Deck 3: The Biology of Behavior

Question 1

Which of the following statements was considered true about neural growth until the early 1900s?

A) Nerve cells divide on a regular basis unlike other skin cells.
B) Nerve cells do regenerate even after regions of brain are severely damaged.
C) Nerve cells are incapable of growth and adult brain did not change.
D) Nerve cells usually grow and die on an hourly basis.

Answer 1

Nerve cells are incapable of growth and adult brain did not change.

Question 2

________ is a large coiled molecule that contains genes.

A) Axon
B) Gamete
C) Allele
D) DNA

Answer 2

DNA

Question 3

The main function of the ________ is activating the body in times of emergency, for example, by increasing the heart rate, dilating the pupils of the eyes, or inhibiting digestion.

A) glial cells
B) central nervous system
C) somatic nervous system
D) sympathetic nervous system

Answer 3

sympathetic nervous system

Question 4

Identify a true statement about brain plasticity.

A) A woman's brain is most plastic during reproduction.
B) The hippocampus is less plastic than the other parts of the brain.
C) Brain plasticity is weakest in infancy and gradually increases with age.
D) Dendrites are incapable of experience-based changes.

Question 5

The ________ sits in the neck region and releases hormones that control the rate of metabolism.

A) alveolar gland
B) pituitary gland
C) thyroid gland
D) salivary gland

Question 6

________ is the extent to which a characteristic is influenced by genetics.

A) Epigenetics
B) Heritability
C) Accommodation
D) Genetic correlation

Question 7

Sarah has major depressive disorder. The medication she takes to treat her symptoms likely increases the availability of ________ in her brain.

A) oxytocin
B) dopamine
C) serotonin
D) substance P

Question 8

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a(n) ________ neurotransmitter.

A) excitatory
B) enzymatic
C) glutamate
D) inhibitory

Question 9

People with Parkinson's disease have problems with ________ functioning.

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

Question 10

The reuptake of ________ in the synapse is blocked by drugs that are used to treat anxiety and depression.

A) glutamate
B) epinephrine
C) acetylcholine
D) serotonin

Question 11

After 3-month-old Sayuri watches her father stick out his tongue, she sticks out her own tongue too. It is likely that ________ are involved in Sayuri's learning and imitation of this behavior.

A) leukocyte neurons
B) tactile neurons
C) mirror neurons
D) olfactory neurons

Question 12

The ________ is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

A) insula
B) cerebral cortex
C) corpus callosum
D) basal ganglia

Question 13

________ play an important role in communication between neurons, produce the material that insulates neurons, and aid cell metabolism.

A) Dendrites
B) Glial cells
C) Skin cells
D) Soma

Question 14

Which of the following measurement techniques is NOT used to examine the working brain?

A) Electrocardiography (ECG)
B) Electroencephalography (EEG)
C) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
D) Positron emission tomography (PET)

Question 15

The ________ serves the involuntary systems of the body, such as the internal organs and glands.

A) spinal cord
B) autonomic nervous system
C) somatic nervous system
D) central nervous system

Question 16

________ is defined as a brain imaging technique that extracts electrical activity from raw electroencephalography (EEG) data to measure cognitive processes.

A) Computed tomography (CT)
B) Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
C) Near infrared spectrometry (NIRS)
D) Event-related potential (ERP)

Question 17

If researchers lesion (cut or destroy) the amygdala of a cat, what would be the likely result?

A) The cat will become extremely aggressive.
B) The cat will show no fear.
C) The cat will show an increased aversion to humans.
D) The cat will not wake up from its sleep.

Question 18

The ________ serves as a bridge between lower brain regions and higher midbrain and forebrain activity.

A) hippocampus
B) pons
C) thalamus
D) cerebellum

Question 19

The myelin sheath insulates the ________, so that an impulse travels more efficiently and strengthens the connection to adjacent neurons.

A) synaptic cleft
B) axon
C) nucleus
D) synapse

Question 20

In the context of the structure of neurons, which of the following is defined as a little knob at the end of an axon that contains tiny sacs of neurotransmitters?

A) A node of Ranvier
B) A synaptic vesicle
C) A terminal button
D) A glia

Question 21

The role of the parasympathetic nervous system is to ________.

