Deck 2: Biopsychology, Neuroscience, and Human Nature

Question 1

Which of the following is true about neurons?

A) There are only about 15 basic neuron types.
B) Human neurons die only when you are very old.
C) The total number of neurons remains relatively constant once we reach adulthood.
D) Each type of neuron has its own distinct parts.
E) Humans lose approximately 100 neurons per day.

Answer 1

The total number of neurons remains relatively constant once we reach adulthood.

Question 2

Down syndrome is caused by having an extra _______ chromosome.

A) 20th
B) 21st
C) 22nd
D) 23rd
E) 24th

Answer 2

21st

Question 3

In purely evolutionary terms, which one would be a measure of your own success as an organism?

A) your intellectual accomplishments
B) the length of your life
C) the number of children you have
D) the contributions you made to the happiness of humanity
E) your height relative to others in your "clan," or "tribe"

Answer 3

the number of children you have

Question 4

At the moment of conception, a male child receives ________ chromosomes from his mother and ________ from his father.

A) 23; 23
B) 24; 24
C) 23; 46
D) 46; 23
E) 2; 2

Question 5

Schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder, is thought to involve

A) more than one gene.
B) a single chromosome.
C) a single gene.
D) the deletion of genes from the 22nd chromosome.
E) some missing chromosomes.

Question 6

Because the human brain is born already programmed for language, we can say that language is a(n) ________ behavioral tendency.

A) essential
B) critical
C) innate
D) somatic
E) cerebral

Question 7

Darwin's theory of ________ argues that evolution favors those organisms that are best adapted to their environment.

A) encephalization
B) bipedalism
C) specialization
D) natural selection
E) creationism

Question 8

This is a segment of a chromosome that encodes the directions for the inherited physical and mental characteristics of an organism:

A) RNA
B) phenotype
C) genotype
D) DNA
E) gene

Question 9

Genes are composed of smaller molecular units called

A) chromosomes.
B) peptides.
C) nucleotides.
D) genotypes.
E) phenotypes.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of nerve cell development?

A) The brain has excess neurons at birth.
B) There are about 100 billion nerve cells in the adult brain.
C) Some nerve cells are pruned away during the first few years of life.
D) Our brain can generate new nerve cells.
E) All of the above are

Question 11

________ is the interdisciplinary field involving biologists, psychologists, computer scientists, and chemists, as well as other experts.

A) Psychiatry
B) Eclecticism
C) Human factors
D) Evolutionology
E) Neuroscience

Question 12

________ refers to the process by which successive generations of organisms are changed in a way that favors those well adapted to their surroundings.

A) Evolution
B) Cortical restructuring
C) Adaptive realism
D) Incremental functionalism
E) Neuroscience

Question 13

A male child inherits ________ from his father.

A) no chromosomes
B) an X chromosome
C) a Y chromosome
D) either an X or a Y chromosome
E) both an X and a Y chromosome

Question 14

Darwin's theory of evolution suggests that the only measure of success for a species is

A) being the largest of the species.
B) not competing with members of the same species.
C) possessing the best coloring and shape of the species.
D) successful reproduction.
E) the uniqueness of the species.

Question 15

Some identical twins have the same genetic makeup, but look slightly different. Their slight differences in appearance are an example of _______, which are influenced by both biology and environment.

A) genotypes
B) environmental selections
C) phenotypes
D) habitats
E) neurons

Question 16

The genetic blueprint you inherited from your parents is referred to as your

A) genetic hardiness.
B) genotype.
C) genomic identity.
D) phenotype.
E) chromotype.

Question 17

Which of the following is a characteristic that might be a part of your phenotype?

A) your height and eye color
B) the members of your family
C) what you have learned in school
D) the childhood diseases you have had
E) the number of chromosomes you have.

Question 18

Behavior consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis that evolved because the behavior has been adaptive. Which of the following human behaviors illustrate this concept?

A) driving a car
B) sending astronauts to the moon
C) Down syndrome
D) language
E) the ability to program a cell phone

Question 19

Which of the following statements expresses the correct relationship?

A) Genes are made of chromosomes.
B) DNA is made of chromosomes.
C) Nucleotides are made of genes.
D) Genes are made of nucleotides.
E) Genotypes are made of phenotypes.

Question 20

Which of the following did you NOT inherit from your parents?

