Deck 2: Biopsychology, Neuroscience, and Human Nature

Question 1

Afferent neurons

A) are responsible for delivering messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands.
B) transport messages between sensory neurons and motor neurons.
C) are the same as sensory neurons that are sensitive to external stimuli.
D) communicate directly with motor neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
E) continuously monitor the routine operation of the body's internal functions.

Answer 1

are the same as sensory neurons that are sensitive to external stimuli.

Question 2

Motor neurons are also known as ________ neurons.

A) divergent
B) congruent
C) efferent
D) afferent
E) defferent

Answer 2

efferent

Question 3

Which of the following statements expresses the correct relationship?

A) Genes are made of chromosomes.
B) DNA is made of chromosomes.
C) Nucleotides are made of genes.
D) Genes are made of nucleotides.
E) Genotypes are made of phenotypes.

Answer 3

Genes are made of nucleotides.

Question 4

Which of the following is a characteristic that might be a part of your phenotype?

A) your height and eye color
B) the members of your family
C) what you have learned in school
D) the childhood diseases you have had
E) the number of chromosomes you have.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true of neuron function?

A) At rest, the nerve cell has a slight negative charge across the membrane.
B) The action potential is due to positive ions flowing into the neuron.
C) The action potential is a switch from negative to positive potential that moves along the axon membrane.
D) A stimulus will either "fire" the neuron or it will fail to fire it.
E) Nerve cells only use electrical signals to communicate with each other.

Question 6

Every one of your actions arises from

A) neural impulses delivered from your sensory neurons to your brain.
B) neural impulses from the brain delivered to your muscles.
C) the imperatives of natural selection.
D) the parallel nervous system.
E) sympathetic nervous system activity.

Question 7

Which of the following did you NOT inherit from your parents?

A) religious beliefs
B) tendency toward certain fears
C) temperament
D) hair color
E) certain behavior patterns

Question 8

Behavior consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis that evolved because the behavior has been adaptive. Which of the following human behaviors illustrate this concept?

A) driving a car
B) sending astronauts to the moon
C) Down syndrome
D) language
E) the ability to program a cell phone

Question 9

________ neurons carry messages to the brain and are therefore able to help us know about what is going on in our surroundings.

A) Motor
B) Sensory
C) Inter-
D) Sympathetic
E) Peripheral

Question 10

Mary put her hand on a hot stove. Which neuron is responsible for sending a pain message up her spinal column, where it would then enter into the main area of the spinal cord?

A) motor neuron
B) interneuron
C) sensory neuron
D) reflex
E) efferent neuron

Question 11

Which of the following is true of nerve cell development?

A) The brain has excess neurons at birth.
B) There are about 100 billion nerve cells in the adult brain.
C) Some nerve cells are pruned away during the first few years of life.
D) The human brain has the ability to think about itself.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 12

Some identical twins have the same genetic makeup but look slightly different. Their slight differences in observable appearance are an example of _______, which are influenced by both biology and environment.

A) genotypes
B) environmental selections
C) phenotypes
D) habitats
E) neurons

Question 13

Dendrite is to axon as:

A) send is to receive.
B) send is to regulate.
C) receive is to send.
D) receive is to release.
E) mimic is to inhibit

Question 14

When a cell is at rest, it is in a state called the

A) stopping point.
B) obcipitation junction.
C) resting potential.
D) action potential.
E) refractory potential.

Question 15

Because the human brain is already programmed for language at birth, we can say that language is a(n) ________ behavioral tendency.

A) essential
B) critical
C) innate
D) somatic
E) cerebral

Question 16

In purely evolutionary terms, which one would be a measure of your own success as an organism?

A) your intellectual accomplishments
B) the length of your life
C) the number of children you have
D) the contributions you made to the happiness of humanity
E) your height relative to others in your "clan," or "tribe"

Question 17

Which of the following is true about interneurons?

