Question 1

Neuroplasticity, or simply plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to:

Accepted Answer

A) generate new neurons. 
B) change function and structure. 
C) change structure but not function. 
D) change function but not structure. 
A) generate new neurons. 
B) change function and structure. 
C) change structure but not function. 
D) change function but not structure.

Question 2

The _____ is a network of neurons at the base of the brain that projects signals up to higher brain regions and down to the spinal cord, and regulates attention and sleep.

Accepted Answer

A) cerebellum 
B) hypothalamus 
C) reticular formation 
D) substantia nigra 
A) cerebellum 
B) hypothalamus 
C) reticular formation 
D) substantia nigra

Question 3

In studies with primates, specifically macaque monkeys, psychologist Elizabeth Gould and her colleagues found evidence:

Accepted Answer

A) of limited neurogenesis in brain stem structures but not in more sophisticated brain regions. 
B) for structural plasticity but not functional plasticity. 
C) that new neurons develop and migrate to multiple brain regions. 
D) for functional plasticity but not structural plasticity. 
A) of limited neurogenesis in brain stem structures but not in more sophisticated brain regions. 
B) for structural plasticity but not functional plasticity. 
C) that new neurons develop and migrate to multiple brain regions. 
D) for functional plasticity but not structural plasticity.

Question 4

The brain's ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged areas is called:

Accepted Answer

A) aphasia. 
B) neurogenesis. 
C) structural plasticity. 
D) functional plasticity. 
A) aphasia. 
B) neurogenesis. 
C) structural plasticity. 
D) functional plasticity.

Question 5

Synaptic vesicles contain:

Accepted Answer

A) hormones. 
B) ions. 
C) neurotransmitters. 
D) receptors. 
A) hormones. 
B) ions. 
C) neurotransmitters. 
D) receptors.

Question 6

Which gland produces melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) the pineal gland 
B) the pituitary gland 
C) the pancreas 
D) the thyroid gland 
A) the pineal gland 
B) the pituitary gland 
C) the pancreas 
D) the thyroid gland

Question 7

Psychologist Roger Sperry is best known for his:

Accepted Answer

A) discovery of neurogenesis in the brains of rats. 
B) case studies of stroke patients with language difficulties. 
C) studies of rats that were raised in "impoverished" versus "enriched" environments. 
D) studies of split-brain patients. 
A) discovery of neurogenesis in the brains of rats. 
B) case studies of stroke patients with language difficulties. 
C) studies of rats that were raised in "impoverished" versus "enriched" environments. 
D) studies of split-brain patients.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways discussed in the text that drugs can interfere with synaptic transmission?

Accepted Answer

A) by blocking a receptor site and preventing the neurotransmitter from acting 
B) by mimicking a particular neurotransmitter and producing the same effect 
C) by increasing the length of time a neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic gap, strengthening its effects 
D) by bonding with the neurotransmitter and changing its molecular weight and shape 
A) by blocking a receptor site and preventing the neurotransmitter from acting 
B) by mimicking a particular neurotransmitter and producing the same effect 
C) by increasing the length of time a neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic gap, strengthening its effects 
D) by bonding with the neurotransmitter and changing its molecular weight and shape

Question 9

A large bulk of the cerebral cortex is not devoted to any particular sensory or motor function. Rather, these areas, known as _____, are generally thought to be involved in processing and integrating sensory and motor information.

Accepted Answer

A) secondary cortex areas 
B) association areas 
C) the limbic system 
D) Broca's and Wernicke's areas 
A) secondary cortex areas 
B) association areas 
C) the limbic system 
D) Broca's and Wernicke's areas

Question 10

A neuron may have thousands of _____, but can have only one _____.

Accepted Answer

A) dendrites; axon 
B) cell bodies; dendrite 
C) axons; dendrite 
D) node of Ranvier; synaptic vesicle 
A) dendrites; axon 
B) cell bodies; dendrite 
C) axons; dendrite 
D) node of Ranvier; synaptic vesicle

Question 11

In what area of the adult primate brain have researchers found evidence of the growth of new neurons?

