Deck 4: Neural and Hormonal Systems

Question 1

The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine ________ blood pressure and _______ blood sugar levels.

A) raises; raises
B) lowers; lowers
C) raises; lowers
D) lowers; raises

Answer 1

raises; raises

Question 2

Heartbeat, digestion, and other self-regulating bodily functions are governed by the

A) voluntary nervous system.
B) autonomic nervous system.
C) sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
D) somatic nervous system.

Answer 2

autonomic nervous system.

Question 3

An axon transmits messages ________ the cell body and a dendrite transmits messages ________ the cell body.

A) away from; toward
B) away from; away from
C) toward; away from
D) toward; toward

Answer 3

away from; toward

Question 4

Depressed mood states are linked to ________ levels of serotonin and ________ levels of norepinephrine.

A) low; low
B) high; high
C) low; high
D) high; low

Question 5

Which is the correct sequence in the transmission of a simple reflex?

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

Question 6

The pain of heroin withdrawal may be attributable to the fact that

A) under the influence of heroin the brain ceases production of endorphins.
B) under the influence of heroin the brain ceases production of all neurotransmitters.
C) during heroin withdrawal the brain's production of all neurotransmitters is greatly increased.
D) heroin destroys endorphin receptors in the brain.

Question 7

A neuron is best described as a(n)

A) ion.
B) cell.
C) sheath.
D) molecule.

Question 8

Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin will thereby increase the concentration of serotonin molecules in the

A) axon terminals.
B) synaptic gaps.
C) cell bodies.
D) endocrine glands.

Question 9

The axons of certain neurons are covered by a layer of fatty tissue that helps speed neural transmission. This tissue is

A) dopamine.
B) the myelin sheath.
C) acetylcholine.
D) an endorphin.

Question 10

Which hormone enables contractions associated with birthing and milk flow during nursing?

A) insulin
B) cortisol
C) oxytocin
D) epinephrine

Question 11

The effect of a drug that is an antagonist is to

A) cause the brain to stop producing certain neurotransmitters.
B) mimic a particular neurotransmitter.
C) block a particular neurotransmitter.
D) disrupt a neuron's all-or-none firing pattern.

Question 12

While listening to operatic solos, musicians process the lyrics and the tunes in separate brain areas. This most clearly illustrates the functioning of different

A) neurotransmitters.
B) parathyroids.
C) neural networks.
D) synapses.

Question 13

Natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control are called

A) ACh agonists.
B) dendrites.
C) morphene antagonists.
D) endorphins.

Question 14

The peripheral nervous system consists of

A) interneurons.
B) the spinal cord.
C) endocrine glands.
D) sensory and motor neurons.

Question 15

Botox injections smooth facial wrinkles because botulin is a(n)

A) ACh antagonist.
B) dopamine antagonist.
C) ACh agonist.
D) dopamine agonist.

Question 16

Although Ron has no genital sensations, he is capable of an erection if his genitals are stimulated. Ron's experience is most indicative of a

A) morphine antagonist.
B) severed spinal cord.
C) synaptic gap.
D) all-or-none response.

Question 17

A strong stimulus can increase the

A) speed of the impulse the neuron fires.
B) intensity of the impulse the neuron fires.
C) number of times the neuron fires.
D) threshold that must be reached before the neuron fires.

Question 18

The endocrine system consists of

A) myelin sheaths.
B) neural networks.
C) interneurons.
D) glands.

Question 19

To excite or inhibit an action potential in a receiving neuron, a neurotransmitter must cross the

A) axon.
B) synaptic gap.
C) myelin sheath.
D) endocrine glands.

Question 20

The autonomic nervous system most directly controls

A) speech production.
B) thinking and memory.
C) movement of the arms and legs.
D) bladder contractions.

Question 21

Which of the following are governed by the simplest neural pathways?

A) emotions
B) physiological drives, such as hunger
C) reflexes
D) movements, such as walking

Question 22

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are ________ that are released by the ________ gland.

A) neurotransmitters; pituitary
B) hormones; pituitary
C) neurotransmitters; thyroid
D) hormones; adrenal

Question 23

Melissa has just completed running a marathon. She is so elated that she feels little fatigue or discomfort. Her lack of pain is probably the result of the release of

A) ACh.
B) endorphins.
C) dopamine.
D) norepinephrine.

Question 24

Although phrenology incorrectly suggested that bumps on the skull revealed a person's character traits, phrenology did succeed in focusing attention on

A) synaptic gaps.
B) action potentials.
C) the localization of function.
D) endorphins.

Question 25

Voluntary movements, such as writing with a pencil, are directed by the

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

Question 26

I am a relatively fast-acting chemical messenger that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. What am I?

A) acetylcholine
B) dopamine
C) norepinephrine
D) serotonin

Question 27

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands are called

A) agonists.
B) neurotransmitters.
C) hormones.
D) enzymes.

Question 28

Which is the correct sequence in the transmission of a neural impulse?

