Deck 4: The Biological Mind the Physical Basis of Behavior

Question 1

Mariah is a neuroscience graduate student interested in understanding how the human brain processes early childhood memories. What technique should Mariah use to determine which brain regions are activated when someone recalls their first memory?

A) Single cell recording
B) Positron emission tomography
C) Evoked potential
D) Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Answer 1

Positron emission tomography

Question 2

What is the major function of the spinal cord?

A) It provides structural support for the trunk of the body.
B) It serves as a major conduit for information flowing to and from the brain.
C) It sends sensory information from the brain to the peripheral nervous system.
D) It serves as a centralized muscle mass that coordinates intricate muscle movements.

Answer 2

It serves as a major conduit for information flowing to and from the brain.

Question 3

The brain and the spinal cord

A) form one continuous unit of tissue.
B) are made of white matter.
C) can heal neural connections after injury.
D) make up the peripheral nervous system.

Answer 3

form one continuous unit of tissue.

Question 4

The nervous system is divided into two major components: the

A) autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
B) central nervous system and the somatic nervous system.
C) central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.
D) peripheral nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Question 5

During the 20th century, which method led to a burst of knowledge about the nervous system?

A) Radiography
B) Phrenology
C) Functional magnetic resonance imaging
D) Cranial formation diagnostic imaging

Question 6

At the physical level, the brain is protected by all of the following EXCEPT

A) meninges.
B) cerebrospinal fluid.
C) neurotransmitters.
D) skull.

Question 7

Before contemporary research methods were available, _____ provided significant advancements in our understanding of the nervous system.

A) autopsies
B) clinical observations of healthy individuals
C) X-rays
D) phrenology

Question 8

Professor Laurent wants to understand how violence in the media affects arousal in adolescents. What method should she use to monitor the arousal state of adolescents while they view a news report of a violent crime?

A) Single cell recording
B) Magnetoencephalography
C) Skin conductance response
D) Electrical stimulation

Question 9

A(n) _____ is a neuron that carries information from the external environment, or from the body, back to the central nervous system.

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

Question 10

Maxwell is a participant in a research study aimed at understanding how the brain responds to prolonged periods of isolation. After spending several hours in a room alone, Maxwell undergoes a(n) _____ procedure; a method that measures the brain's electrical activity using electrodes placed on the scalp.

A) skin conductance response
B) electroencephalogram
C) magnetoencephalography
D) electrical stimulation

Question 11

Which statement is consistent with a monistic philosophy?

A) The soul is the essence of the self and the brain is its vessel.
B) The mind and the brain are one.
C) The mind controls our emotions, and the brain controls our bodies.
D) The brain is too rudimentary to explain complex human behavior.

Question 12

A(n) _____ is a neuron that carries commands from the central nervous system to muscles or glands.

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

Question 13

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding interneurons found in the central nervous system?

A) They form bridges between sensory and motor neurons.
B) They block motor output to allow for sensory input.
C) They block sensory input to allow for motor output.
D) They act as either sensory or motor neurons.

Question 14

Another term used for biological psychology is

A) behavioral genetics.
B) behavioral neuroscience.
C) endocrinal pathology.
D) Integrative physiological.

Question 15

Hal meets some friends at a local sports bar. After drinking several beers, Hal picks a fight with someone that he thinks is giving him "dirty" looks. Normally very mellow and calm, the alcohol has interfered with Hal's judgment, causing him to lose control. Which theory best explains Hal's behavior?

A) Dawson's theory that people use alcohol as an excuse to act in ways they truly desire
B) Jackson's theory that the nervous system is organized as a hierarchy
C) Anderson's theory that our behavior is linked more to physiological cues than environmental cues
D) Friedrich's theory that the brain behaves differently when people are in groups versus isolation

Question 16

The scientist attributed with discovering that the nervous system is made up of cells is

A) Santiago Ramon y Cajal.
B) Hughlings Jackson.
C) Antonie van Leeuwenhoek.
D) Camillo Golgi.

Question 17

The brain and the spinal cord form the

A) autonomic nervous system.
B) central nervous system.
C) peripheral nervous system.
D) somatic nervous system.

