Deck 2: The Brain and Behavior

Question 1

You are listening to a lecture.Then the bell rings in the hallway.In order to hear this stimulus, _____ nerves must carry electrochemical messages from your ears to your brain.

A)afferent
B)olfactory
C)efferent
D)pyramidal

Answer 1

afferent

Question 2

The _____ system is the body's electrochemical communication circuitry.

A)pulmonary
B)nervous
C)endocrine
D)respiratory

Answer 2

nervous

Question 3

The function of sensory nerves of the somatic nervous system is to

A)take messages to and from the body's internal organs, monitoring such processes as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.
B)be involved in the experience of stress and calm the body.
C)arouse the body to mobilize it for action.
D)convey information from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature.

Answer 3

convey information from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature.

Question 4

The somatic nervous system consists of motor nerves, whose function is to _____.

A)mobilize the body for action in a dangerous situation
B)tell muscles what to do
C)reduce the stress levels of the body
D)convey information from the skin and muscles to the central nervous system

Question 5

Which of the following is one of the functions of the sympathetic nervous system?

A)convey information from skin to the central nervous system (CNS)
B)calm the body
C)fight-or-flight reaction
D)tell muscles what to do

Question 6

The _____ connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

A)central nervous system
B)peripheral nervous system
C)limbic system
D)endocrine system

Question 7

Which of the following characteristics of the nervous system best reflects the brain's ability to coordinate information from all five senses?

A)complexity
B)adaptability
C)integration
D)electrochemical transmission

Question 8

Which of the following essential body functions are under the control of the autonomic nervous system?

A)functions of reproductive system
B)excretory functions
C)sensory functions such as vision and hearing
D)functions of heart rate, breathing, and digestion

Question 9

The somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system are components of the

A)sensory system.
B)central nervous system.
C)limbic system.
D)peripheral nervous system.

Question 10

The sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system are components of the

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

Question 11

Ashley, a secretary at Plato Inc., is typing on her computer, talking on the phone, and handing some papers to her colleague simultaneously.Which of the following characteristics of the nervous system is best illustrated in this scenario?

A)complexity
B)resting potential
C)polarization
D)plasticity

Question 12

Information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles is sent through _____, thus enabling the body to move.

A)afferent nerves
B)efferent nerves
C)auditory nerves
D)olfactory nerves

Question 13

The brain and spinal cord make up the

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

Question 14

The term plasticity refers to the

A)flexibility of the endocrine system.
B)ability of people to adapt to new surroundings.
C)ability to connect electrical impulses and chemical messengers.
D)brain's special capacity for modification and change.

Question 15

Stand-up comedians who improvise constantly while on stage are demonstrating their ability to change according to the environment.Which of the following characteristics of the nervous system is most likely playing a predominant role in their adaptability?

A)resting potential
B)reuptake
C)polarization
D)adaptability

Question 16

You are walking to school when you encounter a barking dog.You start sweating and contemplate whether you should run away.Which nervous system is primarily responsible for this "fight-or-flight" reaction?

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

Question 17

The function of the _____ is to take messages to and from the body's internal organs, monitoring such processes as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

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

Question 18

Your brain has instructed your body muscles to move so that you avoid burning your hand on a hot stove.Which type of nerves carried the information from your brain to your muscles so that you could avoid getting burned?

A)efferent nerves
B)afferent nerves
C)olfactory nerves
D)auditory nerves

Question 19

Plasticity best reflects which of the following characteristics of the nervous system?

A)complexity
B)integration
C)adaptability
D)electrochemical transmission

Question 20

The lecture you were listening to is over.The bell that rang in the hall signaled the end of class.You get up, pick up your things, and walk out the classroom door.Which kind of nerves sent the signals from your brain to your muscles to initiate your physical movements?

A)afferent
B)pyramidal
C)efferent
D)olfactory

Question 21

A _____ is a layer of fat cells that insulates most axons and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses.

A)dendrite
B)myelin sheath
C)cyton
D)nucleolus

Question 22

After finishing a psychology test, you try to relax by engaging in some meditation techniques.Doing these exercises should increase the response of the _____ nervous system, which results in a slower heart and respiration rate and less muscular tension.