A) axon, dendrite, cell body, synapse
B) dendrite, axon, cell body, synapse
C) synapse, axon, dendrite, cell body
D) dendrite, cell body, axon, synapse

Question 29

Dr. Hernandez is studying neurotransmitter abnormalities in depressed patients. She would most likely be working from a ________ perspective.

A) personality
B) phrenologist
C) psychoanalyst
D) biological

Question 30

The myelin sheath that is on some neurons

A) increases the speed of neural transmission.
B) slows neural transmission.
C) regulates the release of neurotransmitters.
D) prevents positive ions from passing through the membrane.

Question 31

The effect of a drug that is an agonist is to

A) cause the brain to stop producing certain neurotransmitters.
B) mimic a particular neurotransmitter.
C) block a particular neurotransmitter.
D) disrupt a neuron's all-or-none firing pattern.

Question 32

A focus on the links between brain activity and behavior is most characteristic of psychologists who work from a ________ perspective.

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive
C) behavioral
D) biological

Question 33

Phrenology highlighted the presumed functions of

A) specific brain regions.
B) synaptic gaps.
C) endorphins.
D) the myelin sheath.

Question 34

In a resting state, the axon is

A) depolarized, with mostly negatively charged ions outside and positively charged ions inside.
B) depolarized, with mostly positively charged ions outside and negatively charged ions inside.
C) polarized, with mostly negatively charged ions outside and positively charged ions inside.
D) polarized, with mostly positively charged ions outside and negatively charged ions inside.

Question 35

The person most likely to suggest that the shape of a person's skull indicates the extent to which that individual is argumentative and aggressive would be a

A) neurologist.
B) behavior geneticist.
C) psychoanalyst.
D) phrenologist.

Question 36

A neuron will generate action potentials when it

A) remains below its threshold.
B) receives an excitatory input.
C) receives more excitatory than inhibitory inputs.
D) is stimulated by a neurotransmitter.

Question 37

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) is most likely to be found

A) at the junction between sensory neurons and muscle fibers.
B) at the junction between motor neurons and muscle fibers.
C) at junctions between interneurons.
D) in all of these locations.

Question 38

In the brain, learning occurs as experience strengthens certain connections in cell work groups called

A) action potentials.
B) neural networks.
C) endocrine systems.
D) dendrites.

Question 39

The gland that regulates body growth is the

A) adrenal.
B) thyroid.
C) hypothalamus.
D) pituitary.

Question 40

When Sandy scalded her toe in a tub of hot water, the pain message was carried to her spinal cord by the ________ nervous system.

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

Question 41

Dr. Wolski conducts research on the potential relationship between neurotransmitter deficiencies and mood states. Dr. Wolski's research focus is most characteristic of

A) phrenology.
B) the biological perspective.
C) psychoanalysis.
D) social psychology.

Question 42

The longest part of a motor neuron is likely to be the

A) dendrite.
B) axon.
C) cell body.
D) synapse.

Question 43

A slap on the back is more painful than a pat on the back because a slap triggers

A) the release of endorphins.
B) more intense neural impulses.
C) the release of GABA.
D) more neurons to fire, and to fire more often.

Question 44

An action potential is generated by the movement of

A) nerves.
B) hormones.
C) vesicles.
D) ions.

Question 45

The resting potential of an axon results from the fact that an axon membrane is

A) encased by a myelin sheath.
B) selectively permeable.
C) sensitive to neurotransmitter molecules.
D) part of a larger neural network.

Question 46

To fully appreciate the interaction of neural activity, mental processes, and the functioning of human communities, it is most necessary to recognize that people are

A) consciously aware.
B) morally accountable.
C) biopsychosocial systems.
D) products of multiple neural networks.

Question 47

Dendrites are branching extensions of

A) neurotransmitters.
B) endorphins.
C) neurons.
D) glutamate.

Question 48

With regard to the process of neural transmission, a refractory period refers to a time interval in which

A) a neuron fires more rapidly than usual.
B) an electrical charge travels from a sensory neuron to a motor neuron.
C) positively charged ions are pumped back outside a neural membrane.
D) an individual reflexively withdraws from a pain stimulus.

Question 49

Sir Charles Sherrington observed that impulses took an unexpectedly long time to travel a neural pathway. His observation provided evidence for the existence of

A) antagonists.
B) synaptic gaps.
C) interneurons.
D) neural networks.

Question 50

In transmitting sensory information to the brain, an electrical signal travels from the ________ of a single neuron.

A) dendrites to the axon to the cell body
B) axon to the cell body to the dendrites
C) dendrites to the cell body to the axon
D) axon to the dendrites to the cell body

Question 51

Increasing excitatory signals above the threshold for neural activation will not affect the intensity of an action potential. This indicates that a neuron's reaction is

A) inhibited by the myelin sheath.
B) delayed by the refractory period.
C) an all-or-none response.
D) dependent on neurotransmitter molecules.