A) Interneurons form simple circuits in the brain.
B) There are 200,000 of them for every motor neuron.
C) They are only found in the peripheral nervous system.
D) They are not found in the brain and spinal cord.
E) They relay messages to the brain.

Question 18

Darwin's theory of evolution suggests that the only measure of success for a species is

A) being the largest of the species.
B) not competing with members of the same species.
C) possessing the best coloring and shape of the species.
D) successful reproduction.
E) the uniqueness of the species.

Question 19

Your teacher asks you to describe the sequence of parts of a neuron that the impulse travels to during neural conduction. Which of the following sequences will you offer?

A) dendrites, axon, soma, terminal button
B) terminal buttons, axon, soma, dendrites
C) axon, soma, dendrites, terminal button
D) dendrites, soma, axon, terminal button
E) neurotransmitters, dendrites, axon, soma

Question 20

LaKeisha stepped on a piece of glass and quickly pulled her foot away from that sharp object. Which of the following are responsible for sending a message to the muscles in LaKeisha's foot, resulting in her pulling her foot away from the piece of glass?

A) motor neurons
B) interneurons
C) sensory neurons
D) reflexes
E) spinal neurons

Question 21

Hallucinogenic drugs, such as LSD, produce their effects via an action on the neurotransmitter

A) dopamine.
B) GABA.
C) endorphin.
D) acetylcholine.
E) serotonin.

Question 22

Malcolm is studying alone in his room late at night when he hears a loud noise downstairs. His heartbeat increases significantly and his breathing becomes shallow. He wonders if a burglar has entered the house and decides to investigate. When he gets downstairs he discovers his cat has knocked over a plant stand. His body begins to relax and return to normal. Which part of his nervous system is responsible for returning Malcolm to a normal state?

A) spinal cord
B) somatic nervous system
C) sympathetic nervous system
D) parasympathetic nervous system
E) corpus callosum

Question 23

Which of the following is controlled by the autonomic nervous system?

A) respiration
B) reasoning
C) reading
D) reaching
E) running

Question 24

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that involves problems with the

A) dendrites.
B) soma, or cell body.
C) axon.
D) myelin sheath.
E) terminal buttons.

Question 25

A person whose brain suffers from a disruption in the serotonin system might suffer from

A) high blood pressure.
B) epilepsy.
C) Parkinson's disease.
D) Alzheimer's disease.
E) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 26

Your ability to smell pizza in the oven and to then remove and eat that pizza is due to the activity of the

A) parietal lobe of your brain.
B) occipital lobe of your brain.
C) autonomic nervous system.
D) parasympathetic nervous system.
E) somatic nervous system.

Question 27

Peter suffers damage to his left frontal lobe and loses the ability to speak, although he can still understand speech. Despite the permanence of this damage, he is able to recover some of his speech due to the ability of other parts of the brain to take over the lost function. This phenomenon is known by neuroscientists as

A) flexibility.
B) adaptiveness.
C) plasticity.
D) compensation.
E) homeostasis.

Question 28

Schizophrenia is thought to occur when a person has an imbalance within this particular neurotransmitter system:

A) serotonin
B) endorphins
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine
E) GABA

Question 29

Which of the following is true about myelin?

A) It's a fatty insulation.
B) It is covered by axons.
C) It inhibits neural communication.
D) It slows down neuronal operations.
E) It cannot be affected by illness.

Question 30

During the process of synaptic transmission,

A) information is passed between the two cerebral hemispheres.
B) information is sent from the reticular formation to the cortex.
C) a chemical message is sent across the synapse.
D) a gland releases a hormone into the bloodstream.
E) the neuron becomes silent.

Question 31

The poison of the black widow spider works by stimulating the release of excessive amounts of

A) acetylcholine.
B) dopamine.
C) endorphins.
D) serotonin.
E) GABA.

Question 32

When a neuron fires, it fires in a(n) ________ fashion, as there is no such thing as "partial" firing.

