Deck 2: The Neural Bases of Learning and Memory

Question 1

Following an action potential, the exchange of sodium ions for potassium ions restores the balance in a neuron.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The role of the sympathetic nervous system is to calm our bodies down after something stressful.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The synapse consists of all of the following EXCEPT:

A) presynaptic material.
B) postsynaptic material.
C) synaptic cleft.
D) synaptic connector.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The synaptic potential created in a distant dendritic branch would most likely be _____ when it arrived at the cell body.

A) small
B) large
C) average
D) it depends on where it occurred

Question 5

An EEG measures the single firing of a neuron, one at a time.

Question 6

When the charge of a neuron changes from negative to positive the result is an inhibitory postsynaptic potential.

Question 7

______ are groups of interconnected neurons that work together to represent stimuli, actions, and thought.

A) Cells
B) Circuits
C) Systems
D) Neuronal sets

Question 8

Normally, long-term depression (LTD) occurs when either presynaptic activity or postsynaptic activity occurs alone.

Question 9

Action potentials can vary from creating a large effect to a small effect.

Question 10

An inhibitory postsynaptic potential is caused by a flow of _____ ions, while an excitatory postsynaptic potential is due to an increase of _____ ions.

A) sodium; potassium
B) chloride; sodium
C) potassium; chloride
D) sodium; chloride

Question 11

A change of about _____ mV in potential is enough to fire a neuron and generate an action potential.

A) 5-10
B) 10-15
C) 15-20
D) 20-25

Question 12

The brain and the spinal cord are the two main parts of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 13

Which of the following was NOT a reason given for why our memory may decline as we age?

A) Brain cells linked with memory decline in size.
B) Blood flow to the brain is restricted as we age.
C) The number of connections between the neurons degrade .
D) Brain cells linked with memory decline in number.

Question 14

Which of the following was NOT a type of neuron described by Spanish anatomist Santiago Ramón y Cajal?

A) principal
B) motor
C) sensory
D) interconnecting

Question 15

Findings by Otto Loewi in neuronal transmission supported his theory that ______.

A) electrical impulses could stimulate nervous system activities
B) chemical agents could stimulate nervous system activities
C) action potentials were larger than synaptic potential
D) action potentials are based on an all-or-none principle

Question 16

Early anatomists compared neural networks to an interconnected spider web. This idea led to the idea of the ___________.

A) reticular theory of the brain
B) reticular activating system
C) neuron doctrine
D) neuronal doctrine theory of the brain

Question 17

Donald Hebb proposed the theory that when neurons are activated they have the potential to form a cell assembly.

Question 18

The cerebellum is essential for conditioned behaviors like blinking in response to a puff of air directed at the eye.

Question 19

Which of the following is true of a neuron during resting potential?

A) The charge of the cell is slightly positive.
B) Sodium ions flow in and out of the cell.
C) Potassium ions flow in and out of the cell.
D) Most channels in the membrane close.

Question 20

Motor neurons have long axons that send signals specifically to muscles.

Question 21

In a study by Richard Morris, injecting rats with the drug AP5 resulted in the rats _________.

A) quickly finding the platform
B) swimming in the vicinity of the platform
C) eventually finding the maze after circling the area
D) failing to swim in the vicinity of the maze

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT true about long-term potentiation?

A) Changes in the cellular responses last for several hours.
B) Rapid increases occurred in the excitatory action potential after one stimulation.
C) More cells within the assembly reached action potential.
D) It requires a decrease in the potential of the postsynaptic cell followed by an increase.

Question 23

How was long-term potentiation (LTP) affected in genetically modified mice with extra NMDA receptors?

A) LTP was delayed.
B) LTP was induced more readily.
C) LTP did not occur.
D) The rate of LTP was normal at first but then it decreased.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major functional systems of the brain?

A) sensory
B) rational
C) motor
D) emotional

Question 25

Cocaine enhances the synaptic potential for which of the following neurotransmitters?

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

Question 26

Correct examples of localization of function in the brain include all but which of the following?

