Question 1

Which occurrence in the synapse is not likely to be involved in the formation of long-term memories?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increase in AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic membrane 
B)  NMDA receptors mediate increases in intracellular Ca2+ 
C)  Long-lasting neurotransmitter release 
D)  Lengthening of dendritic spines 
E)  Growth of new dendritic spines 
A)  Increase in AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic membrane 
B)  NMDA receptors mediate increases in intracellular Ca2+ 
C)  Long-lasting neurotransmitter release 
D)  Lengthening of dendritic spines 
E)  Growth of new dendritic spines

Question 2

Which ion must enter the presynaptic terminal in order to mediate the release of the neurotransmitter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ca2+ 
B)  Cl- 
C)  Na+ 
D)  K+ 
A)  Ca2+ 
B)  Cl- 
C)  Na+ 
D)  K+

Question 3

Refer to the figure shown.
  What is occurring at point 4a?

Accepted Answer

A)  Depolarization 
B)  Hyperpolarization 
C)  An action potential 
D)  Muscle contraction 
A)  Depolarization 
B)  Hyperpolarization 
C)  An action potential 
D)  Muscle contraction

Question 4

In chemical synapses, neurotransmitters are released by

Accepted Answer

A)  facilitated diffusion. 
B)  calcium-dependent exocytosis. 
C)  active transport. 
D)  vesicular cycling. 
A)  facilitated diffusion. 
B)  calcium-dependent exocytosis. 
C)  active transport. 
D)  vesicular cycling.

Question 5

Refer to the figure shown.
  Where is hyperpolarizing spatial summation occurring?

Accepted Answer

A)  I 
B)  II 
C)  III 
D)  IV 
A)  I 
B)  II 
C)  III 
D)  IV

Question 6

The enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase synthesizes what neurotransmitter?

Accepted Answer

A)  Acetylcholine 
B)  Serotonin 
C)  Dopamine 
D)  Norepinephrine 
A)  Acetylcholine 
B)  Serotonin 
C)  Dopamine 
D)  Norepinephrine

Question 7

Explain why it is the receptor and not the neurotransmitter that determines whether the postsynaptic membrane produces an EPSP or an IPSP.

Accepted Answer

Whether the PSP is excitatory or inhibit

Question 8

How do we account for the two hypotheses of vesicular fusion and retrieval?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is more experimental support for the classical pathway of neurotransmitter release. 
B)  There was very little support for the classical pathway of neurotransmitter release, therefore the kiss-and-run pathway is currently the favored pathway. 
C)  Both pathways are portions of a larger pathway and therefore there should be one hypothesis. 
D)  The kiss-and-run pathway is likely used at lower rates of neurotransmitter release while the classical pathway predominates at higher rates of neurotransmitter release. 
A)  There is more experimental support for the classical pathway of neurotransmitter release. 
B)  There was very little support for the classical pathway of neurotransmitter release, therefore the kiss-and-run pathway is currently the favored pathway. 
C)  Both pathways are portions of a larger pathway and therefore there should be one hypothesis. 
D)  The kiss-and-run pathway is likely used at lower rates of neurotransmitter release while the classical pathway predominates at higher rates of neurotransmitter release.

Question 9

How does the G protein activate adenylyl cyclase?

Accepted Answer

A)  The G protein mediates the release of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which activates adenylyl cyclase. 
B)  The G protein activates various second messengers, which all activate pathways that activate adenylyl cyclase. 
C)  The α subunit of the G protein, with GTP, diffuses laterally in the membrane and binds to and activates adenylyl cyclase. 
D)  The G protein causes a depolarization, which activates adenylyl cyclase. 
A)  The G protein mediates the release of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which activates adenylyl cyclase. 
B)  The G protein activates various second messengers, which all activate pathways that activate adenylyl cyclase. 
C)  The α subunit of the G protein, with GTP, diffuses laterally in the membrane and binds to and activates adenylyl cyclase. 
D)  The G protein causes a depolarization, which activates adenylyl cyclase.

Question 10

Which statement best describes of the mechanistic uniqueness of the Doogie mouse strain?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have longer-opening NMDA receptors compared to standard lab mice. 
B)  They produce more neurotransmitters than standard lab mice. 
C)  They produce more action potentials per second than standard lab mice. 
D)  They have a better long-term memory than standard lab mice. 
A)  They have longer-opening NMDA receptors compared to standard lab mice. 
B)  They produce more neurotransmitters than standard lab mice. 
C)  They produce more action potentials per second than standard lab mice. 
D)  They have a better long-term memory than standard lab mice.

Question 11

Which of the following transmits information the fastest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ionotropic EPSP 
B)  Metabotropic IPSP 
C)  Electrical synapse 
D)  Fast EPSP 
A)  Ionotropic EPSP 
B)  Metabotropic IPSP 
C)  Electrical synapse 
D)  Fast EPSP

Question 12

Refer to the figure shown.
  What are the best titles for Panel 1 and Panel 2?

Accepted Answer

A)  Panel 1 = Motor-neuron EPSP; Panel 2 = Gill withdrawal 
B)  Panel 1 = Skin PSP; Panel 2 = Gill contraction 
C)  Panel 1 = Synapse EPSP; Panel 2 = Head EPSP 
D)  Panel 1 = Synapse EPSP; Panel 2 = Gill contraction 
A)  Panel 1 = Motor-neuron EPSP; Panel 2 = Gill withdrawal 
B)  Panel 1 = Skin PSP; Panel 2 = Gill contraction 
C)  Panel 1 = Synapse EPSP; Panel 2 = Head EPSP 
D)  Panel 1 = Synapse EPSP; Panel 2 = Gill contraction

Question 13

Which structure is associated with signal transmission in an electrical synapse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Postsynaptic densities 
B)  Synaptic vesicles 
C)  Neurotransmitters 
D)  Connexons 
A)  Postsynaptic densities 
B)  Synaptic vesicles 
C)  Neurotransmitters 
D)  Connexons

Question 14

Refer to the figure shown.
  Which mechanism explains Panel 1?

