Deck 3: Brains, Bodies, and Behavior

Question 1

The breaks between segments of an axon's myelin sheath are termed _________.

A)terminal buttons
B)synapses
C)somatic gaps
D)nodes of Ranvier

Answer 1

nodes of Ranvier

Question 2

Another name for the cell body of a neuron is

A)soma
B)dendrite
C)axon
D)terminal button

Answer 2

soma

Question 3

Compare your forearm, hand, and fingers to a long tube. In such an analogy, the axon would be your:

A)wrist
B)fingers
C)hand
D)forearm

Answer 3

forearm

Question 4

Compare your forearm, hand, and fingers to a long tube. In such an analogy, the dendrites would be your:

A)forearm
B)fingers
C)hand
D)knuckles

Question 5

An axon is a:

A)neuron's cell body
B)branch-like fiber extending in clusters from a neuron's cell body
C)support cell in the nervous system
D)long, tube-like structure extending from a neuron's cell body

Question 6

You cannot fire a gun softly, or flush a toilet halfway. Like an action potential, gunfire and a toilet's flush follow the __________ law.

A)this-or-that
B)is-or-ain't
C)all-or-none
D)binary response

Question 7

Which of the following sequences accurately reflects the route followed by nerve impulses when one neuron communicates with another

A)dendrite $\rightarrow$ axon $\rightarrow$ cell body
B)dendrite $\rightarrow$ cell body $\rightarrow$ axon
C)axon $\rightarrow$ cell body $\rightarrow$ dendrite
D)axon $\rightarrow$ dendrite $\rightarrow$ cell body

Question 8

Which of the following sequences correctly arranges nervous system structures from the largest to the smallest

A)neuron $\rightarrow$ axon $\rightarrow$ terminal button
B)neuron $\rightarrow$ terminal button $\rightarrow$ axon
C)axon $\rightarrow$ terminal button $\rightarrow$ neuron
D)axon $\rightarrow$ neuron $\rightarrow$ terminal button

Question 9

Dendrite is to axon as _________ is to _________.

A)receiving; sending
B)sending; receiving
C)electrical; chemical
D)reuptake; action potential

Question 10

A synapse is a(n):

A)chemical
B)signal
C)joint
D)gap

Question 11

Terminal buttons are found at the ends of:

A)cell bodies
B)dendrites
C)axons
D)glial cells

Question 12

An action potential is a sudden ______ change in the electrical charge of a neuron's _________.

A)positive; axon
B)positive; soma
C)positive; dendrites
D)negative; axon

Question 13

Within neurons the communication is _____; Between neurons the communication is _____.

A)chemical; electrical
B)mechanical; electrical
C)electrical; mechanical
D)electrical; chemical

Question 14

The fundamental units of the nervous system are nerve cells, called __________.

A)axons
B)neurons
C)neurotransmitters
D)dendrites

Question 15

Electrical wires are generally protected by a coating of plastic. A similar insulating function is performed in the nervous system by:

A)myelin
B)glial cells
C)terminal buttons
D)somas

Question 16

As an action potential occurs, the neuron's electrical charge:

A)changes from negative to more negative
B)changes from neutral to positive
C)changes from neutral to negative
D)changes from negative to positive

Question 17

An action potential is followed by a brief _________ period, when the neuron regains its _______ charge.

A)refractory; negative
B)refractory; neutral
C)active; positive
D)resting; neutral

Question 18

The branch-like fibers extending in clusters from the neuron's cell body are called __________.

A)axons
B)terminal buttons
C)glial fibers
D)dendrites

Question 19

In general, a given nerve cell has synaptic connections with:

A)only one other neuron
B)several other neurons
C)dozens of other neurons
D)thousands of other neurons

Question 20

Neurons are able to communicate over relatively great distances within the body because they have

A)long axon
B)a large cell body
C)many dendrites
D)a variety of neurotransmitters

Question 21

Which disorder is correctly paired with an associated neurotransmitter

A)Parkinson's disease; dopamine
B)depression; glutamate
C)schizophrenia; serotonin
D)Alzheimer's disease; endorphins

Question 22

Which neurotransmitter is incorrectly described

A)acetylcholine; stimulates muscle contractions
B)GABA; an excitatory neurotransmitter inhibited by alcohol
C)serotonin; helps regulate sleep and mood
D)glutamate; the most common neurotransmitter

Question 23

In its resting state, an axon is negatively charged.

Question 24

Nicotine is an acetylcholine agonist.

Question 25

The major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain is __________.

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

Question 26

Cocaine causes the neurotransmitter dopamine to remain at the site of the synapse longer than it normally would. Cocaine thus inhibits the process termed __________.

A)recycling
B)reabsorption
C)reuptake
D)reuse

Question 27

GABA sends __________ messages to a receiving neuron.

