Question 1

Which of the following lobes of the brain are the last to fully develop in individuals?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are the last to fully develop, often not reaching full maturity until the mid-20s. This area of the brain is responsible for decision making, problem solving, control of purposeful behaviors, consciousness, and emotions.

Question 2

Samantha inherits one blue-eye allele and one brown-eye allele. Her eye color is most likely to be ________.

Accepted Answer

Brown is the dominant gene, so if Samantha inherits one brown-eye allele, her eye color will most likely be brown, even though she also has a blue-eye allele, which is recessive.

Question 3

In the context of the endocrine system, which of the following secretes hormones that control the release of hormones from glands elsewhere in the body?

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland, often referred to as the "master gland," secretes hormones that regulate the activity of other endocrine glands, thereby controlling the release of hormones from glands elsewhere in the body.

Question 4

________ studies examine whether genes that vary in people are correlated with a particular trait.

Accepted Answer

Gene-by-environment studies investigate how genetic variations interact with environmental factors to influence traits.

Question 5

Extending directly from the spinal cord, the ________ regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Accepted Answer

The medulla, part of the brainstem, directly extends from the spinal cord and is responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Question 6

Which of the following is a neurotransmitter released in the brain that controls muscle movement and plays a role in mental processes such as learning, memory, attention, sleeping, and dreaming?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter involved in both the control of muscle movement and various mental processes such as learning, memory, attention, sleeping, and dreaming.

Question 7

The secondary form of inheritance via epigenetics is sometimes referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

Soft inheritance refers to the concept of epigenetics, where traits can be passed down through generations not solely based on DNA sequence, but also through chemical changes that affect gene activity.

Question 8

Which of the following is a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands and is responsible for maintaining the activation of bodily systems during prolonged stress?

Accepted Answer

Cortisol is known as the "stress hormone" because it is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration. It plays a key role in maintaining the activation of bodily systems during prolonged stress by regulating metabolism, immune response, and other functions.

Question 9

Which of the following is defined as a network of nerves that runs through both the hindbrain and the midbrain?

Accepted Answer

The reticular formation is a network of nerves that runs through both the hindbrain and the midbrain, playing a crucial role in controlling various functions such as sleep, arousal, and attention.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true of the cerebrum?

Accepted Answer

The cerebrum is indeed composed of four large areas called lobes: the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes, each with distinct functions.

Question 11

________ are the central nervous system cells that provide structural support, promote efficient communication between neurons, and remove cellular debris.

Accepted Answer

Glial cells are known for their role in supporting neurons in the central nervous system. They provide structural support, help with the efficient communication between neurons, and are involved in the removal of cellular debris, among other functions.

Question 12

Children and teenagers act more impulsively than adults partially because their ________ are not fully developed.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes are responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and judgment, which are not fully developed in children and teenagers, leading to more impulsive behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true about the experiment conducted by Elizabeth Gould on neural growth among mammals?

Accepted Answer

Elizabeth Gould's research demonstrated that animals living in enriched environments, with more stimuli and opportunities for learning, showed significant brain growth in areas critical for cognitive and emotional processes. This finding supports the idea that environmental complexity can positively affect brain development.

Question 14

The midbrain, the medulla, and the pons together are often collectively referred to as the ________.

Accepted Answer

The midbrain, the medulla, and the pons are collectively referred to as the brain stem, which is responsible for regulating basic life functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

Question 15

The all-or-none principle states that ________.

Accepted Answer

The all-or-none principle refers to the way neurons operate when generating an action potential. Once the threshold of excitation is reached, a neuron will fire an action potential at its full intensity or not at all, regardless of the strength of the stimulus (as long as it is above threshold). This principle does not vary in intensity; it's either a full response or none, hence the term "all-or-none."

Question 16

Which of the following does NOT follow the all-or-none principle?

Accepted Answer

The all-or-none principle states that once a stimulus reaches a threshold, an action potential will fire at its full intensity or not at all. Graded potentials, unlike action potentials, do not follow this principle; they can vary in magnitude and are not all-or-nothing responses.

Question 17

When an electrical impulse reaches a terminal button, it triggers the release of neurotransmitter molecules into the gap between neurons, known as the ________.

Accepted Answer

The gap between neurons where neurotransmitter molecules are released is known as the synaptic cleft.

Question 18

Neuroscientists conducted research with taxicab drivers in London and found that taxicab drivers, who are required to have a tremendous amount of spatial and geographic knowledge, had a larger ________ than other drivers.

Accepted Answer

The research found that taxicab drivers in London, who must memorize the city's complex layout for their licensing exam (known as "The Knowledge"), had a larger hippocampus compared to other drivers. The hippocampus is associated with memory and spatial navigation.

Question 19

Which of the following is defined as a brain imaging technique that measures blood flow to active areas in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a brain imaging technique that measures blood flow to active areas in the brain by detecting the radiation emitted by a tracer injected into the bloodstream.

Quiz 3: The Biology of Behavior