Question 1

The area of the brain that allows one to initiate voluntary motor activity is the

Accepted Answer

The area of the brain responsible for initiating voluntary motor activity is the midbrain, specifically the motor cortex located in the frontal lobe. The hindbrain controls basic functions such as breathing and heartbeat, while the occipital lobe processes visual information and the temporal lobe is involved in auditory processing and memory.

Question 2

Lisa has problems sleeping,so she goes to a sleep clinic.At the clinic the researchers measure her brain's electrical activity as she sleeps by using the technique of

Accepted Answer

EEGs are the most commonly used technique to measure brain electrical activity during sleep. This involves placing electrodes on the scalp that record the electrical activity of the brain. TMS and fMRI techniques do not directly measure electrical activity, and phrenology is an outdated and discredited practice.

Question 3

If a new drug interferes with how the neurotransmitter acetylcholine functions,then the drug

Accepted Answer

If a drug interferes with how a neurotransmitter functions, it means it is blocking or reducing the activity of that neurotransmitter, and this is the definition of an antagonist. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Question 4

Which specialized area of the brain is crucial to the production of speech?

Accepted Answer

Broca's area is a specialized area of the brain that is crucial to the production of speech. It is responsible for the coordination of movements necessary for speech production, including the movement of the lips, tongue, and vocal cords. Damage to Broca's area can result in a speech disorder called Broca's aphasia, which is characterized by difficulty forming words and sentences.

Question 5

The action of neurotransmitters is ________ by agonists and is ________ by antagonists.

Accepted Answer

Agonists increase the action of neurotransmitters by mimicking their effects or enhancing their activity, while antagonists decrease their action by blocking their effects or their receptor sites.

Question 6

A neurotransmitter that is important in muscle contraction is

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction, where it binds to receptors on the muscle fiber and triggers muscle contraction. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are more commonly involved in the fight or flight response, while serotonin is involved in mood regulation and other functions in the central nervous system.

Question 7

Basic survival functions such as heart rate are controlled by the hindbrain structure called the

Accepted Answer

The medulla oblongata is a part of the hindbrain that controls many basic survival functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. The thalamus is a structure in the forebrain involved in relaying sensory information to other brain regions. The cerebellum is involved in motor coordination and balance. The hippocampus is involved in memory formation and retrieval.

Question 8

The measure of brain activity that temporarily "turns off" parts of the brain to see how specific brain regions are affected is called

Accepted Answer

The measure of brain activity that temporarily "turns off" parts of the brain to see how specific brain regions are affected is called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Phrenology is an outdated pseudoscience that attempts to determine personality traits and abilities based on the shape of the skull. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures changes in blood flow to active brain regions. Electroencephalography (EEG) records the electrical activity of the brain.

Question 9

Drugs that increase the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA

Accepted Answer

Drugs that increase the effects of GABA are classified as tranquilizers or sedatives and are used primarily in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Question 10

You are running a 5K race and suddenly you experience an adrenaline rush.This burst of energy is caused by your body releasing the neurotransmitter

Accepted Answer

An adrenaline rush, also known as the "fight or flight" response, is a physiological response to stress where the body releases the hormone epinephrine (also known as adrenaline). This hormone triggers the release of glucose from the liver and muscles, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and provides a burst of energy to allow the body to respond to perceived danger.

Question 11

Roberto's grandmother has Alzheimer's disease.Therefore,you would expect to see too ________ of the neurotransmitter ________ in her brain.

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a decrease in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, so you would expect to see a decrease (or "little") of acetylcholine in Roberto's grandmother's brain.

Question 12

Lionel has Parkinson's disease and has difficulty starting motor movements because the neurons involved with dopamine activity are

Accepted Answer

The neurons involved with dopamine activity are dying off in Parkinson's disease, leading to reduced dopamine production and difficulty in initiating motor movements.

Question 13

Because nicotine increases how the neurotransmitter acetylcholine functions,it is an

Accepted Answer

Nicotine is an agonist, which means that it enhances or mimics the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This leads to increased activity in the nervous system and can result in a range of effects, such as increased heart rate, alertness, and pleasure.

Question 14

Suppose you begin feeling extremely depressed and want a prescription drug to alleviate your depression.The drug you should take should affect the neurotransmitter

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is involved in regulating mood, appetite, and sleep. Drugs that increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly used to treat depression.

Question 15

Benita is playing a very exciting video game and she finds that she wants to keep playing it more and more.Benita's desire is most likely activating the neurons in her brain that produce more of the neurotransmitter

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with the brain's reward and pleasure centers. It is released when we experience something enjoyable, such as playing a video game, and helps to reinforce the behavior, making us want to continue doing it. Therefore, Benita's desire to keep playing the video game is most likely activating the neurons in her brain that produce more dopamine.

Question 16

Marco has great difficulty walking.His doctor told him that this was due to a decreasing amount of a neurotransmitter in his brain.Which of the following neurotransmitters would be likely to cause this difficulty?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is responsible for controlling movements and is involved in the motor system. A decrease in dopamine levels can lead to difficulty in walking, such as in Parkinson's disease. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are involved in the sympathetic nervous system, and glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a modern method for accurately measuring brain activity?

Accepted Answer

Phrenology was a pseudoscientific practice popular in the 19th century, which claimed to be able to determine a person’s personality traits based on the shape and size of their skull. It is not considered a modern or accurate method for measuring brain activity.

Question 18

The spinal cord is composed of two distinct types of tissue.One type of tissue is composed of the cell bodies of neurons,which do not have myelin on their axons.This tissue in the spinal cord is called

Accepted Answer

Gray matter in the spinal cord is composed of cell bodies of neurons without myelin on their axons.

Question 19

Chemical substances that carry messages from one neuron to the next are called

Accepted Answer

Chemical substances that carry messages from one neuron to the next are called neurotransmitters. Agonists enhance the effects of neurotransmitters, while antagonists inhibit or block the effects of neurotransmitters. Hormones are chemical messengers that are released into the bloodstream and affect distant target cells.

Question 20

One's motivations and emotions are controlled by the

Accepted Answer

Motivations and emotions are controlled by the limbic system, which is located in the forebrain. The hindbrain is responsible for basic functions such as breathing and heart rate, while the cerebellum is involved in movement and coordination. The parietal lobe is primarily responsible for processing sensory information.

Quiz 2: The Role of Biology in Psychology