Accepted Answer

A)  At the synapse, the neurotransmitter changes function. 
B)  The amount of neurotransmitter per presynaptic impulse changes. 
C)  Receptor density on the postsynaptic membrane changes. 
D)  The frequency of action potentials increases. 
A)  At the synapse, the neurotransmitter changes function. 
B)  The amount of neurotransmitter per presynaptic impulse changes. 
C)  Receptor density on the postsynaptic membrane changes. 
D)  The frequency of action potentials increases.

Question 15

The _______ is the flow of ions through all the channels that open in response to release of a neurotransmitter.

Accepted Answer

A)  postsynaptic potential 
B)  synaptic current 
C)  action potential 
D)  voltage 
A)  postsynaptic potential 
B)  synaptic current 
C)  action potential 
D)  voltage

Question 16

Briefly explain the patch clamp technique and why it is important.

Accepted Answer

The patch clamp technique uses a fine gl

Question 17

List three specific changes in the synapse that would be categorized as synaptic plasticity.

Accepted Answer

a) Number of receptors on the postsynapt

Question 18

Which statement regarding the ligand-gated channel at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  It binds acetylcholine. 
B)  K+ travels through this channel when it is open. 
C)  Two acetylcholine molecules need to bind to the intracellular side of the receptor. 
D)  When the channel opens, ions depolarize the membrane. 
A)  It binds acetylcholine. 
B)  K+ travels through this channel when it is open. 
C)  Two acetylcholine molecules need to bind to the intracellular side of the receptor. 
D)  When the channel opens, ions depolarize the membrane.

Question 19

Which statement best describes the fusion process in exocytotic release of neurotransmitter?

Accepted Answer

A)  v-SNARE proteins attach to t-SNARE proteins. 
B)  Synapsin detaches the vesicle from the cytoskeleton. 
C)  Dynamin interacts with clathrin. 
D)  Calcium interacts with synaptotagmin. 
A)  v-SNARE proteins attach to t-SNARE proteins. 
B)  Synapsin detaches the vesicle from the cytoskeleton. 
C)  Dynamin interacts with clathrin. 
D)  Calcium interacts with synaptotagmin.

Question 20

Why are the synaptic effects of ionotropic receptors faster than those of metabotropic receptors?

Accepted Answer

A)  ionotropic receptors open by voltage changes 
B)  ionotropic receptors are G proteins 
C)  ionotropic receptors use a second messenger system 
D)  ionotropic receptors function as ligand-gated channels 
A)  ionotropic receptors open by voltage changes 
B)  ionotropic receptors are G proteins 
C)  ionotropic receptors use a second messenger system 
D)  ionotropic receptors function as ligand-gated channels

Exam 13: Synapses

Which occurrence in the synapse is not likely to be involved in the formation of long-term memories?

Which ion must enter the presynaptic terminal in order to mediate the release of the neurotransmitter?

Refer to the figure shown. What is occurring at point 4a?

In chemical synapses, neurotransmitters are released by

Refer to the figure shown. Where is hyperpolarizing spatial summation occurring?

The enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase synthesizes what neurotransmitter?

Explain why it is the receptor and not the neurotransmitter that determines whether the postsynaptic membrane produces an EPSP or an IPSP.

How do we account for the two hypotheses of vesicular fusion and retrieval?

How does the G protein activate adenylyl cyclase?

Which statement best describes of the mechanistic uniqueness of the Doogie mouse strain?

Which of the following transmits information the fastest?

Refer to the figure shown. What are the best titles for Panel 1 and Panel 2?

Which structure is associated with signal transmission in an electrical synapse?

Refer to the figure shown. Which mechanism explains Panel 1?

The _______ is the flow of ions through all the channels that open in response to release of a neurotransmitter.

Briefly explain the patch clamp technique and why it is important.

List three specific changes in the synapse that would be categorized as synaptic plasticity.

Which statement regarding the ligand-gated channel at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction is false?

Which statement best describes the fusion process in exocytotic release of neurotransmitter?

Why are the synaptic effects of ionotropic receptors faster than those of metabotropic receptors?

Animals and Environments: Function on the Ecological Stage

Molecules and Cells in Animal Physiology

Genomics, Proteomics, and Related Approaches to Physiology

Physiological Development and Epigenetics

Transport of Solutes and Water

Nutrition, Feeding, and Digestion

Energy Metabolism

Aerobic and Anaerobic Forms of Metabolism

The Energetics of Aerobic Activity

Thermal Relations

Food, Energy, and Temperature at Work: The Lives of Mammals in Frigid Places

Neurons

Sensory Processes

Nervous System Organization and Biological Clocks

Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Physiology

Reproduction

Integrating Systems at Work: Animal Navigation

Control of Movement

Muscle

Movement and Muscle at Work: Plasticity in Response to Use and Disuse

Introduction to Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in Physiology

External Respiration: the Physiology of Breathing

Transport of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in Body Fluids With an Introduction to Acid- Base Physiology

Circulation

Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Internal Transport at Work: Diving by Marine Mammals

Water and Salt Physiology: Introduction and Mechanisms

Kidneys and Excretion With Notes on Nitrogen Excretion

Water, Salts, and Excretion at Work: Mammals of Deserts and Dry Savannas

Water and Salt Physiology of Animals in Their Environments

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