Question 28

Which of the following is most common neurotransmitter

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

Question 29

Regarding neurotransmission, which of the following statements is true

A)Neurotransmitters always increase the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire.
B)Neurotransmitters may decrease the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire.
C)Neurotransmitters are electrical charges
D)Neurotransmitters are released by the dendrites

Question 30

Which of the following alternatives identifies the structures in the brainstem

A)medulla, thalamus, amygdala
B)reticular formation, thalamus, amygdala
C)medulla, thalamus, reticular formation
D)medulla, pons, reticular formation

Question 31

A toilet either flushes or it doesn't; a gun either fires or it doesn't. By a similar __________ law, a neuron either transmits an action potential or it does not.

Question 32

The part of brain closest to the spinal cord is the _________; it is important for such functions as __________.

A)pons; movement and motor coordination
B)pons; heart rate and respiration
C)medulla; movement and motor coordination
D)medulla; heart rate and respiration

Question 33

The chemicals that relay signals across the synapses between neurons are called _________.

A)neurosignals
B)neurotransmitters
C)synaptic messengers
D)action potentials

Question 34

Which neurotransmitter is CORRECTLY matched with a psychological function

A)glutamate; relief of pain
B)endorphins; regulate sleep
C)dopamine; facilitates learning
D)serotonin; contributes to memory

Question 35

After a long run, Aaron sometimes experiences a feeling of euphoria, a "runners' high" reflecting the activity of neurotransmitters called ________.

Question 36

The ___________ is an insulating coat of fat and protein wrapped around an axon.

Question 37

Despite their different roles in behavior, all neurotransmitters are excitatory in their effects.

Question 38

Methamphetamine increases the release of dopamine from an axon's terminal button. Curare blocks the release of acetylcholine. Methamphetamine is a dopamine ________; curare is an acetylcholine __________.

A)facilitator; inhibitor
B)stimulator; antagonist
C)stimulator; inhibitor
D)agonist; antagonist

Question 39

Axons receive signals from other neurons.

Question 40

The neurotransmitter dopamine is involved in:

A)motivation and emotion
B)Parkinson's disease
C)schizophrenia
D)All of the above

Question 41

The pons serves to:

A)regulate arousal
B)relay sensory information
C)control movement
D)consolidate memories

Question 42

Which of the following brain structures, located behind the brain stem, governs memory and emotion

A)cerebellum
B)thalamus
C)limbic system
D)medulla

Question 43

The reticular formation is composed of cell groups in the brain's _______ and its _________.

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

Question 44

The amygdala is to emotion as the hippocampus is to:

A)arousal
B)movement
C)decision making
D)memory

Question 45

Which of the following brain structures coordinates voluntary movement

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

Question 46

Which of the following brain structures performs many functions, including regulating hunger and sexual behavior

A)cerebellum
B)hypothalamus
C)limbic system
D)medulla

Question 47

The limbic system contains each of the following structures EXCEPT the:

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

Question 48

Which of the following statements best expresses the relationship between the central nervous system and the endocrine system

A)The endocrine and central nervous systems operate entirely independently.
B)The endocrine system is part of the central nervous system.
C)The endocrine system is linked to the central nervous system.
D)The endocrine system is another name for the central nervous system.

Question 49

Information travels from our sensory receptors to the _______ in the brain, which relays it to higher association areas.

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

Question 50

Darnell underwent surgery to control his severe epilepsy. Now, however, Darnell cannot form new memories of his experiences, although he does remember events in the past. Most likely, the surgery destroyed a portion of the ______ in Darnell's brain.

A)amygdala
B)corpus callosum
C)hypothalamus
D)hippocampus

Question 51

Pizza! Beer! Sex! Our motivation or drive for such things is based in part on the activity of the brain region known as the ________.

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

Question 52

The outer bark-like layer of the brain is termed the _________.

A)brain stem
B)association area
C)cerebellum
D)cerebral cortex

Question 53

Based on your text's discussion, how might you evaluate the ratio of brain weight to body weight as an operational definition of intelligence

A)It is a poor operational definition: It lacks validity.
B)It is a poor operational definition: It lacks reliability.
C)It is a good operational definition: It is valid.
D)It is a good operational definition: It is objective.

Question 54

Which of the following brain structures relays signals to higher brain levels

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

Question 55

Which of the following brain structures controls heart rate and breathing

A)cerebellum
B)thalamus
C)corpus callosum
D)medulla

Question 56

Which of the following approximate correlation coefficients is a researcher most likely to obtain between IQ score and ratio of brain weight to body weight

A).05
B)-.35
C).50
D).70

Question 57

The endocrine system is linked to the _________ in the brain, via the _______ gland.

