Question 1

Why is REM sleep sometimes referred to as paradoxical sleep?

Accepted Answer

REM sleep is referred to as paradoxical sleep because even though the body's muscles are relaxed and immobilized, the brain is highly active and resembles wakefulness in terms of brain activity. This creates a paradoxical situation where the body is in a state of deep relaxation but the brain is highly active, akin to being awake.

Question 2

Why is the pituitary gland referred to as the "master gland"?

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland is referred to as the "master gland" because it releases hormones that direct other endocrine glands to release their hormones, thus controlling the functioning of multiple systems in the body.

Question 3

Treating schizophrenia with antipsychotic drugs can lead to side effects that resemble Parkinson's disease because these drugs _____.

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia work by decreasing levels of dopamine activity in the brain. This reduction in dopamine activity can lead to side effects that resemble Parkinson's disease, as Parkinson's is also associated with low levels of dopamine.

Question 4

Why do neural impulses travel faster in myelinated axons than in unmyelinated axons?

Accepted Answer

Myelin acts as an insulator that prevents the electric current from escaping the axon. The impulse is forced to leap from gap to gap (known as nodes of Ranvier) in the myelin sheath, which speeds up the transmission of the impulse. This is known as saltatory conduction.

Question 5

_____ carry information to the CNS, whereas _____ carry information from the CNS.

Accepted Answer

Sensory neurons carry information from the sensory receptors in the body to the CNS, whereas motor neurons carry information from the CNS to the muscles and glands. Choice A and B are incorrect since interneurons are not involved in carrying information to or from the sensory receptors and muscles/glands. Choice D is incorrect since it is the opposite of the correct answer.

Question 6

When you feel a slap on the left cheek of your face, the _____ cortex in the _____ lobe of the _____ hemisphere is active.

Accepted Answer

The somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe, is responsible for processing sensory information from the body. Since the left side of the body is processed by the right hemisphere of the brain, a slap on the left cheek would activate the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe of the right hemisphere.

Question 7

Sheila was in an accident in which she received damage to her cerebellum. Sheila is MOST likely to have difficulty _____.

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating voluntary movement and balance. Therefore, damage to this area is likely to result in difficulty playing sports or any other activity that requires coordinated movement. The other options (understanding what she reads, storing information in short-term memory, and transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory) are not directly related to the function of the cerebellum.

Question 8

Hormones are released _____ and carry their messages more _____ than neurotransmitters.

Accepted Answer

Hormones are released into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, so their effects may take a longer time to manifest. On the other hand, neurotransmitters act locally and quickly within the nervous system.

Question 9

In what way is a neuron like a miniature decision-making device?

Accepted Answer

Neurons make decisions in the form of whether or not to fire an action potential or impulse down the axon. This decision is based on the summation of incoming signals and whether they exceed a certain threshold. Therefore, a neuron can be thought of as a miniature decision-making device, deciding whether or not to transmit information to other neurons. Choices A and B are also functions of a neuron, but they do not necessarily involve a decision-making process as they are more automatic functions of a neuron. Choice D is not accurate as the speed of an impulse traveling down the axon is determined by the size and myelination of the axon, not a decision made by the neuron.

Question 10

Treating Parkinson's disease with L-dopa may lead to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of Parkinson's disease with L-dopa leads to an increase in the amount of dopamine in the brain, improving symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, L-dopa can also lead to an increase in schizophrenic symptoms in some patients. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 11

Why are drugs that block the reuptake of neurotransmitters considered agonists?

Accepted Answer

Drugs that block the reuptake of neurotransmitters prevent the neurotransmitter from being reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron, which keeps the neurotransmitter active in the synaptic gap. This leads to increased activation of postsynaptic receptors and is considered an agonist effect.

Question 12

Which statement about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are both part of the autonomic nervous system and often target the same glands and organs but have opposite effects, not necessarily connected to different glands and organs.

Question 13

In laboratory testing of a split-brain patient, suppose a picture of a baseball is flashed only to the patient's left visual field. How would the split-brain patient be able to identify the baseball?

Accepted Answer

When a picture is flashed only to the left visual field, the information is processed in the right hemisphere of the brain, which controls the left side of the body. Therefore, the split-brain patient would be able to identify the baseball by sense of touch, using the left hand, which is controlled by the right hemisphere. The patient would not be able to say the word "baseball" as the left hemisphere (which controls speech) would not have received the visual input. The patient would also not be able to use the right hand, as it is controlled by the left hemisphere, which did not receive the visual input.

Question 14

According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, emotion occurs _____ autonomic arousal and the behavioral response. According to the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, emotion occurs _____ autonomic arousal and the behavioral response.

Accepted Answer

According to the James-Lange theory, emotion is the result of our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli (emotion occurs after autonomic arousal and the behavioral response). According to the Cannon-Bard theory, emotion and physiological reactions occur simultaneously (emotion occurs at the same time as autonomic arousal and the behavioral response).

Question 15

Sensory and motor neurons are located _____ nervous system(s) and interneurons are located _____ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sensory and motor neurons are located _____...

Question 16

When you repeat aloud what someone else is saying, which accurately depicts the sequence of brain activity from the time you hear the initial sensory input until the time you prepare to pronounce the words?

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence starts with the temporal lobe, where auditory information is processed. Then, Wernicke's area (also located in the temporal lobe) is involved in understanding the spoken words. Next, Broca's area (in the frontal lobe) prepares the motor functions required for speech. Finally, the motor cortex executes the movements necessary for pronunciation.

Quiz 2: Section 1: Neuroscience

Why is REM sleep sometimes referred to as paradoxical sleep?

Why is the pituitary gland referred to as the "master gland"?

Treating schizophrenia with antipsychotic drugs can lead to side effects that resemble Parkinson's disease because these drugs _____.

Why do neural impulses travel faster in myelinated axons than in unmyelinated axons?

_ carry information to the CNS, whereas _ carry information from the CNS.

When you feel a slap on the left cheek of your face, the ___ cortex in the _ lobe of the ___ hemisphere is active.