Question 18

Professor Kingston is interested in understanding the origins of gambling addictions. To study the brain activity of gambling addicts, Professor Kingston tracks oxygen flow in their brains while they engage in online gambling. What method is he most likely using?

A) Single cell recording
B) Transcranial magnetic stimulation
C) Functional magnetic resonance imaging
D) Magnetoencephalography

Question 19

How does the brain control human behavior?

A) Specific brain regions control specific behaviors.
B) Simple behaviors are controlled by specific brain regions; complex behaviors are controlled by the interaction of multiple brain regions.
C) It has intricate and overlapping patterns of activity that involve networks made up of many different connected structures.
D) Conscious behaviors are controlled by specific brain regions; subconscious behaviors are controlled by the interaction of multiple brain regions.

Question 20

Dr. Benson discovers a new hormone, "hormone X," which becomes elevated when people experience extreme anxiety. To establish a reciprocal relationship, Dr. Benson needs to show that

A) blocking the binding sites of "hormone X" leads to feelings of euphoria.
B) feelings of euphoria decrease "hormone X" levels.
C) people experience anxiety when injected with "hormone X."
D) levels of anxiety correlate with levels of "hormone X."

Question 21

Why is the thalamus referred to as the "gateway to the cortex"?

A) Motor outputs generated in the cerebral cortex are funneled first through the thalamus, which then sends inputs to the motor neurons.
B) Input from most of our sensory systems travels first to the thalamus, which then funnels the information to the cerebral cortex.
C) Motor outputs generated in the thalamus are funneled first through the cerebral cortex, which then sends inputs to the motor neurons.
D) Input from most of our sensory systems travels first to the cerebral cortex, which then funnels the information to the thalamus.

Question 22

Damage to which part of the brain would result in death due to the loss of heart function and blood pressure regulation?

A) Midbrain
B) Medulla
C) Pons
D) Cerebellum

Question 23

In a meeting with the psychology professor, Steph reports having a hard time staying awake during lectures and sometimes experiencing the feeling of uncontrollably falling asleep while sitting at a desk. Steph's sleepiness may be due to the cells firing slowly in the

A) reticular formation.
B) cerebellum.
C) hippocampus.
D) thalamus.

Question 24

The pons lies above the medulla and contains structures involved with the management of

A) sensory reflexes, movement, and pain.
B) heart rate and blood pressure.
C) sleep, arousal, and facial expressions.
D) balance and motor coordination.

Question 25

The _____ is a subcortical structure that participates in the regulation of thirst, temperature, hunger, sexual behavior, and aggression.

A) hippocampus
B) hypothalamus
C) thalamus
D) cingulate cortex

Question 26

The _____, which is essential in the formation of long-term memories, takes its name from the Greek word for seahorse.

A) amygdala
B) hypothalamus
C) pia mater
D) hippocampus

Question 27

The ______, which is involved in identifying, remembering, and responding to fear and aggression, takes its name from the Greek word for "almond."

A) amygdala
B) hypothalamus
C) dura mater
D) hippocampus

Question 28

Damage to the midbrain would most likely result in

A) the inability to speak.
B) changes in pain perception.
C) the inability to regulate blood pressure.
D) difficulties with facial expressions.

Question 29

What does pons mean in Latin?

A) Balance
B) Below
C) Bridge
D) Border

Question 30

Some individuals wash their hands repeatedly, unable to find relief from the thought that they are dirty or contaminated. This obsessive behavior may be related to a disorder of the

A) thalamus.
B) hippocampus.
C) nucleus accumbens.
D) basal ganglia.

Question 31

Dr. Tyler, a drug addiction researcher, hopes to find a drug that will stop heroin addiction. Which area of the brain is most likely a focus of Dr. Tyler' research?

A) The hypothalamus
B) The hippocampus
C) The nucleus accumbens
D) The amygdala

Question 32

The cingulate cortex is a subcortical structure above the corpus callosum. It has anterior (forward) and posterior (rear) segments, which participate in

A) memory/visual processing and decision making/emotion, respectively.
B) the four Fs and formation of long-term memories,  respectively.
C) decision making/emotion and memory/visual processing,  respectively.
D) formation of long-term memories and the four Fs,  respectively.