Question 52

The speed at which a neural impulse travels is increased when the axon is encased by a(n)

A) association area.
B) myelin sheath.
C) glial cell.
D) synaptic vesicle.

Question 53

The minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse is called the

A) reflex.
B) threshold.
C) synapse.
D) action potential.

Question 54

Neural stimulation that exceeds a threshold triggers

A) a fight-or-flight response.
B) a refractory period.
C) an action potential.
D) a neural network.

Question 55

A psychologist working from the biological perspective would be most interested in conducting research on the relationship between

A) neurotransmitters and depression.
B) skull shape and bone density.
C) self-esteem and popularity.
D) genetics and eye color.

Question 56

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron is called the

A) synapse.
B) agonist.
C) action potential.
D) refractory period.

Question 57

Degeneration of the myelin sheath results in

A) reflexes.
B) multiple sclerosis.
C) the fight-or-flight response.
D) an action potential.

Question 58

The function of dendrites is to

A) receive incoming signals from other neurons.
B) release neurotransmitters into the spatial junctions between neurons.
C) coordinate the activation of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
D) control pain through the release of opiatelike chemicals into the brain.

Question 59

The depolarization of a neural membrane can create a(n)

A) action potential.
B) myelin sheath.
C) neural network.
D) interneuron.

Question 60

An axon is

A) a cell that serves as the basic building block of the nervous system.
B) a layer of fatty tissue that encases the fibers of many neurons.
C) an antagonist molecule that blocks neurotransmitter receptor sites.
D) the extension of a neuron that carries messages away from the cell body.

Question 61

An undersupply of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter known as ________ is linked to seizures.

A) glutamate
B) GABA
C) serotonin
D) ACh

Question 62

Neurotransmitters are released from vesicles located on knoblike terminals at the end of the

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

Question 63

Alzheimer's disease is most closely linked to the deterioration of neurons that produce

A) dopamine.
B) acetylcholine.
C) epinephrine.
D) endorphins.

Question 64

An undersupply of serotonin is most closely linked to

A) Alzheimer's disease.
B) schizophrenia.
C) Parkinson's disease.
D) depression.

Question 65

Endorphins are

A) neurotransmitters.
B) sex hormones.
C) endocrine glands.
D) morphine antagonists.

Question 66

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that

A) causes sleepiness.
B) lessens physical pain.
C) reduces depressed moods.
D) triggers muscle contractions.

Question 67

Opiate drugs occupy the same receptor sites as

A) serotonin.
B) endorphins.
C) dopamine.
D) epinephrine.

Question 68

Reuptake refers to the

A) movement of neurotransmitter molecules across a synaptic gap.
B) release of hormones into the bloodstream.
C) inflow of positively charged ions through an axon membrane.
D) reabsorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by a sending neuron.

Question 69

A drug that mimics the effects of a particular neurotransmitter is called a(n)

A) glutamate.
B) steroid.
C) agonist.
D) opiate.

Question 70

Curare is a paralyzing poison that functions as a(n)

A) ACh agonist.
B) GABA agonist.
C) ACh antagonist.
D) GABA antagonist.

Question 71

José has just played a long, bruising football game but feels little fatigue or discomfort. His lack of pain is most likely caused by the release of

A) glutamate.
B) dopamine.
C) acetylcholine.
D) endorphins.

Question 72

Jason's intensely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms following heroin use were probably due in part to a reduction in his body's normal production of

A) dopamine.
B) epinephrine.
C) acetylcholine.
D) endorphins.

Question 73

Botulin poisoning from improperly canned food causes paralysis by blocking the release of

A) endorphins.
B) epinephrine.
C) acetylcholine.
D) dopamine.

Question 74

The chemical messengers released into the spatial junctions between neurons are called

A) hormones.
B) neurotransmitters.
C) synapses.
D) genes.

Question 75

Endorphin agonists are likely to _______ one's immediate pain, and endorphin antagonists are likely to _______ one's immediate pain.

A) decrease; increase
B) increase; decrease
C) increase; increase
D) decrease; decrease

Question 76

Schizophrenia is most closely linked with excess receptor activity for the neurotransmitter

A) dopamine.
B) epinephrine.
C) acetylcholine.
D) serotonin.

Question 77

Botulin blocks the release of ACH. Botulin is best described as a(n)

A) opiate.
B) glutimate.
C) antagonist.
D) neurotransmitter.

Question 78

The body's natural production of endorphins is likely to be

A) increased by heroin use and increased by vigorous exercise.
B) decreased by heroin use and decreased by vigorous exercise.
C) increased by heroin use and decreased by vigorous exercise.
D) decreased by heroin use and increased by vigorous exercise.

Question 79

Migraines are most closely linked with an

A) oversupply of GABA.
B) undersupply of serotonin.
C) oversupply of glutamate.
D) undersupply of acetylcholine.

Question 80

A synapse is a(n)

A) chemical messenger that triggers muscle contractions.
B) automatic response to sensory input.
C) junction between a sending neuron and a receiving neuron.
D) neural cable containing many axons.