Deck 3: Biological Foundations of Behaviour

Question 1

The rapid shift of the neuron's electrical potential from -70 millivolts to +40 millivolts is called:

A) polarization.
B) an action potential.
C) a resting potential.
D) hyperpolarization.

Answer 1

an action potential.

Question 2

The Branchlike fibers that collect messages from the adjacent neurons and pass them along to the cell body of the receiving neuron are called ________________.

A) axons
B) potentials
C) dendrites
D) neurotransmitters

Answer 2

dendrites

Question 3

Neurons have three main parts,they are the:

A) cell membrane,soma,axon.
B) soma,myelin sheath,axon terminal.
C) soma,dendrites,myelin sheath.
D) dendrites,axon,soma.

Answer 3

dendrites,axon,soma.

Question 4

When the myelin coating is damaged,the:

A) neurons are not capable of an action potential.
B) timing of nerve impulses to the muscles is interrupted.
C) chemical transmission stops.
D) person cannot think.

Question 5

The division of the axon into many branches (several hundreds in some cases)with endings makes it possible for a single neuron to connect to the dendrites of as many as 50,000 other neurons.These endings are called:

A) cell bodies
B) dendrites
C) axon terminals
D) glial cells

Question 6

Axon is to dendrite as:

A) anion is to graded potential.
B) send is to receive.
C) polarize is to depolarize.
D) resting potential is to action potential.

Question 7

One of the functions of _____________ is to surround neurons and hold them in place.

A) axons
B) axon terminals
C) glial cells
D) cell bodies

Question 8

The dendrite's function is to:

A) receive information from the cell body and send these chemical messages to neighbouring neurons.
B) conduct electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons,muscles,or glands.
C) receive incoming chemical messages from neighboring neurons and send them on to the cell body.
D) combine and process incoming information.

Question 9

Which of the following represents the normal order of activation in neuronal transmission?

A) Axon → dendrites → soma → axon terminals
B) Axon terminals → soma → axon → dendrite
C) Dendrite → axon terminal → soma → axon
D) Dendrite → soma → axon → axon terminal

Question 10

The overall charge inside a resting neuron is:

A) positive.
B) neutral.
C) negative.
D) not determined without more information.

Question 11

The nucleus of the neuron and the biochemical structures needed for cell survival are contained in the:

A) axon.
B) cell body.
C) dendrites.
D) myelin sheath.

Question 12

When a neuron is stimulated,tiny protein structures embedded in the cell membrane are activated and allow specific ions to cross the cell membrane,thus changing the overall potential of the neuron.These tiny protein structures are called _____________.

A) ion channels
B) action potentials
C) neurotransmitters
D) glial cells

Question 13

Shortly after a neural impulse has been triggered,for a brief period of time,the neuron is not excitable and cannot fire another impulse.This is called _____________.

A) action potential
B) resting potential
C) absolute refractory period
D) depolarization period

Question 14

The basic building blocks of the nervous system are specialized cells called:

A) neurons.
B) nerves.
C) hormones.
D) dendrites.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Glial cells outnumber neurons about 10 to 1.
B) Glial cells outnumber neurons about 1000 to 1.
C) Neurons outnumber glial cells about 10 to 1.
D) Neurons outnumber glial cells about 1000 to 1.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a function of glial cells?

A) Surround neurons and hold them in place.
B) Manufacture nutrient chemicals that neurons need.
C) Send and receive nerve impulses.
D) Provide sanitizing functions such as absorbing toxins and waste materials.

Question 17

The all-or-none law of neural conduction suggests that:

A) all neurons have action potential thresholds but none of them are the same threshold.
B) if the action potential threshold is just met,a weak action potential will occur whereas if the action potential threshold is exceeded,a more intense action potential will occur.
C) once the action potential threshold is met an action potential of uniform and maximum intensity occurs.
D) once an action potential has occurred the neuron will either take all or none of the refractory period time before firing another action potential.

Question 18

Small variable changes in the electrical potential of a neuron that occur in the dendrites and cell body are called:

A) resting potentials.
B) action potentials.
C) graded potentials.
D) polarized potentials.

Question 19

A neuron's action potential is also known as a(n):

A) graded potential.
B) ion potential.
C) refractory period.
D) nerve impulse.

Question 20

The threshold that must be reached to trigger an action potential in most neurons is:

A) -70 millivolts.
B) -50 millivolts.
C) -40 millivolts.
D) +40 millivolts.

