Question 1

Olivia has sustained damage to the prefrontal area. As a result, she is most likely to have

Accepted Answer

Damage to the prefrontal area can lead to a variety of problems, including difficulties with planning, decision making, problem solving, and implementing strategies. This can also result in impulsivity, lack of inhibition, and emotional dysregulation. While language and memory can also be affected, they are not the primary areas of difficulty associated with damage to this area. Neglect syndrome is typically associated with damage to the parietal lobe.

Question 2

The auditory cortex follows the principle of contralateral control. Thus, the

Accepted Answer

The auditory system is primarily contralateral, meaning that each hemisphere of the brain processes sound from the opposite ear. Therefore, the right temporal lobe receives most of its auditory input from the left ear.

Question 3

Neuron A communicates with neuron B. The ________ of neuron A forms a synapse with the ________ of neuron B.

Accepted Answer

Neuron A's axon terminal forms a synapse with neuron B's dendrite. This is the most common type of synapse in the nervous system. Option A is incorrect because the cell body does not typically form synapses. Option B is less common, and typically occurs in cases where neurons communicate with other neurons that are very close by. Option D is incorrect because a synapse formed between two somas would be highly unusual.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of glial cells?

Accepted Answer

Glial cells do not release neurotransmitters, as this is a function exclusively carried out by neurons.

Question 5

The primary motor projection area forms a "map" of the body and the projections control movement to specific areas of the body. The amount of cortical tissue dedicated to different parts of the body correlates with

Accepted Answer

The amount of cortical tissue dedicated to different parts of the body correlates with the precision of movement for the body part. This means that areas of the body that require finer, more precise movements (such as the hands or face) have larger areas of cortical tissue dedicated to them compared to areas that require less precise movements (such as the trunk or legs). The size of the body part or its distance from the brain does not influence the amount of cortical tissue dedicated to it.

Question 6

A patient with visual agnosia will probably show an inability to

Accepted Answer

Visual agnosia is a condition in which a person has difficulty recognizing familiar objects visually. This is often due to damage to the occipital and temporal lobes of the brain. As a result, a patient with visual agnosia would likely have difficulty identifying common objects in plain view, even though they can see them clearly.

Question 7

Motor and sensory cortices combined make up what portion of the brain?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Motor and sensory cortices combined make up...

Question 8

A neuron is

Accepted Answer

A neuron is an individual cell within the nervous system that transmits information through electrical and chemical signals. The other options are not accurate definitions of a neuron.

Question 9

Once a cell fires, the part of a neuron that transmits information to another location is the

Accepted Answer

The axon is the part of the neuron that transmits information to other locations. Once a neuron fires, an action potential travels down the axon and releases neurotransmitters at the axon terminals, which then signal to other neurons or cells. The dendrite receives information from other neurons, but it is not responsible for transmitting information to other locations. The cell body contains the nucleus, but it also is not directly responsible for transmitting information.

Question 10

The ________ contains the machinery necessary to keep the cell alive and functioning properly.

Accepted Answer

The cell body, also known as the soma, contains various organelles such as the nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, and others that are necessary for the survival and functioning of the cell. The dendrites and axons are extensions of the cell body and serve other functions such as receiving and transmitting signals, respectively. Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds and insulates axons in some neurons, but it is not necessary for the basic machinery of the cell.

Question 11

A neuron's initial, internal response to an incoming signal can vary in size. The ultimate, external response of the cell, however, does not vary in size. If the signal is sent, it is always of the same magnitude. This effect is called the

Accepted Answer

The all-or-none law states that a neuron will either fire an action potential at full strength or not at all, regardless of the magnitude of the initial signal. This means that the external response (the action potential) is always the same magnitude, even if the initial signal varied in size.

Question 12

Complete the analogy: Incoming is to outgoing as ________ is to ________.

Accepted Answer

Incoming signals are received by dendrites and outgoing signals are sent through axons, mirroring the incoming to outgoing relationship.

Question 13

One of the disadvantages of synaptic communication is that it takes time for chemicals to pass from one side of the synapse to another. Which of the following is a benefit of synaptic transmission?

Accepted Answer

Synaptic transmission allows our nervous system to compare multiple signals from many sources, integrating information and allowing for complex decision-making and reactions.

Question 14

Neuron X sends a signal that is picked up and processed by Neuron Y. This between-cell communication occurs via

Accepted Answer

Neurons communicate with each other through chemical synapses, where a signal is transmitted from one neuron (presynaptic neuron) to another (postsynaptic neuron) by the release of neurotransmitters. This is the most common mode of communication between neurons in the nervous system. Option B is incorrect because electrical stimulation of Neuron Y by Neuron X is not possible without any physical connection, which is not mentioned in the question. Option C may be partly correct, as synapses involve the connection of fibers from one neuron to another, but communication occurs via chemical transmission. Option D is incorrect because we know how neurons communicate through extensive research in neuroscience.

Question 15

At the synapse, a neurotransmitter is released by the ________ and could bind to the ________.

Accepted Answer

The neurotransmitter is stored in vesicles and is released into the synaptic cleft when an action potential reaches the axon terminal. The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft and can bind to specific receptor sites on the postsynaptic membrane of the next neuron. Therefore, option B is the correct answer as the neurotransmitter binds to receptor sites.

Question 16

Ben and Quinn both have lesions in their left frontal lobes. Ben has trouble producing speech; Quinn has difficulties comprehending speech. Both Ben and Quinn are likely to receive a diagnosis of

Accepted Answer

Both Ben and Quinn have impaired language function due to their lesions in the left frontal lobes. Ben's difficulty producing speech is indicative of Broca's aphasia, while Quinn's difficulty comprehending speech is indicative of Wernicke's aphasia. Therefore, the correct diagnosis for both individuals would be aphasia.

Question 17

A synapse is

Accepted Answer

A synapse is the junction between the end of one neuron's axon and the receiving membrane of another neuron. This junction includes a gap called the synaptic cleft, which is bridged by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, allowing the message to be passed from one neuron to another. Choices A, B, and D describe other aspects of neuronal communication but do not accurately describe a synapse.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about neurons is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Neurons can have different shapes and sizes depending on their function and location in the nervous system. Some examples include bipolar neurons, multipolar neurons, and pyramidal neurons.

Question 19

If a researcher applies mild electric current to a specific area of an animal's right hemisphere primary motor projection area, which of the following is likely to happen?

Accepted Answer

Stimulation of the primary motor cortex in one hemisphere of the brain typically results in movement on the opposite side of the body due to the crossing of motor pathways (decussation) in the medulla.

Question 20

Communication between neurons is ________, while communication within a neuron is ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Communication between neurons is ________, while communication...

Quiz 2: The Neural Basis for Cognition