Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A neurotransmitter must cross the synaptic gap between the sending and receiving neurons in order to excite or inhibit an action potential in the receiving neuron.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is most directly involved in speaking, specifically in the production and control of speech. This area is called Broca's area and is located in the left hemisphere of the brain.

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)

Accepted Answer

EEG (electroencephalogram) is a technique used to record electrical activity in the brain. It is commonly used in studies that investigate specific brain responses, such as the response to hearing one's own name. MRI and PET scans are imaging techniques that are useful for different types of brain research. Brain lesion studies involve investigating the effects of brain damage or injury, and are not typically used to investigate specific brain responses like hearing one's own name. EEG (electroencephalogram) is a non-invasive technique that measures the electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. It is commonly used to study brain activity associated with sensory perception and cognition, including the processing of auditory stimuli such as hearing one's own name. MRI and PET scans are imaging techniques that show the structure and function of the brain, respectively, but they do not measure electrical activity. Brain lesions involve damage to specific areas of the brain and may affect multiple functions, making them less useful for studying a specific cognitive task like hearing one's own name.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Depressed mood states are linked to low levels of serotonin and low levels of norepinephrine. This is why medications that increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, are commonly used to treat depression.

Question 5

The limbic system structure that regulates hunger is called the

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is the structure in the limbic system that regulates hunger. It receives signals about nutrient levels in the blood and triggers feelings of hunger or satiety accordingly. The other structures listed, the thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, do not play a primary role in regulating hunger. The hypothalamus is the limbic system structure that regulates hunger. It receives signals from the rest of the body and triggers feelings of hunger or fullness accordingly.

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

Accepted Answer

Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced by the body that reduce pain and promote feelings of pleasure and well-being. During intense physical activity such as a marathon, endorphins are released to help reduce the amount of pain and stress on the body, leading to feelings of elation or euphoria. Therefore, Melissa's lack of pain after completing a marathon is likely due to the release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body's natural painkillers and are released during exercise, particularly during intense physical activity like running a marathon. This can lead to a feeling of euphoria and reduced pain or discomfort. ACh, dopamine, and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that are involved in various bodily functions, but they are not specifically related to pain relief during exercise.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are hormones that are released by the adrenal gland. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are hormones that are released by the adrenal gland.

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

Accepted Answer

Ron's experience is indicative of a severed spinal cord, as he is not able to feel genital sensations but can still have an erection if stimulated. This suggests that the nerves responsible for achieving an erection are still intact, but the ones responsible for transmitting sensation have been damaged. A hemispherectomy, split brain, or reward deficiency syndrome would not result in this specific symptomatology.

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

Accepted Answer

The processing of lyrics and tunes in separate brain areas suggests the involvement of distinct neural networks, which are specific groups of interconnected neurons that perform specific functions. This process is not related to neurotransmitters, reticular formations, or 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

Accepted Answer

Glial cells, also known as neuroglia, outnumber neurons in the brain and provide support functions such as nutrient supply and removal of excess neurotransmitters. Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by the glands and myelin sheaths are structures that wrap around neurons, providing insulation and speeding up their communication. Glial cells, also known as neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells that make up the majority of the cells in the nervous system. They provide support and protection for neurons and also assist in the transmission of nerve impulses. Glial cells play a key role in brain development and function, and they help to regulate the chemical environment of the brain by providing nutrients to neurons and removing excess neurotransmitters. Hormones are not involved in this process, and neither are myelin sheaths or glands.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

The brainstem is considered the oldest region of the brain, as it is responsible for basic life-sustaining functions such as breathing and heart rate. It evolved before the more advanced regions, such as the frontal lobes, which are responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision-making and problem-solving. The limbic system, which is involved in emotion and memory, also evolved later than the brainstem. The corpus callosum is a structure that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain and does not have an evolutionary history on its own.

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?

Accepted Answer

A PET (positron emission tomography) scan is a type of brain imaging that uses a radioactive tracer to measure blood flow and brain metabolism. This can be used to detect the areas of the brain that are most active during mathematical calculations. Brain lesions, interneurons, and hemispherectomy are not appropriate for this purpose. Brain lesions are areas of damage or abnormal tissue, interneurons are specialized neurons that facilitate communication between other neurons, and hemispherectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one half of the brain.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

An axon carries signals away from the cell body, while a dendrite carries signals towards the cell body.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The successful functioning of children who have experienced the surgical removal of an entire cerebral hemisphere suggests that the brain has the ability to reorganize and adapt its functioning, a process referred to as plasticity. This highlights the value of plasticity in helping the brain compensate for damage or loss in function due to injury or disease.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine ________...

Question 16

The visual cortex is located in the

Accepted Answer

The visual cortex is a part of the brain located in the occipital lobes, which are responsible for processing visual information from the eyes. The visual cortex is located in the occipital lobes, specifically in the region surrounding the calcarine sulcus. This is the primary region of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of brain plasticity, which is the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experience. The well-practiced pianists have developed a larger auditory cortex area to more effectively process the sounds associated with playing the piano, demonstrating the brain's ability to change and adapt its structure and function through experience.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The regions of the parietal lobes involved in mathematical and spatial reasoning are part of the association areas, which integrate information from multiple sources to enable complex cognitive processes such as problem solving and spatial awareness. The amygdala is involved in emotional processing, reward centers are part of the limbic system and involved in motivation and reinforcement, and the reticular formation is involved in regulating arousal and attention.

Question 19

The endocrine system consists of

Accepted Answer

The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions. The other options refer to the nervous system, which is a separate bodily system from the endocrine system.

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?

Accepted Answer

The correct order of the cortical regions from front to back, then down and around to the front again, is frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. This sequence follows the brain's general organization, with the frontal lobes responsible for higher-level thinking and executive functions, the parietal lobes for sensory processing and spatial awareness, the occipital lobes for visual processing, and the temporal lobes for auditory processing and language comprehension.

Quiz 2: Neuroscience and Behavior