Question 1

On the cellular level, non-REM sleep occurs because of
A) hyperpolarization of the cells of the thalamus and cortex.
B) depolarization of cortical neurons.
C) increased synaptic input between axons and neurons in the thalamus and cortex.
D) desynchronization of electrical impulses in the cortex.
E) increased release of neurotransmitters by the reticular activating system.

Accepted Answer

Non-REM sleep is characterized by a decrease in neuronal activity in the thalamus and cortex, which is induced by hyperpolarization of these cells. This is a result of decreased synaptic input from the reticular activating system, which is responsible for maintaining wakefulness. Thus, choice A is the best answer as it accurately describes the cellular changes that occur during non-REM sleep.

Question 2

Roger Sperry's work on "split-brain" subjects revealed that
A) the hippocampus is necessary for transferring short-term memories to long-term memories.
B) damage to the right cerebral hemisphere usually causes aphasia.
C) cutting the corpus callosum causes a severe form of epilepsy.
D) language ability resides in one cerebral hemisphere, almost always the left.
E) people's sleep cycles include periods of REM sleep.

Accepted Answer

Roger Sperry's work revealed that language ability resides in one cerebral hemisphere, almost always the left. He found that when the corpus callosum (the bundle of fibers that connects the two hemispheres) is severed, each hemisphere can function independently, leading to the phenomenon of split-brain patients.####

Question 3

Animals with eyes on the sides of the head have minimal overlap in their fields of vision, which is associated with
A) good night vision.
B) larger visual cortexes.
C) fewer action potentials in on-center retinal ganglion cells.
D) poor depth vision.
E) absence of an optic chiasm.

Accepted Answer

Having eyes on the sides of the head results in minimal overlap in fields of vision, which makes it difficult to perceive depth and leads to poor depth vision.

Question 4

Which of the following is the correct pathway for the flow of visual information?
A) Eye, optic chiasm, thalamus, occipital lobe
B) Eye, thalamus, optic chiasm, occipital lobe
C) Eye, optic chiasm, occipital lobe, thalamus
D) Eye, occipital lobe, optic chiasm, thalamus
E) Eye, thalamus, occipital lobe, optic chiasm

Accepted Answer

Visual information flows from the eye to the optic chiasm, where some of the nerve fibers cross to the opposite side. It then proceeds to the thalamus, specifically the lateral geniculate nucleus, before reaching the occipital lobe where visual processing occurs.

Question 5

A sleeping dog with erratic eye movements behind closed eyes and twitching legs is most likely in the midst of _______ sleep.
A) stage 1 Non-REM
B) stage 2 Non-REM
C) slow-wave
D) REM
E) stage 3 Non-REM

Accepted Answer

A dog with closed eyes, erratic eye movements, and twitching legs is displaying classic symptoms of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is the stage of sleep during which dreams occur.

Question 6

Vivid dreams can occur during REM sleep.What is occurring in our brains to keep us from acting out our dreams?
A) The cortex is unable to process information.
B) Sensory and motor pathways are inhibited.
C) If we begin to move, we switch into a deeper sleep state.
D) Cells are firing action potentials in bursts, which cannot cause muscle activity.
E) The thalamus is continually hyperpolarized.

Accepted Answer

During REM sleep, sensory and motor pathways are inhibited, which keeps us from acting out our dreams. This is thought to be mediated by the brainstem, which sends inhibitory signals to the spinal cord and other motor centers in the brain. This inhibition may be necessary to prevent injury or harm to ourselves and others while we are asleep.

Question 7

Which of the following best represents what happens to axons from the retina at the optic chiasm?
A) Axons from the half of each retina closest to the sides of the head cross and go to the opposite side of the brain
B) All axons from the left eye go to the right side of the brain and vice versa for axons from the right eye
C) Axons from the half of each retina closest to the nose cross and go to the opposite side of the brain
D) All axons from the left eye go to the left side of the brain and vice versa for axons from the right eye
E) All axons from the left eye go to the left side of the brain and vice versa for axons from the right eye; the axons are then sent to the opposite side of the brain by the thalamus

Accepted Answer

The axons from the half of each retina closest to the nose (medial half) cross and go to the opposite side of the brain at the optic chiasm. Axons from the lateral half of each retina remain on the same side of the brain. This arrangement allows for information from both eyes to be processed together for a more complete visual representation.

Question 8

All of the following characterize binocular cells except:
A) enable depth perception and 3-dimensional vision.
B) all respond no matter how distant the stimulus is.
C) receive input from the right and left eyes.
D) detect disparity between where an image falls on the two retinas.
E) located at the borders of columns of neurons in the visual cortex.