A)hippocampus; adrenal
B)hippocampus; pituitary
C)hypothalamus; adrenal
D)hypothalamus; pituitary

Question 58

Your text suggests that the correlation between the surface area of the cortex and intelligence is probably:

A)unknown
B)negative
C)zero
D)positive

Question 59

Yves has been drinking. He has

A)cerebellum
B)thalamus
C)medulla
D)corpus callosum

Question 60

Your text suggests that the correlation between intelligence and the ratio of brain weight to body weight is probably:

A)negative
B)low
C)positive
D)moderate

Question 61

Which of the following defines contralateral control

A)The left side of the brain receives and sends information to the right side of the body and the right side of the brain receives and sends information to the left side of the body
B)The left and right brain hemispheres have different sensory and motor functions
C)The left and right brain hemisphere are specialized for different tasks or abilities
D)the brain can adapt to the effects of damage

Question 62

Somatosensory cortex is to auditory cortex as the _______ lobe is to the _______ lobe.

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

Question 63

Below the frontal lobe is the _______ lobe.

A)occipital
B)ventral
C)temporal
D)parietal

Question 64

Which of the following defines brain lateralization

A)The left side of the brain receives and sends information to the right side of the body and the right side of the brain receives and sends information to the left side of the body
B)The left and right brain hemispheres have different sensory and motor functions
C)The left and right brain hemisphere are specialized for different tasks or abilities
D)the brain can adapt to the effects of experience or damage

Question 65

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between the amount of motor cortex devoted to the control of a particular movement and the degree of precision required by the movement

A)There is no relationship.
B)There is only a weak relationship.
C)The relationship is unknown at present.
D)There is a positive correlation.

Question 66

The "new brain" is the:

A)hindbrain
B)limbic system
C)cerebral cortex
D)cerebellum

Question 67

In which lobe is the motor cortex located

A)occipital
B)dorsal
C)parietal
D)frontal

Question 68

The left and right hemispheres of the brain are connected by a bundle of fibers called the ___________.

A)corpus callosum
B)corpus cerebellum
C)central sulcus
D)limbic system

Question 69

A monkey makes an involuntary gesture when a portion of its brain is electrically stimulated. The area of the brain that was most likely stimulated is the:

A)motor cortex
B)sensory cortex
C)amygdala
D)occipital lobe

Question 70

According to your text, our brains are most adaptable during:

A)early childhood
B)middle childhood
C)puberty
D)late adolescence

Question 71

The production of new neurons is called __________.

A)neuroproduction
B)neurogenesis
C)somagenesis
D)plasticity

Question 72

If Gina is standing facing toward you, which of the following sequences correctly orders the lobes of her cortex, from the region that is closest to you to the region that is farthest away from you

A)occipital $\rightarrow$ temporal and parietal $\rightarrow$ frontal
B)frontal $\rightarrow$ occipital $\rightarrow$ temporal and parietal
C)frontal $\rightarrow$ temporal and parietal $\rightarrow$ occipital
D)occipital $\rightarrow$ frontal $\rightarrow$ temporal and parietal

Question 73

Kate has suffered right-hemisphere damage. Which of the following processes is LEAST likely to be affected

A)achieving feng shui in her living room by rearranging the couch and the TV
B)balancing her checkbook
C)reading that look on her boyfriend's face
D)thinking that a new song on the radio is really catchy

Question 74

In a roller-blading mishap, Wendy fell down and injured the very back of her head. Which of her senses is most likely impaired

A)hearing
B)pain
C)taste
D)vision

Question 75

Which of the following defines neuroplasticity

A)The left side of the brain receives and sends information to the right side of the body and the right side of the brain receives and sends information to the left side of the body
B)The left and right brain hemispheres have different sensory and motor functions
C)The left and right brain hemisphere are specialized for different tasks or abilities
D)the brain can adapt to the effects of experience or damage

Question 76

Which of the following is NOT one of the functions of glial cells

A)They nourish nerve cells.
B)They communicate messages within the nervous system.
C)They protect neurons.
D)They absorb unused neurotransmitters.

Question 77

In the ________ areas of the cortex, sensory and motor information is combined and linked with stored knowledge.

A)association
B)correlation
C)comparison
D)relational

Question 78

The process by which the brain responds to experience or damage is termed ___________.

A)neuromutability
B)neurogenesis
C)neuroflexibility
D)neuroplasticity

Question 79

Trevor is scratching his head, trying desperately to solve a verbal analogy as part of a standardized entrance examination; Sienna, meanwhile, is giving an oral presentation in a political science class. Which of the following statements best describes the relative activity of the brain's two hemispheres in these two students

A)For Trevor, the left hemisphere is more active than the right.For Sienna, the two hemispheres are equally active.
B)The two hemispheres are equally active for both students.
C)The left hemisphere is more active than the right for both these students.
D)For Trevor, the left hemisphere is more active than the right.For Sienna, the right hemisphere is more active than the left.

Question 80

The nervous system contains not only neurons, but also other cells called ___________.

A)axons
B)glia
C)dendrites
D)myelin cells