Question 21

Neurotransmitters that increase the negative potential of a neuron are specifically called:

A) excitatory neurotransmitters.
B) inhibitory neurotransmitters.
C) graded potentials.
D) action potentials.

Question 22

Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to the ___________ of neighboring neurons in a lock and key fashion.

A) cell bodies
B) axon terminals
C) synaptic vesicles
D) receptor sites

Question 23

The synapse is a:

A) location in the neuron where neurotransmitters are packaged into vesicles.
B) tiny area on the tip of the dendrite of the next neuron.
C) large area where neurotransmitters are released.
D) tiny gap between the axon terminal of a neuron and the dendrite of the next neuron.

Question 24

The chemical substances that neurons produce which carry messages across the synapse to the other neurons are called _______________.

A) neurotransmitters
B) action potentials
C) graded potentials
D) hormones

Question 25

Neurotransmitters are synthesized and then stored in small sacs of membrane called:

A) synaptic vesicles.
B) synaptic cleft.
C) soma.
D) receptor ions.

Question 26

Any drug that inhibits or decreases the effect of a neurotransmitter is called a(n)________________.

A) antagonist
B) antigen
C) agonist
D) neuromodulator

Question 27

Neurotransmitters that are ______________ can generate ______________.

A) inhibitory;an action potential
B) inhibitory;a graded potential
C) excitatory;an action potential
D) excitatory;hyperpolarization

Question 28

The process in which neurotransmitters are deactivated when they are taken back into the presynaptic axon terminal is called:

A) restoring.
B) regeneration.
C) recycling.
D) reuptake.

Question 29

An agonist is a(n):

A) excitatory neurotransmitter.
B) drug that decreases the activity of a neurotransmitter.
C) inhibitory neurotransmitter.
D) drug that increases the activity of a neurotransmitter.

Question 30

In neurotransmission at the synapse,after a neurotransmitter is released it diffuses across the synaptic cleft and:

A) attaches to receptor sites on the receiving cell.
B) continues traveling down the axon of the next neuron as an action potential.
C) never actually touches the receiving neuron but acts as a stepping stone for the action potential to skip across the gap and keep traveling down the next neuron.
D) uses ion channels to enter the next neuron.

Question 31

In terms of the speed of neural communication,comparing an axon with myelin to an axon without myelin is most like comparing:

A) a race car to a bicycle.
B) a telephone to a pager.
C) electricity to natural gas.
D) a doctor to a lawyer.

Question 32

Large protein molecules embedded in the receiving neuron's cell membrane are called:

A) synapses.
B) receptor sites.
C) synaptic vesicles.
D) dendrites.

Question 33

Agonist is to antagonist as:

A) help is to assist
B) decrease is to increase
C) facilitate is to hinder
D) hinder is to impede

Question 34

The order of the five steps of chemical communication is:

A) synthesis,storage,release,binding,& deactivation.
B) storage,synthesis,binding,release,& deactivation.
C) release,synthesis,binding,storage,& deactivation.
D) synthesis,release,storage,binding,& deactivation.

Question 35

In this stage of the chemical communication process,neurotransmitters attach themselves to receptor sites on the postsynaptic neurons.This stage is called _______________.

A) synthesis
B) storage
C) release
D) binding

Question 36

Black widow spider's venom acts as a(n)_____________ for acetylcholine (ACh)and results in violent muscle contractions,convulsions,and possible death.

A) deactivator
B) agonist
C) antagonist
D) neuromodulators

Question 37

The tiny gap between the axon terminal of a neuron and the dendrite of the next neuron is called the:

A) receptor site.
B) cleft.
C) synapse.
D) dendrite.

Question 38

Botulism,a serious type of food poisoning,acts as a(n)____________ for acetylcholine (ACh)and results in potentially fatal paralysis of the muscles.

A) deactivator
B) agonist
C) antagonist
D) neuromodulators

Question 39

Neurotransmitters that increase the postsynaptic neuron's negative potential are called:

A) excitatory transmitters.
B) inhibitory transmitters.
C) receptor sites.
D) synaptic vesicles.

Question 40

When the resting potential of a neuron becomes more positive (e.g. ,goes from -70 millivolts to -63 millivolts),this is referred to as:

A) inhibition.
B) depolarization.
C) hyperpolarization.
D) an action potential.

Question 41

In the human body,which nervous system is responsible for activating the body for such things as the fight-or-flight response?

A) autonomic
B) somatic
C) sympathetic
D) parasympathetic

Question 42

Jon hears his phone ring and reaches out his hand to answer it.Which type of neurons did Jon use to input the sound of the phone?