Question 33

Christopher suffered a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident. Since the accident, he has great difficulty in forming new memories but remembers his childhood well, which suggests that his _____ was damaged.

A) hippocampus
B) hypothalamus
C) basal ganglia
D) amygdala

Question 34

Police Officer Roquet suspects that the driver of a car is driving under the influence of alcohol. The officer pulls the driver over and administers a field sobriety test, asking the driver to stand on one leg. This test is performed to evaluate the driver's balance, because the _____ is one of the first structures in the brain to be affected by alcohol .

A) cerebellum
B) cerebral cortex
C) pons
D) medulla

Question 35

The amygdala is a subcortical structure located in the _____ lobe and believed to participate in emotional processing.

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

Question 36

In autism spectrum disorder, a condition that involves deficits in language, sensory processing, and social behavior, abnormalities in the _____ are common.

A) putamen
B) reticular activating system
C) hippocampus
D) cerebellum

Question 37

As part of the brainstem, the _____ is involved in maintaining balance and motor coordination; it is one of the first structures of the brain to be affected by alcohol .

A) thalamus
B) cerebellum
C) amygdala
D) medulla

Question 38

While walking to log 10,000 steps for the day, Gerry accidently steps on a piece of broken glass, resulting in an injured foot. What causes Gerry to immediately lift the injured foot in response to the cut from the piece of broken glass?

A) Sensory neurons relay information directly to the spinal cord and motor neurons in the spinal cord send information to muscles in the foot.
B) Sensory neurons relay information directly to the brain and motor neurons in the brain send information to muscles in the foot.
C) Motor neurons relay information directly to the spinal cord and sensory neurons in the spinal cord send information to muscles in the foot.
D) Motor neurons relay information directly to the brain and sensory neurons in the brain send information to muscles in the foot.

Question 39

A rare health condition caused damage to the amygdala on both sides of Nina's brain. She is now more likely than most people to

A) be fearful of strangers.
B) eat excessively.
C) have problems sleeping.
D) try skydiving.

Question 40

Parkinson's disease, characterized by difficulties in initiating voluntary movements, is caused by degeneration of the

A) amygdala.
B) cerebral cortex.
C) basal ganglia.
D) cerebellum.

Question 41

Tomas, age 15, experienced a severe head injury and his prefrontal cortex was damaged by the trauma. Tomas now has difficulty with

A) processing visual stimuli.
B) producing and processing speech.
C) planning of behavior, attention, and judgment.
D) fine motor movement and sensing touch.

Question 42

The _____ is a part of the prefrontal cortex located right behind the eyes that participates in our emotional lives.

A) orbitofrontal cortex
B) occipital lobe
C) frontal lobe
D) parietal cortex

Question 43

Mrs. Agos is unable to recognize her husband by sight when he enters her hospital room. However, once she hears his voice, she recognizes him. Mrs. Agos has likely suffered damage to her

A) Wernicke's area.
B) temporal lobe.
C) Broca's area.
D) parietal lobe.

Question 44

Following the development of a brain tumor, Jerome starts to exhibit impulsive behavior with little regard for right or wrong. He attacks a man in a bar for looking at him the "wrong" way, breaking the man's nose and damaging bar property. Yet, he feels no remorse for the harm he has caused. The tumor is most likely in Jerome's

A) somatosensory cortex.
B) occipital lobe.
C) parietal lobe.
D) orbitofrontal cortex.

Question 45

The _____ cortices are important for processing incoming information such as smells or sights.

A) association
B) cingulate
C) motor
D) sensory

Question 46

_____ area is an area adjacent to primary motor cortex in the frontal lobe that participates in speech production.

A) Broca's
B) Wernicke's
C) Ranvier's
D) M'Naghten's

Question 47

If stretched out flat, the average 20-year-old human cerebral cortex would cover an area of about

A) 5 square yards and involve about 20,000 miles of white matter.
B) 2.5 square feet and involve about 100,000 miles of white matter.
C) 1.0 square feet and involve about 7,500 miles of white matter.
D) 7.5 square yards and involve about 250,000 miles of white matter.