A) prepare the body for fight-or-flight responses
B) organize information transport between the brain and the spinal cord
C) return the body to a less active, restful state
D) transport information about arm and leg movements to the brain

Question 22

In the context of neural communication, which of the following statements defines the nodes of Ranvier?

A) They are the nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain.
B) They are small structures inside the cerebrum that play an important role in the perception of bodily sensations.
C) They are the central nervous system cells that provide structural support.
D) They are the gaps in the myelin sheath across which an action potential jumps.

Question 23

Tamara sustained a brain injury and as a result cannot comprehend speech. Her doctors note that she speaks fluently, but her words are streams of speech that lack meaning. Which of the following disorders best explains Tamara's symptoms?

A) Bipolar disorder
B) Broca's aphasia
C) Dyslexia
D) Wernicke's aphasia

Question 24

The ________ lies directly behind the ________ of the frontal lobe. These two regions are "twins."

A) auditory cortex; somatosensory cortex
B) primary visual cortex; auditory cortex
C) somatosensory cortex; motor cortex
D) primary motor cortex; primary visual cortex

Question 25

Without the neurotransmitter ________, the central nervous system would have no "brakes" and could run out of control.

A) dopamine
B) serotonin
C) gamma-aminobutyric acid
D) acetylcholine

Question 26

Which of the following is defined as a field in which the brain, computing, and robotics come together to help people who no longer have functional limbs?

A) Neuroprosthetics
B) Epigenetics
C) Artificial intelligence
D) Biosystematics

Question 27

Madeline, a 70-year-old woman, takes medication to treat the symptoms of memory loss. Madeline's medication most likely enhances the effects of the neurotransmitter ________.

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

Question 28

The ________ is the part of the nervous system that comprises the brain and spinal cord.

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

Question 29

In the context of the neurotransmitters of the brain, which of the following statements is most likely true of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?

A) It is necessary to regulate and control neural activity.
B) It slows down the autonomic nervous system.
C) It is the brain's major excitatory neurotransmitter.
D) It facilitates growth and change in neurons.

Question 30

Which of the following neurotransmitters would likely mediate the voluntary movements made by the blind artist Esref Armagan when he paints?

A) Epinephrine
B) Serotonin
C) Dopamine
D) Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Question 31

In the context of brain imaging, identify a true statement about positron emission tomography (PET).

A) It takes very clear, detailed images of the brain and other soft tissues.
B) It involves injecting a participant or patient with a radioactive form of oxygen or glucose.
C) It is much safer than functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure metabolism in the brain.
D) It is the most widely used method for imaging myelinated fibers and tracts.

Question 32

Jamie goes to the gym every morning. After each session on the treadmill, he feels a sense of euphoria, which is often termed as the "runner's high." The neurotransmitter most likely responsible for Jamie's feeling of pleasure is ________.

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

Question 33

The corpus callosum ________.

A) houses the optic nerve that travels from the eye to the occipital lobe
B) plays an important role in attention and cognitive control
C) provides a channel for extensive communication between the two hemispheres of the brain
D) connects the hypothalamus with the amygdala

Question 34

The process of developing new neurons is termed as ________.

A) synaptogenesis
B) arborization
C) neurogenesis
D) neuroplasticity

Question 35

Different forms of a gene are known as ________.

A) alleles
B) neurons
C) dendrites
D) glial cells

Question 36

Which of the following statements regarding the temporal lobes is true?

A) The temporal lobes make up the top and rear sections of the brain and contain the somatosensory cortex.
B) The temporal lobes lie directly below the frontal and parietal lobes and right behind the ears.
C) The temporal lobes occupy the rear of the brain and process visual information.
D) The temporal lobes play an important role in the sensation and perception of touch.

Question 37

The ________ regulates almost all of our major drives and motives, including hunger, thirst, temperature, and sexual behavior.

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

Question 38

In the context of epigenetics, which of the following is defined as a trait that has a one-to-one connection to a gene?

A) A monogenic trait
B) A codominant trait
C) A dominant trait
D) A polygenic trait

Question 39

The information in neural transmission always travels in one direction in the neuron and finally reaches the ________.

A) synapses
B) soma
C) dendrites
D) axon

Question 40

________ facilitates growth and change in neurons and the migration of neurons to different sites in the brain, all of which are basic processes of early brain development.