Accepted Answer

A) the pons 
B) the hippocampus 
C) the medulla 
D) the thalamus 
A) the pons 
B) the hippocampus 
C) the medulla 
D) the thalamus

Question 12

This drawing depicts the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex. Which letter points to the area where the signals for voluntary muscle movements are initiated?

Accepted Answer

A) frontal lobe and primary motor cortex 
B) somatosensory cortex 
C) primary visual cortex 
D) primary auditory cortex 
A) frontal lobe and primary motor cortex 
B) somatosensory cortex 
C) primary visual cortex 
D) primary auditory cortex

Question 13

The neurotransmitter called acetylcholine:

Accepted Answer

A) is found in all sensory neurons. 
B) is involved in muscle contractions and memory. 
C) causes hallucinations when present in excessive amounts. 
D) is chemically identical to heroin. 
A) is found in all sensory neurons. 
B) is involved in muscle contractions and memory. 
C) causes hallucinations when present in excessive amounts. 
D) is chemically identical to heroin.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) A given neuron can have thousands of synapses with other neurons. 
B) Some neurons can manufacture three or more different types of neurotransmitters. 
C) Synaptic vesicles are released into the synaptic gap, then "dock" with the adjoining neurons. 
D) It only takes a few millionths of a second for neurotransmitters to cross the synaptic gap. 
A) A given neuron can have thousands of synapses with other neurons. 
B) Some neurons can manufacture three or more different types of neurotransmitters. 
C) Synaptic vesicles are released into the synaptic gap, then "dock" with the adjoining neurons. 
D) It only takes a few millionths of a second for neurotransmitters to cross the synaptic gap.

Question 15

Diffusion spectrum imaging can produce three-dimensional images of the neural pathways that connect one part of the brain to another. These neural pathways, sometimes called tracts, are made up of:

Accepted Answer

A) cell bodies of neurons. 
B) astrocytes. 
C) dendrites of neurons. 
D) myelinated axons. 
A) cell bodies of neurons. 
B) astrocytes. 
C) dendrites of neurons. 
D) myelinated axons.

Question 16

Some native peoples of South America use the drug curare to poison the tips of their hunting arrows. When an animal is struck by the arrow it goes limp and quickly suffocates. Why?

Accepted Answer

A) Serotonin floods into the synaptic gap. 
B) Dopamine reuptake is blocked. 
C) Acetylcholine receptor sites are blocked. 
D) Endorphin receptor sites are destroyed. 
A) Serotonin floods into the synaptic gap. 
B) Dopamine reuptake is blocked. 
C) Acetylcholine receptor sites are blocked. 
D) Endorphin receptor sites are destroyed.

Question 17

Researchers using PET scans to study the opioid system in long-distance runners are likely to find increased brain levels of _____ following a long run.

Accepted Answer

A) pepsin 
B) endorphins 
C) prolactin 
D) insulin 
A) pepsin 
B) endorphins 
C) prolactin 
D) insulin

Question 18

The hypothalamus exerts control over the endocrine system by directly triggering activity in the:

Accepted Answer

A) amygdala. 
B) thyroid. 
C) pituitary gland. 
D) hippocampus. 
A) amygdala. 
B) thyroid. 
C) pituitary gland. 
D) hippocampus.

Question 19

The idea that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain is called:

Accepted Answer

A) cortical localization. 
B) lateralization of function. 
C) functional plasticity. 
D) structural plasticity. 
A) cortical localization. 
B) lateralization of function. 
C) functional plasticity. 
D) structural plasticity.

Question 20

Randy exercises more than most people and continues to train even when he has a cold or an injury. His friends joke that Randy seems addicted to exercise. Randy's compulsive exercising:

Accepted Answer

A) may be due to the involvement of his brain's opioid system and the production of endorphins. 
B) is a definite indicator of decreased levels of dopamine and increased risk of Parkinson's disease. 
C) may be due to the involvement of his limbic system and the production of acetylcholine by his adrenal glands. 
D) is a definite indicator of the overproduction of dopamine and an increased risk of schizophrenia. 
A) may be due to the involvement of his brain's opioid system and the production of endorphins. 
B) is a definite indicator of decreased levels of dopamine and increased risk of Parkinson's disease. 
C) may be due to the involvement of his limbic system and the production of acetylcholine by his adrenal glands. 
D) is a definite indicator of the overproduction of dopamine and an increased risk of schizophrenia.