Question 48

What would be a consequence of destroying the corpus callosum?

A) The left and right cerebral hemispheres would not be able to effectively communicate.
B) A person would have difficulty breathing.
C) A severe movement disorder would eventually emerge.
D) A person would lose the ability to experience fear.

Question 49

The most forward part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex, involved with the planning of behavior, attention, and judgment, is known as the

A) primary somatosensory cortex.
B) prefrontal cortex.
C) parietal cortex.
D) primary cortex.

Question 50

The degree of convolutions in the cerebral cortex positively correlates with a species'

A) intellectual capacity and is comprised primarily of gray matter.
B) size and is comprised primarily of gray matter.
C) intellectual capacity and is comprised primarily of white matter.
D) size and is comprised primarily of white matter.

Question 51

Human beings possess mirror systems that help us understand not just the actions and emotions of other, but their _____ as well.

A) motivation
B) personal interests
C) physical status
D) intentions

Question 52

The temporal lobe in the cerebral cortex is home to

A) the primary visual cortex and sophisticated cognitive functions.
B) Broca's area, Wernicke's area, and somatosensory functions.
C) the primary auditory cortex, face recognition functions, and Wernicke's area.
D) primary memory functions, language functions, and the amygdala.

Question 53

The _____ cortices are important for helping us form abstract thoughts related to our senses.

A) basal
B) motor
C) somatosensory
D) association

Question 54

The parietal lobe in the cerebral cortex lies at the top of the head between the frontal and occipital lobes and is the location of the

A) primary auditory cortex.
B) orbitofrontal cortex.
C) primary visual cortex.
D) primary somatosensory cortex.

Question 55

Remarkably, Phineas Gage survived a horrific traumatic brain injury in 1848 but was not the same person as before his accident. Although outwardly normal in his intelligence, speech, and movement, Gage became prone to

A) seizures and strokes.
B) difficulties with speech and movement.
C) memory loss and difficulty with computations.
D) angry outbursts and unreliability.

Question 56

The _____ lobe is the most forward of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex and the location of the primary motor cortex and some of the most complex cognitive processes.

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

Question 57

Dave is asked a series of questions by a neuropsychologist such as, "Please describe the weather outside today." Speaking with ease Dave replies, "The traffic on the way to your office was awful, I could not use my airplane because it was stuck in the garage." In which area of his brain does Dave have damage?

A) Broca's
B) Wernicke's
C) Ranvier's
D) M'Naghten's

Question 58

Why is the primary motor cortex important for the control of movement?

A) It is the only brain area that regulates movement.
B) It provides the highest level of voluntary control over movement.
C) It regulates all involuntary movements.
D) It contains all of the motor neurons of the brain.

Question 59

The _____ is the lobe of the cerebral cortex located at the back of the brain.

A) frontal lobe, containing the primary auditory cortex.
B) parietal lobe, containing Wernicke's area.
C) temporal lobe, containing the primary somatosensory cortex.
D) occipital lobe, containing the primary visual cortex.

Question 60

Giacomo Rizzolatti and a team of Italian scientists conducted research that led to the discovery of "mirror neurons" in monkeys. Subsequent research using _____ has indicated "mirror systems" in human brains.

A) positron emission tomography
B) functional magnetic resonance imaging
C) electroencephalography
D) single cell recording

Question 61

How do hormones differ from neurotransmitters?

A) They are typically much smaller in size.
B) They are typically much larger in size.
C) They target adjacent cells.
D) They target distant cells.

Question 62

The _____ is the division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal and involves the expenditure of energy.

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

Question 63

A surgeon had severed Barbara's corpus callosum in order to reduce the severity of her epileptic seizures. After the surgery, when she was shown an image in her left visual field, she could not

A) see it.
B) point to it with her left hand.
C) name it.
D) remember it.