A) Gamma-aminobutyric acid
B) Glutamate
C) Acetylcholine
D) Serotonin

Question 41

Which of the following is true about frontal lobes?

A) The frontal lobes lie directly below the temporal and parietal lobes and right behind the ears.
B) The optic nerve travels from the eye to the thalamus and then to the frontal lobes.
C) The frontal lobes are more interconnected with other brain regions than any other part of the brain.
D) The frontal lobes play an important role in the sensation and perception of touch.

Question 42

The ________ transmits electrical impulses toward the adjacent neuron.

A) nucleus
B) soma
C) synapse
D) axon

Question 43

The ________, wrapped around the thalamus, plays a vital role in learning and memory.

A) insula
B) amygdala
C) cerebral cortex
D) hippocampus

Question 44

________ are fingerlike projections from a neuron's soma that receive incoming messages from other neurons.

A) Ions
B) Synaptic vesicles
C) Pons
D) Dendrites

Question 45

Axons that become ________ are insulated and can transmit impulses more efficiently.

A) myelinated
B) deafferent
C) ionized
D) dorsal

Question 46

Identify a true statement about the cerebral hemispheres of the brain.

A) The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain.
B) The right hemisphere processes information in a more analytic manner than the left hemisphere.
C) They are of the same shape and size and perform the same functions.
D) They operate independently.

Question 47

Which of the following statements regarding aphasia is true?

A) Wernicke's area is responsible for the inability to produce speech.
B) People with Broca's aphasia are unable to comprehend speech.
C) People with Broca's aphasia often have damage or lesions in the same region of the parietal lobe.
D) Wernicke's aphasia results in fluent, grammatical streams of speech that lack meaning.

Question 48

Which of the following traits can be determined in a person by a single gene?

A) Anxiety
B) Major depressive disorder
C) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
D) Huntington's disease

Question 49

The ________ occupy the rear of the brain.

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

Question 50

The charge difference between the inside and outside of an axon is known as a ________.

A) period
B) potential
C) capacity
D) current

Question 51

Which neurotransmitter's reuptake into the presynaptic neuron is blocked by cocaine, leading to an increase in the neurotransmitter's availability in the synaptic cleft and stimulating feelings of euphoria?

A) Acetylcholine
B) Adrenaline
C) Norepinephrine
D) Dopamine

Question 52

Todd, who has Broca's aphasia, experiences deficits in his ability to ________.

A) produce speech
B) distinguish between letters of the alphabet
C) understand sounds
D) read

Question 53

All of the systems that are aroused by the ________ are relaxed by the ________.

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

Question 54

Which of the following are defined as chemically charged particles that predominate in bodily fluids and are found both inside and outside cells?

A) Synaptic vesicles
B) Neurotransmitters
C) Ions
D) Interneurons

Question 55

The ________ is a connection group of forebrain structures that include the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the cingulate gyrus.

A) hindbrain
B) cerebellum
C) medulla
D) limbic system

Question 56

The ________ releases hormones, including insulin, that play a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels.

A) esophagus
B) stomach
C) pancreas
D) jejunum

Question 57

Which of the following is true about magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?

A) MRI provides pictures presenting brain activity.
B) MRI provides static pictures, and it is very useful for looking at structures and abnormalities in structures.
C) To examine MRI, one gathers electrical recordings from an EGG cap on research participants who are performing cognitive or emotional tasks.
D) MRI provides excellent temporal resolution but poor spatial resolution.

Question 58

Which of the following is a neurotransmitter that is involved in voluntarily controlling one's muscles and is released during feelings of pleasure or reward?

A) Epinephrine
B) Acetylcholine
C) Gamma-aminobutyric acid
D) Dopamine

Question 59

In the context of epigenetics, which of the following is an example of a polygenic trait?

A) Skin color
B) Lactose intolerance
C) Huntington's chorea
D) Polycystic kidney disease

Question 60

A ________ shows its effects only when both alleles are the same.

A) dominant allele
B) recessive allele
C) genome
D) neuron

Question 61

The best-known and biggest functional difference between the cerebral hemispheres is in ________.

