Question 1

Explain why the human nervous system (including the brain)can be considered an information-processing system and identify the parts of the nervous system that perform the major functions of an information-processing system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why the human nervous system (including...

Question 2

Compare and contrast the functions and characteristics of the endocrine system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the functions and characteristics...

Question 3

Devina really enjoys eating salty snacks. Pretzels, peanuts, and potato chips are her favorite. If her body is to metabolize this salt intake effectively, Devina should hope that her ________ is working properly.

Accepted Answer

The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone, a hormone that helps regulate sodium and potassium balance in the body, which is crucial for metabolizing salt intake effectively.

Question 4

Dr. Chen's patient describes her main symptoms as sleeplessness and mood difficulties. Dr. Chen suspects that a neurotransmitter is malfunctioning. Which neurotransmitter should he look at?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine is involved in regulating mood and sleep, and imbalances can lead to mood disorders and sleep disturbances.

Question 5

Eric has been suffering from diabetes for his entire life. This illness involves incorrect functioning of the gland that controls levels of insulin and glucagon and regulations of blood sugar levels. What part of the endocrine system gives Eric a problem?

Accepted Answer

The pancreas is the gland responsible for producing insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugar levels. In diabetes, the pancreas does not function correctly in this regard.

Question 6

Nancy neurotransmitter and Heather hormone were having an argument over which of them is more powerful. Defending her stance that hormones are more powerful, Heather correctly states that neurotransmitters

Accepted Answer

Neurotransmitters carry messages across synapses between neurons, affecting nearby cells, while hormones are transported through the bloodstream, allowing them to influence a wider range of cells throughout the body.

Question 7

Harry, the hormone, and Nadia, the neurotransmitter, can both exert physiological effects on their target organs. Which of the following is true about Harry and Nadia?

Accepted Answer

Hormones like Harry typically travel through the bloodstream to act on distant target organs, while neurotransmitters like Nadia act locally at synapses.

Question 8

You see a vicious-looking squirrel getting ready to attack you. What specific part of the nervous system would be activated to prepare you for this fight-or-flight encounter?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's fight-or-flight response, preparing the body to react to a perceived threat.

Question 9

Lately, Buck has been gaining weight, even though his diet and activity levels have not changed. If his doctor suspects that there is an endocrine problem affecting Buck's metabolism, he would start by examining Buck's ________.

Accepted Answer

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism, and issues with it can lead to weight changes.

Question 10

Jacelyn is wandering through a national park when she sees a bear lumbering toward her. As her fight-or-flight reaction is triggered, what hormones are being released in her body in response to the perceived threat?

Accepted Answer

In response to a perceived threat, the body releases ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a hormone that helps the body manage stress.

Question 11

Dr. S. White is currently working with seven patients. Each patient has abnormally high production of a neurotransmitter, and for each patient, it is a different neurotransmitter that is affected. Dr. White wants to write up her research using nicknames to hide the true identities of her patients. Choose an appropriate nickname for each patient. Be sure to explain why the nickname is appropriate, as well as the symptoms one would expect to see in that patient.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dr. S. White is currently working with...

Question 12

Devin has been having trouble initiating movements lately and has also developed a tremor in his hands. He is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and put on medication. To help alleviate Devin's symptoms directly, the drugs would need to increase the effects of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is associated with low levels of dopamine in the brain. Medications for Parkinson's often aim to increase dopamine levels or mimic its effects to help alleviate symptoms like tremors and difficulty with movement.

Question 13

Dr. Wiancek was on duty in the emergency room when a brain trauma patient arrived. To try to prevent permanent brain damage, Dr. Wiancek injected the patient with the neurotransmitter called

Accepted Answer

Glutamate is the most commonly used neurotransmitter in the brain, and it has been shown to be involved in many different functions, including learning and memory. In cases of brain trauma or injury, there is often an increase in glutamate activity, which can lead to further damage and cell death. By injecting the patient with glutamate, Dr. Wiancek may have been trying to reduce this excessive activity and protect the brain from further harm.

Question 14

Identify at least three different ways that a clinician might study the functioning of your brain if you were suffering from symptoms that suggested a brain injury. Discuss how each of those techniques is performed, and identify a disadvantage of each technique.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify at least three different ways that...

Question 15

Sam has schizophrenia. He started taking medication to decrease his symptoms. However, he now has difficulty initiating smooth movement. The drug that Sam took blocked his __________ receptors.

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is associated with an excess of dopamine activity in the brain. Antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia work by blocking dopamine receptors, which results in decreased dopamine activity. However, blocking dopamine receptors can also lead to side effects like movement difficulties, such as those experienced by Sam.

Question 16

Donald is seventy years old. For the past few years, he has developed a memory loss that is getting worse, and his personality has become very erratic. His doctors say he has Alzheimer's disease, but you aren't sure. What finding should most convince you that the doctors are right?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a loss of acetylcholine neurons in the brain. This neurotransmitter is important for memory and learning, and its decline is associated with memory loss and cognitive decline. While the other options (loss of GABA neurons, absence of myelin, and below-normal levels of norepinephrine) may be relevant to other brain disorders, they are not specific to Alzheimer's disease.

Question 17

In the nervous system, neurotransmitters are the main means of communication between neurons. The main means of communication between organs in the endocrine system is by

Accepted Answer

Hormones are the main means of communication between organs in the endocrine system. Hormones are secreted by glands and are transported through the bloodstream to target cells and organs throughout the body. Cytokines are signaling molecules involved in the immune system response, but not the main means of communication in the endocrine system. The thalamus is a part of the brain involved in sensory processing and not part of the endocrine system.

Question 18

Scientists have just discovered a new hormone that appears to have very specific effects. This specificity of effects is most likely due to

Accepted Answer

Unique receptors on the target organ would allow for specific effects of the hormone.

Question 19

Identify the lobes of the cerebral cortex and note some functions that are controlled in each lobe.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the lobes of the cerebral cortex...

Quiz 2: Biological Aspects of Psychology