Question 1

The central nervous system is made up of the

Accepted Answer

The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The somatic and peripheral nervous systems are separate components of the overall nervous system.

Question 2

During the reception phase of neural communication, the ________ will accept signals from presynaptic neurons.

Accepted Answer

The dendrites of a neuron receive signals from presynaptic neurons during the reception phase of neural communication. The other options listed are not involved in this process.

Question 3

During the integration phase of neural communication, the presence of inhibitory signals will ________ firing an action potential.

Accepted Answer

Inhibitory signals decrease the likelihood of firing an action potential by hyperpolarizing the neuron, making it more difficult to reach the threshold for action potential firing.

Question 4

Which of the following best summarizes the main function(s) of your nervous system?

Accepted Answer

The nervous system is responsible for receiving sensory information (such as touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing), processing that information in the brain and spinal cord, and then producing a response, such as moving a muscle or secreting a hormone. It does not regulate oxygen in the blood, produce bodily fluids, or protect from pain.

Question 5

Your nervous system allows you to do all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The nervous system is not involved in altering genetic codes. This is the role of the genetic material (DNA) and the processes of transcription and translation.

Question 6

The basic building blocks of the nervous system are the

Accepted Answer

Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system, as they are specialized cells that transmit and process information through electrochemical signals. While neurotransmitters, dendrites, and axons are all important components of neurons and neural communication, they are not considered the foundational building blocks of the nervous system.

Question 7

Chemical substances that carry messages from one neuron to the next are called

Accepted Answer

Chemical substances that carry messages from one neuron to the next are called neurotransmitters. Agonists enhance the activity of neurotransmitters, while antagonists inhibit or block their effects. Hormones are chemical messengers produced by the endocrine system that travel through the bloodstream to target cells or organs.

Question 8

Graham went out for a walk on a cool, fall evening. He forgot to bring a sweater and started feeling cold. The ________ nervous system received the sensory information that the temperature outside was too cold.

Accepted Answer

The peripheral nervous system includes the sensory receptors that receive information from the environment and transmit it to the central nervous system for processing. The other options are not specific to this function. The sympathetic and autonomic nervous systems are subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system that control involuntary functions, such as heart rate and digestion, but do not receive sensory information directly. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, which receive and process sensory information.

Question 9

In reuptake, neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron, which

Accepted Answer

Reuptake removes neurotransmitters from the synapse, which stops further stimulation of receptors. This allows for precise regulation of neural activity and prevents overstimulation of postsynaptic neurons. Reuptake does not involve the entry or exit of ions or the production of inhibitory signals.

Question 10

The brain and the spinal cord make up the ________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord.

Question 11

In the nervous system, the cells that receive, integrate, and transmit information are the

Accepted Answer

Neurons are the cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information. Axons are the part of the neuron that transmit information, dendrites are the part of the neuron that receive information, and neurotransmitters are chemicals released by neurons to communicate with other cells.

Question 12

The human body's nervous system is built from billions of nerve cells, which are called

Accepted Answer

Nerve cells are called neurons, not neurotransmitters, axons or cell bodies.

Question 13

When inactive, the electrical charge inside a neuron is slightly more negative than the electrical charge outside the neuron. This difference in the electrical charge inside and outside the neuron is the

Accepted Answer

When a neuron is inactive or at rest, the difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the neuron is called the resting membrane potential. This potential is maintained by the selective permeability of the neuron's cell membrane to certain ions. The resting potential is around -70 millivolts and is more negative on the inside of the neuron compared to the outside. The action potential is the brief electrical event that occurs when the membrane potential of a neuron rapidly rises and falls, and is not present during the resting state. Inhibitory and excitatory signals influence the likelihood of an action potential occurring, but do not directly relate to the resting membrane potential.

Question 14

The spinal cord is part of the ________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The spinal cord is a major component of the central nervous system (CNS).

Question 15

When a neuron is stimulated enough, it

Accepted Answer

When a neuron is stimulated enough, it will reach its threshold and fire an action potential, which is an electrical signal that travels down the axon of the neuron. This is the basic way that neurons communicate with one another and can lead to the release of neurotransmitters at the synapse between two neurons. The other options are not applicable because becoming an agonist or antagonist refers to the properties of a drug or other substance, while achieving a resting state is what a neuron does after firing an action potential.

Question 16

The part of the neuron that collects information from other neurons and integrates it is the

Accepted Answer

The cell body (also known as the soma) of a neuron contains the nucleus and other organelles responsible for maintaining the health and functioning of the cell. It is also the site of integration where information from other neurons is collected and processed. The axon is responsible for the transmission of information to other neurons or muscles. The synapse is the gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released. The terminal button (also known as the synaptic bouton) is the end of the axon that releases neurotransmitters into the synapse.

Question 17

The dendrites are the part of the ________, where signals from neighboring neurons are received.

Accepted Answer

The dendrites are part of the cell body, which is the receptive region of the neuron where signals from neighboring neurons are received. The terminal buttons are at the end of the axon and are responsible for releasing neurotransmitters to communicate with other neurons at the synapse. The axon is responsible for transmitting signals from the cell body to the terminal buttons.

Question 18

After an action potential is fired, the neuron returns to its resting state with the help of

Accepted Answer

After an action potential is fired, the neuron returns to its resting state with the help of the sodium potassium pump, which actively transports sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions back into the cell, restoring the original ion concentration gradient across the cell membrane. Neurotransmitters and the synapse are involved in the communication between neurons, while reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are taken back up into the presynaptic cell after release.

Question 19

The site where communication occurs between neurons through the release of chemicals is called the

Accepted Answer

The synapse is the site where chemical communication, through the release of neurotransmitters, occurs between neurons. The axon is responsible for transmitting information away from the cell body, while the dendrites receive information from other neurons. The cell body contains the nucleus and other organelles necessary for the functioning of the neuron.

Question 20

In the nervous system, each neuron communicates with

Accepted Answer

Neurons communicate with many other neurons in an organized network, forming circuits and pathways that allow for the processing and transmission of information throughout the nervous system. While some neurons may have more connections than others, each neuron typically communicates with multiple other neurons, rather than just one or two or all of them.

Quiz 2: The Role of Biology in Psychology