Question 1

As she walks out of the living room,Gloriann turns out the light.In this example,Gloriann's __________ nervous system is active.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As she walks out of the living...

Question 2

There are approximately __________ individual cells in your brain alone.

Accepted Answer

The human brain contains an estimated 100 billion neurons or nerve cells.

Question 3

As Molly is walking across campus,a car swerves toward her.Her heart races and sweat breaks out as she jumps out of harm's way.This mobilization of energy is due to the action of Molly's

Accepted Answer

The description of Molly's response - heart racing, sweating, and mobilization of energy - are all characteristic of the fight or flight response, which is activated by the sympathetic nervous system in times of perceived danger. The somatic and skeletal nervous systems control voluntary movements, while the parasympathetic nervous system activates the rest and digest response, which is opposite to the fight or flight response.

Question 4

Most of the higher functions of the brain,such as reasoning and language,are located in the

Accepted Answer

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain and is responsible for many higher functions such as reasoning and language. The limbic system is involved in emotions and memory, the midbrain is involved in sensory processing and motor control, and the brainstem is responsible for many automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Question 5

Which of the following would most likely involve the midbrain?

Accepted Answer

The midbrain is responsible for sensorimotor reflexes, including eye movements and reflexive responses to visual and auditory stimuli, as well as controlling certain voluntary movements. Ducking to avoid a foul ball would involve a reflexive response controlled by the midbrain.

Question 6

What part of the brain acts as a relay station for incoming sensory information?

Accepted Answer

The thalamus acts as a relay station for incoming sensory information, receiving input from sensory organs and relaying it to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex for further processing. The hypothalamus is involved in regulating basic bodily functions like hunger, thirst, and temperature control. The pituitary gland is part of the endocrine system and secretes hormones that regulate various bodily functions, but it is not directly involved in processing sensory information.

Question 7

As Joe walks to his car late at night,he hears footsteps behind him.Feeling afraid,Joe grips his keys and quickens his pace.It is likely that Joe's ____________ has been activated.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions and triggering the fear response in situations perceived to be threatening, such as hearing footsteps behind you at night. This leads to an increase in heart rate, heightened arousal, and the fight or flight response.

Question 8

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that consists of nerves that control organs and glands is called the ___________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and glandular secretions. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system, with the sympathetic division responsible for activating the "fight or flight" response and the parasympathetic division responsible for promoting rest and digestion.

Question 9

The fight-or-flight response is mobilized by the

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is a physiological response to a stressful or dangerous situation that is mobilized by the sympathetic nervous system. This response prepares the body for action by increasing heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure, and redirecting blood flow to major muscle groups. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's rest and digest response, which is the opposite of the fight-or-flight response. The central nervous system includes both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, as well as the brain and spinal cord. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary muscle movements and sensory input from the body's external environment.

Question 10

A researcher implants an electrode in a rat's brain,and then wires the electrode so that it stimulates a specific brain region every time the rat presses a lever.The rat finds the stimulation so rewarding that it does nothing but press the lever all day.Which of the following brain regions does the electrode most likely stimulate?

Accepted Answer

The nucleus accumbens is a brain region associated with reward and pleasure. Stimulating this region with an electrode has been shown to cause animals to engage in behavior that produces the rewarding stimulation, even to the exclusion of other behaviors. This is consistent with the rat in the scenario pressing the lever repeatedly to receive the rewarding stimulation. The amygdala is involved in emotional processing and the formation of emotional memories, but is not strongly associated with reward. The cerebellum is involved in motor coordination and learning, but is not strongly associated with reward or pleasure. The thalamus relays sensory information to other areas of the brain and is not typically associated with reward or pleasure.

Question 11

Damage to the cerebellum is likely to disrupt which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating and regulating movement, so damage to this area of the brain is likely to disrupt physical activities such as playing basketball. Sleeping, homeostasis, and thinking are controlled by other areas of the brain and may not be directly affected by cerebellar damage.

Question 12

The brain is divided into several different structures on the bottom part of the brain referred to as the "hindbrain." Which of the parts of the brain listed below is located in the hindbrain?

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is located in the hindbrain. The amygdala and thalamus are located in the forebrain. The occipital lobe is located in the midbrain.

Question 13

The _______________ is a structure in the brain stem responsible for life-sustaining functions,such as breathing and heart rate.

Accepted Answer

The medulla is the structure in the brain stem responsible for life-sustaining functions, such as breathing and heart rate. The reticular formation is also located in the brain stem, but it is responsible for arousal and attention. The pons is involved in sleep, breathing, and sensory and motor functions. The cingulate gyrus is part of the cerebral cortex, and is involved in emotions and decision-making.

Question 14

An auto accident rendered Chris's nervous system unable to send messages for him to breathe,so he is on a respirator.Which brain structure was damaged in the accident?

Accepted Answer

The medulla is responsible for controlling vital bodily functions, such as breathing and heart rate. Damage to this area can result in the inability to breathe on one's own, requiring the use of a respirator. The other brain structures listed are not directly involved in controlling breathing.

Question 15

Malcolm is studying alone in his room late at night when he hears a loud noise downstairs.His heartbeat increases significantly and his breathing becomes shallow.He wonders if a burglar has entered the house and decides to investigate.When he gets downstairs he discovers his cat has knocked over a plant stand.His body begins to relax and return to normal.Which part of his nervous system is responsible for returning Malcolm to a normal state?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for returning the body to a normal state after a fight or flight response triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. It helps regulate functions such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

Question 16

Tourette's syndrome-a condition marked by erratic and repetitive facial and muscle movements (called tics)and frequent noise making such as grunting,snorting,or sniffing-is believed to be caused by an imbalance in the

Accepted Answer

Tourette's syndrome is believed to be caused by an imbalance in the basal ganglia, which is a part of the brain that helps regulate movement. Dysfunction in the basal ganglia can lead to the motor and vocal tics observed in Tourette's syndrome.

Question 17

Eating,drinking,sexual behaviour,and body temperature control are most strongly influenced by the

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating and controlling many basic physiological functions in the body, including eating, drinking, sexual behavior, and body temperature control. The other brain regions listed (hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala) are involved in different functions such as memory processing, sensory relay, and emotional processing, respectively.

Question 18

The part of the brain dedicated to emotion and memory is the

Accepted Answer

The limbic system is responsible for processing emotions and memory. It includes structures such as the amygdala and hippocampus, which are involved in emotional regulation and consolidation of memories. The endocrine system plays a role in regulating hormones, while the reticular formation is involved in arousal and sleep. The lymphatic system is responsible for the immune system.

Question 19

"Ewww!" says TJ when he sees an actual human brain on display at the science museum,"I didn't realize how convoluted and wrinkly it would be." Because he can only see the outer layer of the brain,TJ is actually describing just the

Accepted Answer

TJ is only able to see the outer layer of the brain, and the cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain. Therefore, he is describing only the cerebral cortex.

Question 20

Stan has been extremely afraid of cats since he was scratched as a 5-year-old.Whenever he sees a cat,he starts to feel afraid.If a cat comes towards him,he often runs away immediately as he is afraid of being scratched again.Stan's response is likely a result of the ____________ in the limbic system.

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is the part of the limbic system responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear. Stan's fear response to cats is likely a result of the amygdala's involvement in his emotional processing.

Quiz 3: B: Biological Psychology