A) religious beliefs
B) facial features
C) temperament
D) hair color
E) height

Question 21

________ carry messages away from the brain to the muscles of the body.

A) Cortical neurons
B) Sensory neurons
C) Interneurons
D) Glial cells
E) Motor neurons

Question 22

Mary put her hand on a hot stove. Which neuron is responsible for sending a pain message up her spinal column, where it would then enter into the main area of the cord?

A) motor neuron
B) interneuron
C) sensory neuron
D) reflex
E) efferent neuron

Question 23

The branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons are called ______.

A) axons
B) nerve bundles
C) dendrites
D) synapses
E) vesicles

Question 24

A key goal of the Human Genome Project is to

A) determine the complete human genetic code.
B) create new genetic material in scientific laboratories.
C) figure out how to destroy dangerous genetic material.
D) uncover the causes of each person's genetic makeup.
E) examine the degree of genetic similarity between humans and other animals.

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Down syndrome?

A) reliance on others to meet one's basic needs
B) mental retardation
C) behavior that is modifiable through training
D) an extra chromosome in the 23rd pair
E) impaired physical development

Question 26

Which of the following is true about interneurons?

A) Interneurons form simple circuits in the brain.
B) There are 200,000 of them for every motor neuron.
C) They are only found in the peripheral nervous system.
D) They are not found in the brain and spinal cord.
E) They relay messages between nerve cells.

Question 27

________ form the body's two communication systems.

A) The left and right hemispheres of the brain
B) The dendrites and the axons
C) The nervous system and the endocrine system
D) Genetics and the environment
E) Reflexes and controlled behavior

Question 28

Afferent neurons

A) are responsible for delivering messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands.
B) transport messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons.
C) are the same as sensory neurons that are sensitive to external stimuli.
D) communicate directly with motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
E) continuously monitor the routine operation of the body's internal functions.

Question 29

The function of the _______ is to carry information to and from all parts of the body.

A) soma
B) synapse
C) nervous system
D) endorphins
E) dendrite

Question 30

________ neurons carry messages to the brain.

A) Motor
B) Sensory
C) Inter-
D) Sympathetic
E) Peripheral

Question 31

Neural signals travel along a neuron in what order?

A) axon, dendrite, soma, terminal button
B) terminal button, soma, dendrite, axon
C) dendrite, soma, axon, terminal button
D) dendrite, axon, soma, terminal button
E) axon, soma, dendrite, terminal button

Question 32

LaKeisha stepped on a piece of glass and quickly pulled her foot away from that sharp object. Which of the following are responsible for sending a message to the muscles in LaKeisha's foot, resulting in her pulling her foot away from the piece of glass?

A) motor neurons
B) interneurons
C) sensory neurons
D) reflexes
E) spinal neurons

Question 33

The ________ is the basic building block of the nervous system.

A) soma
B) neuron
C) axon
D) terminal button
E) reflex

Question 34

Your teacher asks you to describe the sequence of parts of a neuron that the impulse travels during neural conduction. Which of the following sequences will you offer?

A) dendrites, axon, soma, terminal button
B) terminal buttons, axon, soma, dendrites
C) axon, soma, dendrites, terminal button
D) dendrites, soma, axon, terminal button
E) neurotransmitters, dendrites, axon, soma

Question 35

The nervous system is defined as

A) a complex network of cells that carries information to and from all parts of the body.
B) a specialized cell that makes up the brain and nervous system.
C) all nerves and neurons that are not contained in the brain and spinal cord but that run throughout the body itself.
D) a gland located in the brain that secretes human growth hormone.
E) a series of chemicals that send messages between neurons.

Question 36

Motor neurons are also known as

A) divergent neurons.
B) congruent neurons.
C) efferent neurons.
D) afferent neurons.
E) defferent neurons.

Question 37

Dendrite is to axon as:

A) send is to receive.
B) send is to regulate.
C) receive is to send.
D) receive is to release.
E) mimic is to inhibit

Question 38

A specialized cell that makes up the nervous system that receives and sends messages within that system is called a

A) glial cell.
B) neuron.
C) cell body.
D) myelin sheath.
E) oligodendrocyte.

Question 39

Which of the following are responsible for acting as a facilitator of communication between neurons?

A) motor neurons
B) interneurons
C) sensory neurons
D) reflexes
E) hormones

Question 40

Every one of your actions arises from

A) neural impulses delivered from your sensory neurons to your brain.
B) neural impulses from the brain delivered to your muscles.
C) the imperatives of natural selection.
D) the parallel nervous system.
E) sympathetic nervous system activity.

Question 41

The action potential causes neurotransmitters to be released into the

A) myelin sheath.
B) axon.
C) synapse.
D) synaptic vesicle.
E) dendritic cleft.

Question 42

What do we call the state of a neuron when it is not firing a neural impulse?

A) action potential
B) resting potential
C) myelination signal
D) transmission impulse
E) refractory impulse

Question 43

Which part of a neuron is attached to the soma and carries messages out to other cells?

A) soma
B) axon
C) dendrite
D) cell membrane
E) ions

Question 44

The microscopic space between the terminal button of one cell and the dendrites of the next cell is called the

A) receptor site.
B) synapse.
C) synaptic knob.
D) axon terminal.
E) dendritic cleft.

Question 45

A person whose brain suffers from a disruption in the serotonin system might suffer from

A) high blood pressure.
B) epilepsy.
C) Parkinson's disease.
D) Alzheimer's disease.
E) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 46

During action potential, the electrical charge inside the neuron is ______ the electrical charge outside the neuron.

A) positive compared to
B) larger than
C) negative compared to
D) smaller than
E) hydrophilic

Question 47

Reuptake is

A) a chemical that is released into the synaptic gap.
B) a protein molecule on the dendrite or cell body of a neuron that will interact only with specific neurotransmitters.
C) a process by which neurotransmitters are sucked back into the synaptic vesicles.
D) a chemical that plays a role in learning and attention.
E) polypeptide that strengthens neural impulses.

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT true of neuron function?

A) At rest, the nerve cell has a slight negative charge across the membrane.
B) The action potential is due to positive ions flowing into the neuron.
C) The action potential is a switch from negative to positive potential that moves along the axon membrane.
D) A stimulus will either "fire" the neuron or it will fail to fire it.
E) Nerve cells only use electrical signals to communicate with each other.

Question 49

The function of the neuron's axon is to

A) carry messages to other cells.
B) regulate the neuron's life processes.
C) receive messages from neighboring neurons.
D) insulate against leakage of electrical impulses.
E) inhibit communication between neurons.

Question 50

Disturbances of the neurotransmitter ________ can produce memory problems.

A) serotonin
B) norepinephrine
C) GABA
D) acetylcholine
E) glutamate

Question 51

During synaptic transmission, the ________ within the axon results in the release of a(n) ________ that can traverse the synaptic gap.

A) myelin sheath; chemical message
B) electrical impulse; chemical message
C) electrical message; chemical message
D) myelin sheath; electrical impulse
E) ionic impulse; electrical impulse

Question 52

________ are biochemical substances that are released into the synaptic cleft to stimulate or suppress other neurons.

A) Receptors
B) Hormones
C) Neurotransmitters
D) Interneurons
E) Neurohormones

Question 53

When a neuron fires, it fires in a(n) ________ fashion as there is no such thing as "partial" firing.

A) all-or-none
B) rapid fire
C) accidental patterned
D) quick successioned
E) correlated

Question 54

Schizophrenia is thought to occur when a person has an imbalance within this particular neurotransmitter system:

A) serotonin
B) endorphins
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine
E) GABA

Question 55

When a cell is "at rest," it is in a state called the

A) stopping point.
B) obcipitation junction.
C) resting potential.
D) action potential.
E) refractory potential.

Question 56

The poison of the black widow spider works by stimulating the release of excessive amounts of

A) acetylcholine
B) dopamine
C) endorphins
D) serotonin
E) GABA

Question 57

________ is another name for the neuron cell body.

A) Soma
B) Dendrite
C) Nucleus
D) Myelin
E) Synapse

Question 58

Isabella is putting mustard on her hot dog. She realizes she has put too much and sucks up some of it back into the squeeze bottle. This process is similar to

A) the action potential.
B) receptor site bindings.
C) binding specificity.
D) reuptake.
E) the resting potential

Question 59

During the process of synaptic transmission,

A) information is passed between the two cerebral hemispheres.
B) is sent from the reticular formation to the cortex.
C) a chemical message is sent across the synapse.
D) a gland releases a hormone into the bloodstream.
E) the neuron becomes silent.

Question 60

"All or none" is the principle stating that

A) a neuron either fires or does not fire
B) a neuron fires at full strength or not at all
C) all the dendrites must be receiving messages telling the neuron to fire or it will not fire at all
D) all somas must be receiving messages telling the neuron to fire or it will not fire at all
E) all neurotransmitters must be released at one time, or none will be released at all.

Question 61

________ are specialized support cells for neurons.

A) Interneurons
B) Sensory neurons
C) Glial
D) Myelin sheaths
E) Axons

Question 62

Voluntary muscles are controlled by the ________ nervous system.

A) somatic
B) autonomic
C) sympathetic
D) parasympathetic
E) afferent

Question 63

Which of the following is true about myelin?

A) It's a fatty substance.
B) It is covered by axons.
C) It inhibits neural communication.
D) It slows down neuronal operations.
E) It cannot be affected by illness.

Question 64

Peter suffers damage to his left frontal lobe and loses the ability to speak, although he can still understand speech. Despite the permanence of this damage, he is able to recover some of his speech due to the ability of other parts of the brain to take over lost function. This phenomenon is known by neuroscientists as

A) flexibility.
B) adaptiveness.
C) plasticity.
D) compensation.
E) homeostasis.

Question 65

Which of the following is controlled by the autonomic nervous system?

A) respiration
B) reasoning
C) reading
D) reaching
E) running

Question 66

When you see someone you have a crush on and your heart pounds, your hands get sweaty, and your cheeks feel hot, your ________ is/are active.

A) skeletal nervous system
B) spinal reflexes
C) autonomic nervous system
D) somatic nervous system
E) interneurons

Question 67

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that involves problems with the

A) dendrites.
B) soma, or cell body.
C) axon.
D) myelin sheath.
E) terminal buttons.

Question 68

Your ability to smell pizza in the oven and to then remove and eat that pizza is due to the activity of

A) the parietal lobe of your brain.
B) the occipital lobe of your brain.
C) the autonomic nervous system.
D) the parasympathetic nervous system.
E) the somatic nervous system.

Question 69

The central nervous system is comprised of all the neurons in the ________ and the ________.

A) brain; spinal cord
B) muscles; terminal buttons
C) brain; skeletal muscles
D) glands; spinal cord
E) axons; dendrites

Question 70

The autonomic nervous system has two divisions, called the ________ and the ________.

A) central; peripheral
B) sympathetic; parasympathetic
C) receptors; effectors
D) limbic; endocrine
E) afferent ends; efferent ends

Question 71

"Fight-or-flight" behavior is associated with

A) the parasympathetic division.
B) motor neurons.
C) the sympathetic division.
D) the somatic nervous system.
E) interneurons.

Question 72

Pain-controlling chemicals in the body are called

A) neural regulators.
B) histamines.
C) androgens.
D) endorphins.
E) enkaphalins.

Question 73

Endorphins are

A) found where neurons meet skeletal muscles.
B) less powerful than enkaphalins.
C) pain-controlling chemicals.
D) radically different in function from neurotransmitters.
E) responsible for the fatal reaction that human beings have when bit by a Black Widow spider.

Question 74

What is the function of myelin?

A) to serve as a structure for neurons
B) to monitor neural activity
C) to speed up the neural impulse
D) to produce neurotransmitters
E) to receive signals from other neurons

Question 75

Hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD, produce their effects via an action on the neurotransmitter

A) dopamine.
B) GABA.
C) endorphin.
D) acetylcholine.
E) serotonin.

Question 76

Jack suffered a brain injury as a result of hitting his head while waterskiing. One of the problems that developed was that Jack could not pronounce certain words correctly for a long period of time until he had extensive speech therapy and can now speak as he did before his accident. This is an example of the brain's ______ which allowed the structure and function of his brain cells to change to adjust to the trauma.

A) adaptology
B) stagnation
C) plasticity
D) reflex arc
E) reflexology

Question 77

The peripheral nervous system is comprised of

A) the autonomic nervous system and the sympathetic division.
B) the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system.
C) the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
D) the somatic nervous system and the sympathetic division.
E) the parasympathetic nervous system and the central nervous system.

Question 78

Your ability to play the piano is regulated by the

A) somatic nervous system.
B) medial nervous system.
C) peripheral nervous system.
D) limbic system.
E) parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 79

The peripheral nervous system consists of

A) all the nerve cells that are not in the brain and spinal cord.
B) all nerves in the brain and the spinal cord.
C) the spinal cord and autonomic system.
D) the brain and the autonomic system.
E) motor neurons and sensory neurons.

Question 80

The two major subsystems of the nervous system are the central nervous system and the

A) autonomic nervous system.
B) sympathetic nervous system.
C) peripheral nervous system.
D) parasympathetic nervous system.
E) somatic nervous system.