A) Left frontal lobe for speech comprehension.
B) Right frontal lobe for speech production.
C) Left frontal lobe for spatial reasoning.
D) Right frontal lobe for verbal gestures.

Question 27

The ________ somatosensory area is the specific cortical area responsible for processing information about the distance that an oncoming car is from your car.

A) primary
B) secondary
C) association
D) quadratic

Question 28

Which of the following is not true of the cerebral cortex?

A) It contains 4 lobes.
B) It is the second largest part of the cerebral hemispheres.
C) Its neurons are arranged in layers.
D) It is divided into symmetrical halves.

Question 29

After the car accident, Dan was not able to regulate when he was hungry, thirsty, or sleepy. Damage most likely occurred to the ___________, located in the ___________.

A) hypothalamus; midbrain
B) hypothalamus; forebrain
C) thalamus; midbrain
D) thalamus; forebrain

Question 30

According to evolutionary principles, one of the first cortical areas to develop was the _________.

A) striatum
B) thalamus
C) hypothalamus
D) hippocampus

Question 31

The most frequent excitatory neurotransmitter in the hippocampus is _________.

A) GABA
B) glutamate
C) norepinephrine
D) dopamine

Question 32

Which of the following was not a flaw of Francis Gall's research?

A) He used only males.
B) He used small samples.
C) His research was subjective.
D) He examined the skull, not the brain directly.

Question 33

Calcium ions in the postsynaptic neuron aid in the process of long-term potentiation by synthesizing neurotrophins, which _________.

A) increase the magnesium ion levels
B) decrease the size of the synapses
C) permanently sensitize the synapses
D) activate the release of more calcium ions

Question 34

The practice of phrenology was originally called __________ by Francis Gall.

A) typology
B) somatology
C) organology
D) somatotyping

Question 35

After the accident, Jim was not able to recognize his wife's face. Specific damage would most likely be to the ________ cortex.

A) auditory
B) cerebral
C) motor
D) inferotemporal

Question 36

The spinal nerves carry information in and out of the brain via the ___________.

A) central nervous system
B) central peripheral nervous system
C) peripheral nervous system
D) perinatal nervous system

Question 37

Key cranial nerves responsible for the heart, circulatory system, and the diaphragm are located in the ____________.

A) forebrain
B) midbrain
C) hindbrain
D) prefrontal

Question 38

Charles Sherrington discovered the simplest brain circuit called the ________.

A) cell assembly
B) reciprocal arc
C) reflex arc
D) reciprocal reflex

Question 39

If your dog rubs up against your left arm which specific brain area would process this information?

A) The left parietal lobe.
B) The left temporal lobe.
C) The right parietal lobe.
D) The right temporal lobe.

Question 40

The second cranial nerve is the _________ nerve.

A) optic
B) trigeminal
C) olfactory
D) vagus

Question 41

Explain why functional brain imaging is called modern phrenology. Also describe how an fMRI works.

Question 42

The role of the premotor cortex is to ___________.

A) initiate motor movements with incoming sensory information
B) send motor information on to the parietal lobe
C) coordinate motor movements
D) integrate reflexive actions

Question 43

The large prefrontal association cortex is well developed in primates, especially humans and is correlated with:

A) short term memory.
B) long term memory.
C) emotions.
D) intelligence.

Question 44

Give a general overview of the types of abilities that are regulated by the three main regions of the brain. Start with the most primitive area.

Question 45

Describe the biological and electrical changes in the neuron during an action potential.

Question 46

Which of the following would not be a function of the autonomic nervous system?

A) salivation
B) sweating
C) crying
D) respiration

Question 47

The amygdala would be closely linked with which type of learning?

A) complex motor
B) emotional
C) fine motor
D) familiar objects

Question 48

Describe the general actions of each of the four functional systems in the brain.

Question 49

Discuss how Otto Loewi's study supported his theory that chemical signals also control neuron activity.

Question 50

What type of behaviors would be affected if the striatal subsystem was damaged?

A) simple motor tasks
B) simple sensory tasks
C) complex motor tasks
D) complex sensory tasks