A) all-or-none
B) rapid fire
C) accidental patterned
D) quick successioned
E) correlated

Question 33

"Fight-or-flight" behavior is associated with

A) the parasympathetic division.
B) motor neurons.
C) the sympathetic division.
D) the somatic nervous system.
E) interneurons.

Question 34

When you see someone you have a crush on and your heart pounds, your hands get sweaty, and your cheeks feel hot, your ________ is/are active.

A) skeletal nervous system
B) spinal reflexes
C) autonomic nervous system
D) somatic nervous system
E) interneurons

Question 35

Disturbances of the neurotransmitter ________ can produce the memory problems associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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

Question 36

Your ability to play the piano is regulated by the

A) somatic nervous system.
B) medial nervous system.
C) peripheral nervous system.
D) limbic system.
E) parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 37

During action potential, the electrical charge inside the neuron is ________ the electrical charge outside the neuron.

A) positive compared to
B) larger than
C) negative compared to
D) smaller than
E) hydrophilic

Question 38

________ is an example of a sympathetic response.

A) Promoting your sexual development
B) Monitoring the operation of the body's routine functioning
C) Picking up a dime off the floor
D) Preparing yourself to fight an attacking dog
E) Figuring out the answer to a difficult test question

Question 39

Isabella is putting mustard on her hot dog. She realizes she has put too much on and sucks up some of it back into the squeeze bottle. This process is similar to

A) the action potential.
B) receptor site bindings.
C) binding specificity.
D) reuptake.
E) the resting potential

Question 40

Jack suffered a brain injury as a result of hitting his head while waterskiing. One of the problems that developed was that Jack could not pronounce certain words correctly for a long period of time until he had extensive speech therapy and can now speak as he did before his accident. This is an example of the brain's ______, which allowed the structure and function of his brain cells to change to adjust to the trauma.

A) adaptology
B) stagnation
C) plasticity
D) reflex arc
E) reflexology

Question 41

Phineas Gage tragically had a tamping iron propelled through his head. Both the left and right sides of the prefrontal cortex were severely damaged. As a result of the accident, Phineas Gage

A) died from his injuries.
B) suffered the loss of his arms and legs.
C) lost his sense of hearing.
D) suffered a change in personality.
E) suffered complex seizures for the rest of his life.

Question 42

Tim is overweight. His physician has decided to test him to see if there is a problem with the regulation of his metabolism. Which endocrine gland will be the focus of diagnostic testing?

A) adrenal
B) thymus
C) thyroid
D) pancreas
E) pituitary

Question 43

The ________ is important for the human ability to tap dance and walk on a tightrope.

A) hypothalamus
B) thalamus
C) amygdala
D) cerebellum
E) hippocampus

Question 44

Libby's physician refers her to a medical center in order to have the biochemical activity in her brain analyzed. She is given an injection of a radioactive glucose-like substance and then is told to lie down with her head in a scanner. The technique being used is

A) positron emission tomography.
B) functional magnetic resonance imaging.
C) microelectrode recording.
D) an electroencephalogram.
E) an electromyography.

Question 45

A person whose hippocampus is damaged would probably struggle most with which of the following?

A) eating
B) attending college.
C) controlling emotions.
D) reasoning and planning for the future.
E) performing smooth movements.

Question 46

A unique feature of the fMRI, as compared to the MRI, is the capacity to

A) detect cell activity throughout the brain.
B) measure the magnetic fields in the brain.
C) control brain activity by stimulating various brain regions.
D) take a detailed X-ray of the brain while the person is conscious.
E) distinguish more active tissues from less active ones.

Question 47

A stroke that damages parts of your amygdala would be expected to

A) calm your angry disposition.
B) stimulate an aggressive instinct.
C) increase your sexual desire.
D) erase important memories.
E) make you feel hungry.

