will be especially quick to recognize the word cut.

A) right; left
B) left; right
C) right; right
D) left; left

Question 72

For you to be able to run, ________ must relay messages from your central nervous system to your leg muscles.

A) interneurons
B) motor neurons
C) the reticular formation
D) the autonomic nervous system

Question 73

In a moment of danger, an individual's adrenal glands release

A) ACh.
B) insulin.
C) epinephrine.
D) endorphins.

Question 74

Information is carried from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the central nervous system by

A) interneurons.
B) sensory neurons.
C) motor neurons.
D) endocrine glands.

Question 75

If Professor Kosiba surgically removed the amygdala of a laboratory rat, the rat would most likely become

A) hungry.
B) sexually aroused.
C) physically uncoordinated.
D) less aggressive.

Question 76

If an individual's right cerebral hemisphere is completely destroyed by disease, that person is unable to see anything

A) with his or her right eye.
B) with his or her left eye.
C) in his or her right field of vision.
D) in his or her left field of vision.

Question 77

Morphine and heroin are

A) free radicals.
B) hormones.
C) dendrites.
D) opiates.

Question 78

In terms of evolutionary development, the oldest regions of the brain are those that regulate

A) memory.
B) emotion.
C) breathing.
D) foresight.

Question 79

Messages are transmitted from your spinal cord to your digestive system's stomach muscles by the

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

Question 80

Motor neurons are an important part of the

A) limbic system.
B) reticular formation.
C) peripheral nervous system.
D) motor cortex.