Exam 2: Section 2: Neuroscience and Behavior

Neuroplasticity, or simply plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to:

The _____ is a network of neurons at the base of the brain that projects signals up to higher brain regions and down to the spinal cord, and regulates attention and sleep.

In studies with primates, specifically macaque monkeys, psychologist Elizabeth Gould and her colleagues found evidence:

The brain's ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged areas is called:

Synaptic vesicles contain:

Which gland produces melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle?

Psychologist Roger Sperry is best known for his:

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways discussed in the text that drugs can interfere with synaptic transmission?

A large bulk of the cerebral cortex is not devoted to any particular sensory or motor function. Rather, these areas, known as _____, are generally thought to be involved in processing and integrating sensory and motor information.

A neuron may have thousands of _____, but can have only one _____.

In what area of the adult primate brain have researchers found evidence of the growth of new neurons?

This drawing depicts the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex. Which letter points to the area where the signals for voluntary muscle movements are initiated?

The neurotransmitter called acetylcholine:

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Diffusion spectrum imaging can produce three-dimensional images of the neural pathways that connect one part of the brain to another. These neural pathways, sometimes called tracts, are made up of:

Some native peoples of South America use the drug curare to poison the tips of their hunting arrows. When an animal is struck by the arrow it goes limp and quickly suffocates. Why?

Researchers using PET scans to study the opioid system in long-distance runners are likely to find increased brain levels of _____ following a long run.

The hypothalamus exerts control over the endocrine system by directly triggering activity in the:

The idea that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain is called:

Randy exercises more than most people and continues to train even when he has a cold or an injury. His friends joke that Randy seems addicted to exercise. Randy's compulsive exercising:

Section 1: Introduction and Research Methods

Section 2: Introduction and Research Methods

Section 3: Introduction and Research Methods

Section 4: Introduction and Research Methods

Section 5: Introduction and Research Methods

Section 1: Neuroscience and Behavior

Section 3: Neuroscience and Behavior

Section 4: Neuroscience and Behavior

Section 5: Neuroscience and Behavior

Section 1: Sensation and Perception

Section 2: Sensation and Perception

Section 3: Sensation and Perception

Section 4: Sensation and Perception

Section 5: Sensation and Perception

Section 1: Consciousness and Its Variations

Section 2: Consciousness and Its Variations

Section 3: Consciousness and Its Variations

Section 4: Consciousness and Its Variations

Section 5: Consciousness and Its Variations

Section 1: Learning

Section 2: Learning

Section 3: Learning

Section 4: Learning

Section 5: Learning

Section 1: Memory

Section 2: Memory

Section 3: Memory

Section 4: Memory

Section 5: Memory

Section 1: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Section 2: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Section 3: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Section 4: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Section 5: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Section 1: Motivation and Emotion

Section 2: Motivation and Emotion

Section 3: Motivation and Emotion

Section 4: Motivation and Emotion

Section 5: Motivation and Emotion

Section 1: Lifespan Development

Section 2: Lifespan Development

Section 3: Lifespan Development

Section 4: Lifespan Development

Section 5: Lifespan Development

Section 1: Personality

Section 2: Personality

Section 3: Personality

Section 4: Personality

Section 5: Personality

Section 1: Social Psychology

Section 2: Social Psychology

Section 3: Social Psychology

Section 4: Social Psychology

Section 5: Social Psychology

Section 1: Stress, Health, and Coping

Section 2: Stress, Health, and Coping

Section 3: Stress, Health, and Coping

Section 4: Stress, Health, and Coping

Section 5: Stress, Health, and Coping

A neuron may have thousands of _, but can have only one _.