A) sight
B) feel
C) sound
D) language

Question 62

Channels in the membrane of a neuron allow ions to flow between the inside and outside of the cell. Of these, ________ open only when certain electrical conditions are met.

A) inositol trisphosphate receptor
B) synthetic ion channels
C) ion channels
D) voltage-dependent channels

Question 63

Any sensation one receives activates ________, which take the message to the brain for processing.

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

Question 64

When a neuron is at rest, the charge difference between the inside and the outside of the axon is ?70 millivolts (mV). This value is the ________ of the neuronal membrane.

A) actual potential
B) difference potential
C) graded potential
D) resting potential

Question 65

In the context of the cerebral cortex, identify a true statement about the insula.

A) It is a small structure inside the corpus callosum.
B) It is involved in the comprehension of language.
C) It is active in the perception of bodily sensations.
D) It is an area over which an action potential jumps.

Question 66

James has suffered a head injury while practicing skateboarding. He is immediately taken to the hospital where doctors rush him to the ER to look for any damage and abnormality in the structure of the brain and other soft tissues. Presently, they are just interested in looking at the structures and not interested in finding out anything about his brain activity. Which of the following techniques will most likely provide the required information?

A) Positron emission tomography
B) Event-related potential
C) Electroencephalography
D) Magnetic resonance imaging

Question 67

The hypothalamus controls the ________, which is responsible for producing and controlling the hormones our bodies produce.

A) alveolar gland
B) salivary gland
C) pituitary gland
D) exocrine gland

Question 68

Melinda sees a dog on the street and is extremely scared. She decides to run away as fast as she can. When she gets home, she calms down because the dog did not follow her. In this situation, the ________ prepared Melinda's body to deal with this emergency, and the ________ relaxed her body after the crisis.

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

Question 69

People who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to have unusually low levels of ________.

A) gamma-aminobutyric acid
B) epinephrine
C) norepinephrine
D) dopamine

Question 70

The temporal lobes are involved in memory and emotion because ________.

A) they connect with the auditory cortex and the thalamus
B) they house and connect with the frontal lobe
C) they house and connect with the somatosensory cortex
D) they house and connect with the hippocampus and amygdala

Question 71

In the context of brain plasticity, which of the following was discovered by the neuroscientist Helen Neville?

A) Deaf people have better peripheral vision than sighted people.
B) A woman's brain is most plastic during reproduction.
C) The auditory cortex is actually a section of the temporal lobe.
D) Brain plasticity is strongest in infancy and decreases with age.

Question 72

The temporal lobes house the ________.

A) somatosensory cortex
B) auditory cortex
C) primary motor cortex
D) primary visual cortex

Question 73

In the context of neural communication, which of the following in a postsynaptic neuron integrates the various graded potentials?

A) The nucleus
B) The soma
C) The axon
D) The dendrites

Question 74

Kelly, who is blind, switches on the fan in her room without anyone's help. She is able to do this because the ________ relays the relevant information to her brain.

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

Question 75

Which of the following is an example of a monogenic trait in humans?

A) Turner syndrome
B) Baldness
C) Albinism
D) Lactose intolerance

Question 76

________ create graded potentials that decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing.

A) Inhibitory neurotransmitters
B) Excitatory neurotransmitters
C) Glutamate neurotransmitters
D) Enzymatic neurotransmitters

Question 77

Which of the following is true for when a neuron is in its resting state?

A) Impulses are being transmitted.
B) There is an excess of positively charged particles inside the axon.
C) The charge difference between the inside and the outside of the axon is ?30 millivolts.
D) The fluid outside the axon has a positive charge.

Question 78

Martin was extremely obese. He was unable to tell when he was full and therefore always tended to overeat. On examination, the doctor determined that the cause of his condition was a lesion in the _____ of his brain.

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

Question 79

The term ________ can be defined as the study of changes in the way genes are activated or deactivated without changing the sequence of DNA.

A) synaptogenesis
B) polygenic transmission
C) epigenetics
D) arborization

Question 80

Which of the following is a property of the substance BrdU that helps in detecting neurogenesis in humans?

A) It is incorporated into dividing cells so that they can be identified.
B) It is photosensitive and helps in identifying cancerous cells.
C) It is fluorescent and helpful in detecting when cell growth stops.
D) It is a nonradioactive substance and can be directly injected into humans.