Question 48

Tracey has been unable to participate in her gymnastics class and is very uncoordinated since she was involved in an accident where she suffered a head injury. As a result of the accident, she was likely to have suffered damage to her

A) cerebellum.
B) medulla.
C) cerebral cortex.
D) hypothalamus.
E) hippocampus.

Question 49

Which of the following situations is NOT processed primarily by the limbic system?

A) You remember how your grandmother's living room looked.
B) You get angry and want to hit a person who has just bumped into you.
C) You are feeling hungry because you have not eaten since yesterday.
D) You are trying to reason through a logic problem in math class.
E) You feel sexually aroused by the attractiveperson sitting next to you.

Question 50

A person who has suffered damage to his hippocampus would be expected to have difficulty with

A) remembering newer information.
B) remembering events from his distant past.
C) concentrating on complex tasks.
D) controlling his temper.
E) moving in a smooth manner.

Question 51

The idea that the pituitary gland is the "master gland"

A) is completely accurate and appropriate.
B) is completely inaccurate since it doesn't control any other glands or related structures.
C) is true; yet, it is still controlled by the brain.
D) is a matter of debate because many other researchers refer to the adrenal gland as the "master gland."
E) is inaccurate because the "pituitary" gland does not exist in higher animals. It is only found in lower species.

Question 52

Our ability to breathe is controlled by the ________, which is located within the ________.

A) medulla; brainstem
B) thalamus; forebrain
C) cerebellum; midbrain
D) brain stem; medulla
E) pons; forebrain

Question 53

Damage to the ________ would be expected to impair your ability to name three exciting news events that occurred after this damage to your brain.

A) hippocampus
B) reticular formation
C) corpus callosum
D) thalamus
E) hypothalamus

Question 54

Which of the following is true of Prozac?

A) Prozac can cause changes in sleep, appetite, and thinking.
B) Amphetamine is another name for Prozac.
C) The effects of Prozac are specific to mood.
D) Prozac is an antagonist for dopamine receptors.
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 55

Hearing a bird sing involves the transfer of auditory information from the ear through ________ en route to the auditory cortex.

A) the pons
B) the hypothalamus
C) the thalamus
D) the auditory hemisphere
E) Broca's area

Question 56

Agonist is to antagonist as:

A) neuromodulator is to neurotransmitter.
B) reuptake is to receptor.
C) mimic is to block.
D) block is to mimic.
E) inhibit is to stimulate.

Question 57

Since Jessica suffered a head injury in a car accident 3 months ago, she has not experienced dreams as she had in the past. She used to dream vivid, active dreams. Which part of her brain most likely was affected during the car accident and is related to her problem dreaming?

A) pons
B) cerebellum
C) cerebral cortex
D) pituitary gland
E) medulla

Question 58

The sexual desire of a woman is primarily determined by hormones produced by her

A) thyroid.
B) ovaries.
C) posterior pituitary.
D) adrenal glands.
E) pancreas.

Question 59

Damage to the ________ is the most likely explanation for a brain injury that has devastating effects on human action and personality.

A) central fissure
B) frontal lobes
C) lateral fissure
D) parietal cortex
E) temporal lobes

Question 60

Joella was rollerblading when a cat jumped right in front of her, causing her to trip and fall. When she fell, she partially landed on the front side of her head near her forehead. Shortly afterward, Joella exhibited symptoms similar to that of Phineas Gage. Which lobe would have been most affected by this fall?

A) frontal
B) temporal
C) parietal
D) occipital
E) inguinal

Question 61

Researchers have determined that the processing style of the ________ hemisphere is more ________ than the ________ hemisphere.

A) left; analytical; right
B) right; analytical; left
C) right; specialized for language; left
D) left; specialized for music; right
E) left; spatially-oriented; right

Question 62

Discuss the phenomenon of cerebral dominance and contrast the specialized functions of each of the two cerebral hemispheres.

Question 63

You are holding an ice cube in your left hand. You touch it and find that it is hard and slick and cold. Soon the coldness becomes painful. Most of this information is processed in which cortex?

