Exam 2: The Biological Basis of Behavior

A baby is born with an impairment of his left cerebral hemisphere, but it is not discovered until years later, when certain clues are pieced together. Which of the following is most likely to be one of those clues?

When a neuron is polarized, ________.

Summarize research findings about left-handedness and its causes.

Studies of heritability in humans that assume that if genes influence a certain trait, close relatives should be more similar with that trait than distant relatives are called ________ studies.

Specifically describe the effects of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.

The intricate network of folds that line the outer surface of the cerebral cortex, allowing it to fit inside the skull, are called ________.

In regard to the brain, the term "plasticity" refers to ________.

The tiny fibers branching out from the cell body of a neuron are called axons.

An imaging technique that has been useful in helping researchers understand the decline in memory and cognition that often accompanies aging is ________.

Jayden was in a four-wheeler accident that resulted in an injury to his brain. He now has difficulty with his hearing and his ability to recognize faces. The part of his brain most likely injured was the ________ lobe.

The complex cable of nerves that connects the brain to the rest of the body is the spinal cord.

Another term for a neural impulse is a(n) ________ potential.

During its resting state, the electrical charge inside the neuron is ________ the electrical charge outside the neuron.

Define and describe the uses for and limitations of family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies. What has been learned from these studies about the role of heredity in shaping human personality?

A frog muscle is stimulated with an electric current, but the muscle doesn't twitch. This probably happens because ________.

The section of the frontal lobe responsible for voluntary movement is the ________.

Gloria's friends have recently noticed a startling change in her behavior. She eats everything in sight but gains little, if any, weight. She speeds around the room as if she were taking amphetamines. She seems constantly tense and agitated, and has trouble sleeping. She has become impulsive and lately she seems to be upset by even the slightest stress. The source of Gloria's problems is probably an ________ gland.

Pairs of tiny threadlike bodies that carry genes are ________.

Compare and contrast the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. What does the current scientific evidence indicate in regard to one's ability to consciously control functions normally controlled by the autonomic nervous system?

Breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure are controlled by the medulla.