Question 64

The _____ is the part of the peripheral nervous system that brings sensory information to the central nervous system and transmits commands to the muscles.

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

Question 65

Which statement best describes the relationship between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system?

A) The central nervous system carries out the commands; the peripheral nervous system is the command center.
B) The central nervous system is the command center; the peripheral nervous system carries out the commands.
C) The central nervous system consumes the fuel; the peripheral nervous system is the fuel station.
D) The central nervous system is the fuel station; the peripheral nervous system consumes the fuel.

Question 66

Which of the following is an accurate match between a division of the autonomic nervous system and a bodily function or state?

A) Sympathetic; slows heart rate
B) Parasympathetic; induces sweaty palms
C) Sympathetic; dilates pupils
D) Parasympathetic; induces rapid breathing

Question 67

Sophia and her brother James are both taking a psychology class together and are studying for an examination. "I just can't remember where the body produces the majority of its serotonin," complains James. Sophia helps him by saying, "just remember that it is produced in the enteric nervous system, and you should have no problem knowing that the _____ is the body part you're looking for."

A) gastrointestinal system
B) dorsal ganglia
C) basal ganglia
D) pons

Question 68

Which of the following is an example of the autonomic nervous system at work?

A) Axel enjoys listening to bird songs early in the morning.
B) Steve's fingers flick back and forth when he watches his daughter make an exciting play during a soccer game.
C) Brett struggles to scratch an itch just out of reach between the shoulder blades.
D) Vince salivates at the smell of fresh bread baking in the kitchen.

Question 69

The two major divisions of the peripheral nervous system are

A) the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
B) the automatic and enteric nervous systems.
C) the automatic and somatic nervous systems.
D) the endocrine and enteric systems.

Question 70

When a specialized function of the cerebral cortex occurs on either the right or the left hemisphere, this activity is referred to as

A) bipolarity.
B) parochialism.
C) lateralization.
D) categorization.

Question 71

Which of the following is an accurate match between a division of the autonomic nervous system and a bodily function or state?

A) Sympathetic; constricts pupils
B) Parasympathetic; stimulates digestion
C) Sympathetic; stimulates immune response
D) Parasympathetic; induces rapid heart beat

Question 72

Stefan is _____; therefore, he is nearly certain to lateralize language to his left hemisphere.

A) left-handed
B) ambidextrous
C) right-handed
D) bidextrous

Question 73

When do the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions cooperate, rather than antagonize one another?

A) During sexual activity
B) At times of relative calm
C) When a fight-or-flight response is required
D) Following the ingestion of a meal

Question 74

The _____ is sometimes referred to as a "second brain," because it has as many neurons in it as the spinal cord.

A) hypothalamus
B) amygdala
C) endocrine system
D) enteric nervous system

Question 75

The idea that a person's dominant hemisphere influences their creativity or ability to think logically is

A) supported by the evidence that most left-handed individuals are employed as artists or musicians.
B) a popular myth about lateralization.
C) supported by the research findings on split-brain operations.
D) important for teachers to consider when working with children who have learning disabilities.

Question 76

The _____ is the division of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest, repair, and energy storage.

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

Question 77

All of the following are theories regarding the possible advantages of lateralization EXCEPT

A) lateralization may reduce vulnerability to some diseases and disorders.
B) lateralization of human brain structures might have made language possible.
C) lateralization might provide organisms with the ability to multitask.
D) left-handedness might afford an advantage in hand-to-hand combat.

Question 78

The _____ is the part of the peripheral nervous system that directs the activity of glands, organs, and smooth muscles.

A) somatic nervous system
B) endocrine system
C) autonomic nervous system
D) central nervous system

Question 79

Junko's grandmother survived a stroke but is paralyzed on her left side. She has likely suffered damage to her

A) left hemisphere.
B) cerebellum.
C) brain stem.
D) right hemisphere.

Question 80

The endocrine system is comprised of a number of glands that release chemical messengers known as

A) hormones into the blood.
B) neurotransmitters into the blood.
C) hormones into the cerebrospinal fluid.
D) neurotransmitters into the cerebrospinal fluid.