A) motor
B) association
C) somatosensory
D) visual
E) temporal

Question 64

Research notes that extensive exposure to pornography can have significant negative effects on the brain as a result of neurological rewiring. It appears that this plasticity can be reversed through a process called rebooting. What does this involve?

A) refraining from watching hardcore pornography and concurrent masturbation for at least a couple of months
B) selecting porn that is less aggressive and that promotes more egalitarian sexual relationships between partners
C) watching pornography only with a partner so that it can promote intimacy rather than solo sexuality
D) utilizing pornography only in cases of sexual dysfunction, such as erectile problems or arousal disorders
E) watching pornography at an increased level to facilitate habituation and eventual boredom

Question 65

Which of the following individuals is MOST likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury?

A) Sophie, who is a gymnast specializing in the balance beam.
B) Bar, who is a world class skateboard champion and competes in the X-Games each year.
C) Liam, who is the starting quarterback for his high school football team.
D) Jared, who is in an automobile accident.
E) Heather, who is a dancer and is often involved in throws and lifts during a performance.

Question 66

A patient who is paralyzed and can no longer control her hands or arms may benefit from a brain implant in the ________ cortex. This sort of technology may help her regain some control over smooth movements of these extremities.

A) olfactory
B) gustatory
C) somatosensory
D) motor
E) corporeal

Question 67

The ________ cortex is most likely involved in making a decision as to whether we want to ask an attractive person out for a date.

A) auditory
B) parietal
C) somatosensory
D) association
E) motor

Question 68

The pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, as well as the gonads, are all part of a slower communication system in the body called the ________ system.

A) nervous
B) neurological
C) reproductive
D) excretory
E) endocrine

Question 69

Compare the endocrine and nervous systems in terms of how they communicate information throughout the body.

Question 70

Explain how psychoactive drugs work in the brain and explain why each drug has important side effects.

Question 71

A drug or medication that keeps neurotransmitters available in the synapse for an extra amount of time is blocking a process called

A) excitation.
B) inhibition.
C) potentiation.
D) reuptake.
E) neuromodulation.

Question 72

The action of grabbing your keys with your right hand is controlled by your

A) right somatosensory cortex.
B) left motor cortex.
C) association cortex.
D) frontal lobes.
E) right motor cortex.

Question 73

Most people are aware that regular aerobic exercise helps to reduce obesity and prevent the development of some forms of diabetes. Recent research finds that the mechanism may not just be through sweating off the pounds, but rather that such exercise may silence genes associated with these health problems. This demonstrates the importance of the science of

A) heredity.
B) evolutionary psychology.
C) behavioral medicine.
D) the human genome project.
E) epigenetics.

Question 74

Mehnaz has recently felt as if her thoughts are disjointed and choppy. "I don't know," she says. "My thinking just doesn't feel as fluid and continuous as it used to." Mehnaz may be having difficulties with the functioning of her

A) pons.
B) cerebellum.
C) reticular formation.
D) putamen.
E) insula.

Question 75

Gazzaniga suggests that we think of the human mind as neither a single nor a dual entity but rather as a ________ of minds.

A) confederation
B) consolidation
C) confabulation
D) consequence
E) continuation

Question 76

Over many millions of years, the human species has changed to adapt to its environment. As an example, this process of change has favored larger brains to allow for the use of language, complex problem solving, and social interaction. This process is called

A) heredity.
B) genetics.
C) evolution.
D) adaptation.
E) mutation.

Question 77

Zach and Stephanie want to have a child, but they are concerned. Stephanie's grandmother and mother both died of breast cancer, and Stephanie has been tested and found to have the gene for this fatal condition. Having a child does not ensure that the illness could be passed, but they want to reduce the risk of passing on this gene to their child. What technique might be used to achieve this goal?

A) preimplantation genetic diagnosis
B) karyotyping
C) embryonic genetic manipulation
D) fetal genetic cloning
E) creating a "savior sibling"