Accepted Answer

Binocular cells only respond to stimuli within a specific range of distances, known as the horopter. They do not respond to stimuli that are too far away or too close.

Question 9

Refer to the figure below.In which of the following electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings does deep, restorative, slow-wave sleep occur? 
A) Non-REM Stage 1
B) Non-REM Stage 2
C) Non-REM Stage 3
D) REM
E) None of the recordings

Accepted Answer

Deep, restorative, slow-wave sleep occurs during Non-REM Stage 3, which is characterized by high-amplitude, low-frequency delta waves on the EEG recording. Non-REM Stage 1 and 2 are lighter stages of sleep with less delta wave activity, and REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements and low-amplitude, high-frequency waves on the EEG recording. Therefore, the best choice is C, Non-REM Stage 3.

Question 10

An injury to the head leaves a person without the ability to speak but leaves the abilities to read and understand language intact.The region of the brain that is most likely damaged is
A) Wernicke's area.
B) the brainstem.
C) the auditory cortex.
D) Broca's area.
E) the right cerebral hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

Broca's area is responsible for the production of speech, so an injury to this area would result in the inability to speak while still being able to comprehend language.

Question 11

Refer to the figure below.The electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings for Awake and REM sleep are similar because 
A) slow wave patterns occur in both states.
B) several nuclei in the reticular-activating system in the brainstem are active during both states.
C) the thalamus and the cortex are inactive in both states.
D) synchronized bursts of cortical neurons characterize both states.
E) information processing is inhibited in REM sleep but not in the awake state.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure below.The electroencephalogram (EEG)...

Question 12

The organization of neurons of the visual cortex into columns with binocular cells at the borders of the columns allows for
A) perception of color by binocular cells that each have a receptive field in the retina matching the stripes and columns in the visual cortex.
B) binocular cells to interpret distance by measuring the disparity between the points at which the same stimulus falls on the two retinas.
C) the optic chiasm to direct all visual input from each eye to the opposite hemisphere.
D) individual retinal ganglion cells to have more than one receptive field due to a pattern of synapses between photoreceptors, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, and bipolar cells.
E) an extensive field of vision.

Accepted Answer

The organization of neurons in columns with binocular cells at the borders allows for the interpretation of depth and distance through binocular vision, which relies on measuring the disparity between the points at which the same stimulus falls on the two retinas. This is made possible by the fact that binocular cells at the borders of the columns receive input from both eyes, allowing for the integration of information from both visual fields.

Question 13

The reticular activating system of the brainstem is continuously active while we are awake.Neurons in this region maintain the responsiveness of the brain by
A) reducing the number of action potentials fired by brainstem neurons.
B) decreasing the number of cycles of REM sleep.
C) hyperpolarizing cortical neurons.
D) firing action potentials in synchronized bursts.
E) releasing neurotransmitters that maintain the sensitivity of neurons in the thalamus and cortex.

Accepted Answer

The reticular activating system releases neurotransmitters that maintain the sensitivity of neurons in the thalamus and cortex, which helps to maintain the responsiveness of the brain while we are awake. A, B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the function of the reticular activating system.

Question 14

When an electroencephalogram is used to study sleep, it can reveal the
A) activity of single neurons throughout the sleep phase.
B) movements of the eyes while in different sleep stages.
C) restorative patterns of REM sleep.
D) firing patterns of neurons in regions of the cortex over time.
E) jerky movements of skeletal muscles during slow-wave sleep.

Accepted Answer

An electroencephalogram (EEG) measures the electrical activity of the brain and can reveal the firing patterns of neurons in regions of the cortex over time, especially as they change during different sleep stages.

Question 15

Choose the option that represents the correct pathway that information flows when a person repeats a word that s/he heard.
A) Auditory cortex; Broca's area; Wernicke's area; primary motor cortex
B) Auditory cortex; Wernicke's area; Broca's area; primary motor cortex
C) Broca's area; auditory cortex; Wernicke's area; primary somatosensory cortex
D) Wernicke's area; auditory cortex; Broca's area; pre-motor cortex
E) Wernicke's area; Broca's area; auditory cortex; primary somatosensory cortex

Accepted Answer

The pathway for repeating a word heard involves the auditory cortex receiving the sound, which is then processed in Wernicke's area for comprehension. The information is then sent to Broca's area for speech production, and finally, to the primary motor cortex for the movement of the required muscles. This is the correct sequence represented in choice B.

Question 16

Binocular cells interpret distance by measuring the disparity between the points at which one stimulus falls on the retina of each eye.If you look at an object and open and close each eye individually, the stimulus that would produce the least disparity is visual information from
A) the tip of your nose.
B) your computer screen.
C) a person sitting in front of you.
D) a person sitting across the room.
E) a distant object viewed through a window.

