Question 1

The process that occurs when a neurotransmitter is taken back up by the neuron that sent it is called:

Accepted Answer

Reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles of the neuron that released them, effectively stopping their action on adjacent neurons.

Question 2

Dr. Spekter is interested in what parts of the brain are active when a person feels hungry. She uses a technique in which she injects a radioactive sugar into the body and tracks where it is used in the brain. Dr. Spekter is MOST likely using:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Spekter is using positron emission tomography (PET), a technique that involves injecting a radioactive tracer (in this case, radioactive sugar) and then tracking its distribution and usage in the brain, which allows for the observation of active brain areas during specific tasks or states, such as feeling hungry.

Question 3

If a person sustains severe damage to their brainstem, which would be the MOST likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

The brainstem controls many basic life functions, including heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Severe damage to the brainstem can disrupt these critical functions, leading to death.

Question 4

You work at a large factory that manufactures farm equipment. The factory has different areas responsible for manufacturing specific parts of the equipment. Your job is in the area of the factory that puts all of the parts together so that the equipment can operate. The way the different areas of the factory operate is MOST similar to the concept of brain:

Accepted Answer

The answer of You work at a large factory that...

Question 5

In your body, the digestive system absorbs food to provide the energy necessary for the basic functions that allow your body to function. The part of the neuron that corresponds BEST to the digestive system of your body is the:

Accepted Answer

The cell body of a neuron, also known as the soma, is responsible for maintaining the cell's health and functionality. It contains the nucleus and organelles such as mitochondria, which are crucial for energy production, similar to how the digestive system absorbs food to provide energy for the body.

Question 6

A type of mouse has been genetically engineered to have an underfunctioning limbic system. The mice have difficulty:

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is involved in motivation and emotion. Mice with an underfunctioning limbic system would have difficulty performing motivated behaviors.

Question 7

Compare and contrast the type of signals used by the nervous and endocrine systems and how they differ in terms of speed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the type of signals...

Question 8

Neurotransmitter action at the next neuron is sometimes described as acting like a lock-and-key system, with neurotransmitters being the key and _____ being the lock.

Accepted Answer

Neurotransmitters interact with receptor sites on the post-synaptic neuron in a specific manner, similar to a key fitting into a lock, to transmit signals across the synaptic gap.

Question 9

If a person has below expected growth during childhood, their doctor may suspect that their _____ gland is not functioning properly.

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland produces growth hormone, which is crucial for normal growth and development during childhood. If growth is below expected levels, it may indicate a problem with the pituitary gland.

Question 10

The main function of the brainstem is to:

Accepted Answer

The brainstem is crucial for maintaining basic life functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, which are essential for survival.

Question 11

The _____ is the collection of neurons in the brainstem that are involved in alertness, attention, sleep, and waking.

Accepted Answer

The reticular activating system is the correct answer because it is a network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a crucial role in regulating wakefulness, alertness, and transitions between sleep and wakefulness. The other options, such as the limbic system, hippocampus, and cerebellum, are involved in emotions, memory, and coordination/movement, respectively, and not primarily in alertness and sleep/wake cycles.

Question 12

A(n) _____ is an automatic motor response to sensory input.

Accepted Answer

A reflex is an automatic motor response to sensory input, which is a direct, immediate response to stimuli without conscious thought involved.

Question 13

Sandra took a sip of spoiled milk and immediately spit it out. Her ability to spit the milk out so quickly is MOST directly due to the activity of her:

Accepted Answer

Efferent neurons are responsible for carrying signals away from the central nervous system to effectors (like muscles), which in this case would be involved in the action of spitting out the milk.

Question 14

The cerebellum is located near the _____ of the brain.

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is located at the base of the brain, near the back of the skull, playing a key role in motor control and coordination.

Question 15

The main function of the _____ is to regulate movement and control coordination.

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is primarily responsible for regulating movements and controlling coordination in the human body.

Question 16

The neurotransmitter that is MOST involved in the fight-or-flight response is:

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is the neurotransmitter most involved in the fight-or-flight response, preparing the body to either fight or flee from perceived threats.

Question 17

Which statement about how neurons develop and connect in different species is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Human brains are not overdeveloped at birth; instead, they are underdeveloped compared to many other animals, allowing for significant postnatal growth and development influenced by environmental experiences.

Question 18

Alek recently had a stroke. Although Alek can remember events that happened before his stroke, he cannot form new memories. Alek MOST likely has:

Accepted Answer

Alek's inability to form new memories after the stroke is indicative of anterograde amnesia. This condition affects the ability to create new memories following the event that caused the amnesia, while often leaving intact the ability to remember events that occurred before it.

Question 19

_____ is a technique in which magnetic fields and radio waves are used to make images of brain structure.

Accepted Answer

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain and other parts of the body.

Question 20

The axon terminals of a neuron:

Accepted Answer

The axon terminals of a neuron form connections with the next neuron.

Quiz 2: Brain and Behavior