A) interneurons
B) sensory neurons
C) exoneurons
D) motor neurons

Question 43

An agonist can produce its effects by each of these EXCEPT:

A) binding with and stimulating postsynaptic receptor sites.
B) enhancing a neuron's ability to synthesize,store,or release neurotransmitters.
C) making it more difficult for neurotransmitters to be deactivated.
D) reducing a neuron's ability to synthesize,sore or release neurotransmitters.

Question 44

Caffeine is a stimulant drug that increases the activity of neurons and other cells by:

A) increasing GABA activity.
B) reducing adenosine activity.
C) serving as an agonist for the transmitter adenosine.
D) serving as an antagonist for the transmitter GABA.

Question 45

Which of the following best captures the association between acetylcholine and nicotine? They are like __________________________.

A) the opposite sides of a teeter-totter
B) two extremely different personalities existing in the same person
C) two keys that fit in and open the same door lock
D) the brake pedal and gas pedal of a car

Question 46

Which division of the nervous system is responsible for respiration,blood circulation,and digestion as well as motivation,emotional behaviour,and stress response?

A) autonomic nervous system
B) somatic nervous system
C) parasympathetic nervous system
D) sympathetic nervous system

Question 47

A neuron sends an action potential to the muscle that contracts your eyelid.This neuron would be classified as a(n)__________________ neuron.

A) excitatory
B) action
C) sensory
D) motor

Question 48

Alcohol is a(n):

A) depressant with both agonist and antagonist effects.
B) stimulant that increases the activity of neurons.
C) antagonist of GABA.
D) agonist of glutamate.

Question 49

An antagonist can produce its effects by:

A) reducing a neuron's ability to synthesize,store,or release neurotransmitters.
B) binding with and stimulating postsynaptic receptor sites.
C) making deactivation more difficult.
D) increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter.

Question 50

The division of the peripheral nervous system that senses the body's internal functions and controls the glands and the smooth muscles is called the _______________________ nervous system.

A) parasympathetic
B) sympathetic
C) somatic
D) autonomic

Question 51

If the nervous system is like a car,then the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system would be most like the:

A) steering wheel and the engine.
B) gas pedal and the brake pedal.
C) taillights and the headlights.
D) front seat and the back seat.

Question 52

The number of interneurons is ____________ other types of neurons.

A) much more than
B) much less than
C) about the same as
D) insignificant compared to the

Question 53

The function of the interneurons is to:

A) carry information from the sense organs to the brain or spinal cord.
B) carry information from the brain and spinal cord to various muscles or organs.
C) perform all neural functions except the sensory and motor functions in the nervous system.
D) connect neurons with glial cells.

Question 54

Jon hears his phone ring and reaches out his hand to answer it.Which type of neurons did Jon use to move his hand?

A) interneurons
B) sensory neurons
C) exoneurons
D) motor neurons

Question 55

Interneuron is to motor neuron as:

A) higher mental function is to muscle contraction.
B) paralysis is to muscle contraction.
C) higher mental function is to sensation.
D) sensation is to higher mental function.

Question 56

Cocaine and amphetamines are similar in that they both:

A) decrease levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
B) are considered to be antagonistic drugs for dopamine.
C) increase levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
D) achieve their effects by inhibiting reuptake.

Question 57

The somatic nervous system is responsible for:

A) slowing down the body and keeping it calm.
B) involuntary functions such as circulation and digestion.
C) the fight-or-flight response.
D) voluntary motor movements and receiving sensory signals.

Question 58

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems play complementary roles in maintaining a balanced and constant internal state called __________.

A) metasynthesis
B) homeostasis
C) neural plasticity
D) resting potential

Question 59

Which of the following drugs is considered to be an agonist for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine?

A) alcohol
B) amphetamines
C) caffeine
D) nicotine

Question 60

The type of neuron that carries input messages from the sense organs to the central nervous system is called the ___________.

A) interneuron
B) sensory neuron
C) exoneuron
D) motor neuron

Question 61

The structure of the human brain can be said to mirror evolutionary development because the:

A) older structures of the human brain are responsible for the more complex brain functions,such as thinking and creativity.
B) more recently developed structures of the brain are responsible for the basic life functions,such as breathing and heart rate.
C) more recently developed brain structures are built atop the older brain structures.
D) older brain structures are built atop the more recently developed brain structures.

Question 62

During brain surgery,a physician places a small electrode on the patient's exposed cerebral cortex.Although the patient is anesthetized,he is still conscious and the physician asks him to report what he experiences when different parts of the brain are electrically activated.This physician is using which method of studying the relation between the brain and behaviour?

A) neuropsychological tests
B) stimulation technique
C) brain imaging
D) electrical recording

Question 63

A primary advantage of spinal reflexes appears to be that the reaction times are reduced because the ________________.

A) spinal reflexes are routed through the central nervous system
B) spinal reflexes are NOT routed through the brain
C) neurons responsible for these reflexes need no neurotransmitters
D) neurons responsible for these reflexes have no myelin

Question 64

The use of highly concentrated X-rays to take pictures of narrow slices of the brain is called a ______ scan.

A) PET
B) CT
C) MRI
D) fMRI

Question 65

You are walking down a dark hallway and your friend jumps out to startle you.Which division of the autonomic nervous system will be activated?

A) somatic nervous system
B) peripheral nervous system
C) parasympathetic nervous system
D) sympathetic nervous system

Question 66

Which of the following measures how atoms in living tissue respond to a magnetic pulse?

A) MRI
B) EEG
C) CT scan
D) PET scan

Question 67

To study the function of a brain area,researchers can damage that part of the brain and then observe resulting behavioural changes.This technique is called:

A) stimulation.
B) tomography.
C) lesioning.
D) cannulation.

Question 68

If you accidentally grab the handle of a hot pan,your sensory nerves will trigger:

A) a nerve impulse to your spinal cord.You will immediately pull your hand from the hot handle but that message will never be sent on to your brain.
B) a nerve impulse to your brain.You will pull your hand from the hot handle once your brain processes that information,which takes less than half of a second.
C) a nerve impulse to your wrist.You will pull your hand from the hot handle but the message will not be sent to your central nervous system.
D) simultaneous nerve impulses to your spinal cord and brain.However,you will pull your hand from the hot handle without the nerve impulse having to be processed in your brain.

Question 69

CT scans,PET scans,and MRIs are all similar in that they all can:

A) be classified as brain stimulation techniques.
B) be used to capture brain activity.
C) be classified as brain imaging techniques.
D) make use of various types of X-rays to create images of the brain.

Question 70

The electroencephalogram (EEG)was discussed as an example of which method of assessing the relation between the brain and behaviour?

A) brain imaging
B) neuropsychological tests
C) electrical recording
D) destruction and stimulation techniques

Question 71

As you enter the classroom to take the exam covering this material,your heart rate increases,your muscles become tenser,and you start to sweat.These symptoms are most likely produced by your _____________________ system.

A) somatic nervous
B) immune
C) parasympathetic nervous
D) sympathetic nervous

Question 72

Which technique produces the most detailed,coloured images of the brain and can be used to study both brain structure and brain activity?

A) Computerized axial tomography (CT)scans
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Positron emission tomography (PET)scans
D) Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 73

A CT scan is to a PET scan as brain:

A) activity is to brain structure.
B) structure is to brain activity.
C) damage is to brain stimulation.
D) stimulation is to brain damage.

Question 74

The main purpose of spinal reflexes is to:

A) respond to immediate situations using cognition.
B) respond to prolonged situations.
C) reduce reaction time.
D) inhibit pain and fear.

Question 75

Which technique uses a harmless form of radioactive glucose to measure brain activity,including metabolism,blood flow,and neurotransmitter activity?

A) Computerized axial tomography (CAT)scans
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Positron emission tomography (PET)scans
D) Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 76

You are a physiological psychologist who wishes to record changes in neural activity within specific brain areas while people perform a learning task.Which brain imaging method would you find most useful in recording ongoing changes?

A) fMRI
B) CT scan
C) EEG
D) a neuropsychological test

Question 77

Brain functions,including memory,planning,and attention,can be measured using ___________,which assesses verbal and non-verbal behaviours to provide clinical evaluations of individuals.

A) neuropsychological tests
B) stimulation techniques
C) electrical recording
D) brain imaging

Question 78

In the human body,which nervous system is responsible for calming and slowing down the body processes?

A) Somatic
B) Parasympathetic
C) Sympathetic
D) Autonomic

Question 79

Which technique measures the activity of thousands of neurons in many parts of the brain and produces a graph with patterns corresponding to the states of consciousness?

A) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
B) Computerized axial tomography (CT)scans
C) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
D) Neuropsychological evaluations

Question 80

You are walking down a dark hallway and your friend jumps out to startle you.Afterward,you calm down and return to homeostasis.Which division of the autonomic nervous system calms your body down?

A) sympathetic nervous system
B) parasympathetic nervous system
C) peripheral nervous system
D) somatic nervous system