Accepted Answer

The disparity between the points at which one stimulus falls on the retina of each eye decreases as the distance to the object increases. Therefore, a distant object viewed through a window would produce the least disparity because it is farthest away from the viewer.

Question 17

Language ability occurs predominately in one cerebral hemisphere-this is described as the _______ of language function.
A) lateralization
B) regulation
C) inhibition
D) dominance
E) field

Accepted Answer

Lateralization refers to the specialization of functions in each cerebral hemisphere. In the case of language ability, studies have shown that it is primarily located in the left hemisphere for the majority of people, although a small percentage have language ability located in the right hemisphere. Therefore, "lateralization" is the best choice because it specifically refers to the division of functions between the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 18

Humans have binocular vision, which means that the eyes see overlapping but slightly different views of the world.In the pathway by which visual information travels to the visual cortex for processing, the place where some visual information crosses over to the opposite cerebral hemisphere is the
A) optic nerve.
B) ganglion cells of the retina.
C) optic chiasm.
D) bipolar cells of the retina.
E) thalamus.

Accepted Answer

The optic chiasm is the place where some of the visual information from each eye crosses over to the opposite cerebral hemisphere. This allows for integration of information from both eyes in the visual cortex, which is necessary for depth perception and other aspects of visual processing. The other structures listed (optic nerve, ganglion cells, bipolar cells, and thalamus) are all involved in transmitting visual information from the retina to the visual cortex, but they do not have the specific function of allowing for cross-over of information between the two hemispheres.

Question 19

Roughly _______ percent of a typical night's sleep is devoted to REM sleep, the stage at which dreams or nightmares are experienced.
A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40
E) 50

Accepted Answer

On average, about 20-25% of a typical night's sleep is devoted to REM sleep, the stage at which dreams or nightmares are experienced. The other stages of sleep include NREM (non-REM) sleep, which is further divided into stages 1, 2, and 3.

Question 20

During the transition from non-REM sleep to REM sleep, an EEG shows similar patterns between REM sleep waves and those of the awake brain.All of the following are part of this similarity except:
A) inactive brainstem nuclei become active again.
B) the cortex generates conscious mental images.
C) neurons in the thalamus and cortex are hyperpolarized.
D) synchronized bursts of action potentials cease.
E) resting potentials of cortical neurons rise.

Accepted Answer

During the transition from non-REM sleep to REM sleep, neurons in the thalamus and cortex become depolarized rather than hyperpolarized. This is one of the key differences between non-REM and REM sleep.

Quiz 46: The Mammalian Nervous System: Structure and Higher Functions

On the cellular level, non-REM sleep occurs because of

Roger Sperry's work on "split-brain" subjects revealed that

Animals with eyes on the sides of the head have minimal overlap in their fields of vision, which is associated with

Which of the following is the correct pathway for the flow of visual information?

A sleeping dog with erratic eye movements behind closed eyes and twitching legs is most likely in the midst of _______ sleep.

Vivid dreams can occur during REM sleep.What is occurring in our brains to keep us from acting out our dreams?

Which of the following best represents what happens to axons from the retina at the optic chiasm?

All of the following characterize binocular cells except:

Refer to the figure below.In which of the following electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings does deep, restorative, slow-wave sleep occur?

An injury to the head leaves a person without the ability to speak but leaves the abilities to read and understand language intact.The region of the brain that is most likely damaged is

Refer to the figure below.The electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings for Awake and REM sleep are similar because

The organization of neurons of the visual cortex into columns with binocular cells at the borders of the columns allows for

The reticular activating system of the brainstem is continuously active while we are awake.Neurons in this region maintain the responsiveness of the brain by

When an electroencephalogram is used to study sleep, it can reveal the

Choose the option that represents the correct pathway that information flows when a person repeats a word that s/he heard.

Binocular cells interpret distance by measuring the disparity between the points at which one stimulus falls on the retina of each eye.If you look at an object and open and close each eye individually, the stimulus that would produce the least disparity is visual information from

Language ability occurs predominately in one cerebral hemisphere-this is described as the _______ of language function.

Humans have binocular vision, which means that the eyes see overlapping but slightly different views of the world.In the pathway by which visual information travels to the visual cortex for processing, the place where some visual information crosses over to the opposite cerebral hemisphere is the

Roughly _______ percent of a typical night's sleep is devoted to REM sleep, the stage at which dreams or nightmares are experienced.

During the transition from non-REM sleep to REM sleep, an EEG shows similar patterns between REM sleep waves and those of the awake brain.All of the following are part of this similarity except: