Question 1

In what order is visual information in the retina transmitted?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10photoreceptorF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cell 
B)  Retinal ganglion cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10photoreceptor 
C)  PhotoreceptorF1F1F1S1F1F1F10bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cell 
D)  Bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10photoreceptor 
E)  PhotoreceptorF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10bipolar cell 
A)  Bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10photoreceptorF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cell 
B)  Retinal ganglion cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10photoreceptor 
C)  PhotoreceptorF1F1F1S1F1F1F10bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cell 
D)  Bipolar cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10photoreceptor 
E)  PhotoreceptorF1F1F1S1F1F1F10retinal ganglion cellF1F1F1S1F1F1F10bipolar cell

Question 2

The typical order of events during nervous system development is

Accepted Answer

A)  cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidanceF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferation. 
B)  axon guidanceF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiation. 
C)  cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidanceF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell migration. 
D)  cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidance. 
E)  cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidance. 
A)  cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidanceF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferation. 
B)  axon guidanceF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiation. 
C)  cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidanceF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell migration. 
D)  cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidance. 
E)  cell proliferationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell differentiationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10cell migrationF1F1F1S1F1F1F10axon guidance.

Question 3

The signal intensity is encoded by which property of the action potential?

Accepted Answer

A)  Amplitude 
B)  Duration 
C)  Delay time 
D)  Frequency 
E)  Number 
A)  Amplitude 
B)  Duration 
C)  Delay time 
D)  Frequency 
E)  Number

Question 4

Neural precursor cells have which property?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can still divide. 
B)  They have the potential to give rise to neurons. 
C)  They have the potential to give rise to glial cells. 
D)  They derive from neuroectoderm. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  They can still divide. 
B)  They have the potential to give rise to neurons. 
C)  They have the potential to give rise to glial cells. 
D)  They derive from neuroectoderm. 
E)  All of the above

Question 5

Which molecular tools have been frequently used to analyze fate mapping in developing embryos?

Accepted Answer

A)  Genetically encoded fluorescent proteins 
B)  Antibodies 
C)  In situ hybridization 
D)  Fluorescent microbeads 
E)  Optogenetics 
A)  Genetically encoded fluorescent proteins 
B)  Antibodies 
C)  In situ hybridization 
D)  Fluorescent microbeads 
E)  Optogenetics

Question 6

Rods and cones are present in the retina layer that is

Accepted Answer

A)  closest to the lens. 
B)  furthest away from the lens. 
C)  exactly in the middle of the retina. 
D)  not present in the retina. 
E)  in different layers in the retina. 
A)  closest to the lens. 
B)  furthest away from the lens. 
C)  exactly in the middle of the retina. 
D)  not present in the retina. 
E)  in different layers in the retina.

Question 7

Do all neurons strictly follow the cellular organization with cell body, axon and dendrites? If not, please provide an example for a neuron that does not follow this basic organization.

Accepted Answer

You can inject specific viruses such as

Question 8

Which of the features below distinguishes neurons from glial cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ability of producing action potentials 
B)  Resting membrane potential 
C)  Ion channels 
D)  Receptors for neurotransmitters 
E)  Ion pumps 
A)  Ability of producing action potentials 
B)  Resting membrane potential 
C)  Ion channels 
D)  Receptors for neurotransmitters 
E)  Ion pumps

Question 9

The neuronal connections in the nervous system can be

Accepted Answer

A)  convergent only. 
B)  divergent only. 
C)  convergent and divergent only. 
D)  recurrent only. 
E)  convergent, divergent, recurrent, or parallel. 
A)  convergent only. 
B)  divergent only. 
C)  convergent and divergent only. 
D)  recurrent only. 
E)  convergent, divergent, recurrent, or parallel.

Question 10

Which of the following molecules cannot be transmitted from one neuron to the next through an electrical synapse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sodium ion 
B)  Chloride ion 
C)  cAMP 
D)  Glucose 
E)  Protein kinase A 
A)  Sodium ion 
B)  Chloride ion 
C)  cAMP 
D)  Glucose 
E)  Protein kinase A

Question 11

Neurons can get very old if they do not get damaged. How does the cell ensure that degraded proteins are replaced by new proteins everywhere in a neuron with many fine extended processes?

Accepted Answer

A)  By regulation of ubiquitination 
B)  By axonal transport 
C)  By regulation of gene expression 
D)  By endocytosis 
E)  By posttranslational modifications 
A)  By regulation of ubiquitination 
B)  By axonal transport 
C)  By regulation of gene expression 
D)  By endocytosis 
E)  By posttranslational modifications

Question 12

This technique allows measuring currents through single ion channels.

Accepted Answer

A)  Tungsten wire 
B)  Intracellular recording 
C)  Patch recording 
D)  Multi-electrode recording 
E)  Extracellular recording. 
A)  Tungsten wire 
B)  Intracellular recording 
C)  Patch recording 
D)  Multi-electrode recording 
E)  Extracellular recording.

Question 13

The adult mammalian central nervous system has very limited regeneration capability. This is one of the major challenges in the field of neuronal repair and regeneration. Can you provide some possible explanations for this limited regeneration potential?

Accepted Answer

Different possible explanations have bee

Question 14

The intracellular calcium concentration in neurons is

Accepted Answer

A)  0.0001 mM. 
B)  0.001 mM. 
C)  0.01 mM. 
D)  0.1 mM. 
E)  1 mM. 
A)  0.0001 mM. 
B)  0.001 mM. 
C)  0.01 mM. 
D)  0.1 mM. 
E)  1 mM.

Question 15

Which pair of cell types has the same precursor cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  Neuron and epithelial cell 
B)  Glial cell and fibroblast 
C)  Neuron and glial cell 
D)  Neuron and endothelial cell 
E)  Glial cell and leukocyte 
A)  Neuron and epithelial cell 
B)  Glial cell and fibroblast 
C)  Neuron and glial cell 
D)  Neuron and endothelial cell 
E)  Glial cell and leukocyte

Question 16

Which statement describes synaptic plasticity best?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ability to release different amounts of neurotransmitters 
B)  Ability to switch between excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials 
C)  Temporary changes in synaptic efficacy 
D)  Ability to release different types of neurotransmitters 
E)  Temporary changes in number of synapses 
A)  Ability to release different amounts of neurotransmitters 
B)  Ability to switch between excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials 
C)  Temporary changes in synaptic efficacy 
D)  Ability to release different types of neurotransmitters 
E)  Temporary changes in number of synapses

Question 17

The resting membrane potential of neurons is typically at

Accepted Answer

A)  -65 mV. 
B)  +65 mV. 
C)  -6 mV. 
D)  +6 mV. 
E)  -650 mV. 
A)  -65 mV. 
B)  +65 mV. 
C)  -6 mV. 
D)  +6 mV. 
E)  -650 mV.

Question 18

The adult human brain contains in average 1011 neurons making 1014 connections. The human genome has only about 24,000 genes. Even if 1000 genes would encode for axon guidance and synaptic targeting molecules, how is it possible to specify 1014 connections with only 103 genes?

Accepted Answer

There is clearly no possible synaptic ta

Question 19

Which of these proteins is not regulated by calcium?

Accepted Answer

A)  Calmodulin 
B)  Protein kinase C 
C)  Calpain 
D)  NCAM 
E)  Phospholipase C 
A)  Calmodulin 
B)  Protein kinase C 
C)  Calpain 
D)  NCAM 
E)  Phospholipase C

Question 20

The amplitude of the local graded potential is decreasing as the potential is spreading over the neuronal membrane because of the

Accepted Answer

A)  phospholipid bilayer. 
B)  presence of myelin sheaths. 
C)  presence of ion pumps in the plasma membrane. 
D)  presence of ion channels in the plasma membrane. 
E)  net negative charge inside the cell. 
A)  phospholipid bilayer. 
B)  presence of myelin sheaths. 
C)  presence of ion pumps in the plasma membrane. 
D)  presence of ion channels in the plasma membrane. 
E)  net negative charge inside the cell.

Exam 1: Principles of Signaling and Organization

In what order is visual information in the retina transmitted?

The typical order of events during nervous system development is

The signal intensity is encoded by which property of the action potential?

Neural precursor cells have which property?

Which molecular tools have been frequently used to analyze fate mapping in developing embryos?

Rods and cones are present in the retina layer that is

Do all neurons strictly follow the cellular organization with cell body, axon and dendrites? If not, please provide an example for a neuron that does not follow this basic organization.

Which of the features below distinguishes neurons from glial cells?

The neuronal connections in the nervous system can be

Which of the following molecules cannot be transmitted from one neuron to the next through an electrical synapse?

Neurons can get very old if they do not get damaged. How does the cell ensure that degraded proteins are replaced by new proteins everywhere in a neuron with many fine extended processes?

This technique allows measuring currents through single ion channels.

The adult mammalian central nervous system has very limited regeneration capability. This is one of the major challenges in the field of neuronal repair and regeneration. Can you provide some possible explanations for this limited regeneration potential?

The intracellular calcium concentration in neurons is

Which pair of cell types has the same precursor cell?

Which statement describes synaptic plasticity best?

The resting membrane potential of neurons is typically at

The adult human brain contains in average 1011 neurons making 1014 connections. The human genome has only about 24,000 genes. Even if 1000 genes would encode for axon guidance and synaptic targeting molecules, how is it possible to specify 1014 connections with only 103 genes?

Which of these proteins is not regulated by calcium?

The amplitude of the local graded potential is decreasing as the potential is spreading over the neuronal membrane because of the

Signaling in the Visual System

Functional Architecture of the Visual Cortex

Ion Channels and Signaling

Structure of Ion Channels

Ionic Basis of the Resting Potential

Ionic Basis of the Action Potential

Electrical Signaling in Neurons

Ion Transport Across Cell Membranes

Properties and Functions of Neuroglial Cells

Mechanisms of Direct Synaptic Transmission

Indirect Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Release of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters in the Central Nervous System

Transmitter Synthesis, Storage, Transport, and Inactivation

Synaptic Plasticity

The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Synaptic Plasticity

Mechanisms of Extrasynaptic Communication

Autonomic Nervous System

Walking, Flying, and Swimming: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Behavior in Invertebrates

Sensory Transduction

Transduction and Transmission in the Retina

Touch, Pain, and Texture Sensation

Auditory and Vestibular Sensation

Constructing Perception

Initiation and Control of Coordinated Muscular Movements

Development of the Nervous System

Critical Periods in Sensory Systems

Regeneration and Repair of Synaptic Connections After Injury

Appendix

Filters

The adult human brain contains in average 10¹¹ neurons making 10¹⁴connections. The human genome has only about 24,000 genes. Even if 1000 genes would encode for axon guidance and synaptic targeting molecules, how is it possible to specify 10¹⁴connections with only 10³genes?