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

Question 23

Which division of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for producing physiological symptoms (such as increased heart rate and butterflies in the stomach) under conditions of stress?

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

Question 24

Normally, when a neuron is not transmitting information and a slight negative charge is present on the inside of the cell membrane, it is said to be

A)depolarized.
B)resting.
C)active.
D)highly charged.

Question 25

Which of the following types of cells in the nervous system handle the information-processing function?

A)neurons
B)glial cells
C)sclerenchyma cells
D)sensors

Question 26

Just before you went on a job interview your heart was pounding like crazy.You experienced a shortness of breath and felt sick to your stomach.These symptoms were most likely produced by your _____ nervous system.

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

Question 27

The axon is

A)the part of the neuron that carryies information away from the cell body toward other cells.
B)the branchlike part of the neuron that is responsible for receiving information from other neurons.
C)located inside the cell body.
D)the layer of fat cells that encase and insulate the neuron.

Question 28

Which of the following is a true statement about dendrites?

A)They encase and insulate most axons.
B)They are treelike fibers projecting from a neuron.
C)They contain the nucleus of a neuron.
D)They direct the manufacture of substances required for growth of neurons.

Question 29

Corticosteroids are

A)stress hormones.
B)sex hormones.
C)neurotransmitters that regulate mood.
D)neurotransmitters that regulate memory.

Question 30

Dendrites are

A)the part of the neuron that is responsible for sending information away from the cell body toward other cells.
B)treelike fibers which receive information and orient it toward the neuron's cell body.
C)located inside the cell body.
D)the layer of fat cells that encase and insulate the neuron.

Question 31

The cell body contains the _____, which directs the manufacture of substances that a neuron needs for growth and maintenance.

A)myelin
B)nucleus
C)axon
D)dendrite

Question 32

_____ stress is the momentary stress that occurs in response to life experiences.

A)intrinsic
B)differential
C)chronic
D)acute

Question 33

If a person needs to run away from a dangerous situation, the _____ nervous system sends blood to the person's extremities to prepare him or her for taking off.

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

Question 34

_____ provide support, nutritional benefits, and other functions in the nervous system.

A)Neurons
B)Glial cells
C)Sclerenchyma cells
D)Dendrites

Question 35

Which of the following is a true statement about an axon?

A)It encases and insulates most nuclei.
B)It is a treelike fiber projecting from a neuron.
C)It is extremely thin and has many branches.
D)It directs the manufacture of substances required for growth of neurons.

Question 36

In the context of the neural impulse, the membrane that encases the axon is called semipermeable because

A)only sodium ions can cross the membrane.
B)any type of substance can pass through the membrane.
C)fluids can sometimes flow into and out of it.
D)depolarization of the membranes cannot occur.

Question 37

After taking her English final, Natalie attempts to relax in her chair by meditating.She is attempting to reduce her heart and respiration rates, as well as her muscular tension.In this scenario, her physiological relaxation can be best attributed to the functioning of her _____ nervous system.

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

Question 38

Maya burns her fingers while cooking dinner.Which of the following divisions of the nervous system will be primarily responsible for the pain she feels?

A)the central nervous system
B)the autonomic nervous system
C)the somatic nervous system
D)the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 39

Which of the following is a function of the myelin sheath?

A)carry information away from the cell body toward other cells
B)increase the surface area of nerve cells
C)speed up the transmission of nerve impulses
D)play a role in imitation

Question 40

In multiple sclerosis, identify the part of a neuron that typically hardens and disrupts the flow of information through neurons.

A)the nucleus
B)the dendrites
C)the cell body
D)the myelin sheath

Question 41

The brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon is

A)resting potential.
B)action potential.
C)graded potential.
D)polarized potential.

Question 42

Your relative is experiencing memory loss related to Alzheimer disease.Research suggests that the decline in memory is due to a(n) _____ deficiency in this individual's brain.

A)serotonin
B)gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)
C)acetylcholine
D)dopamine

Question 43

Which of the following refer to tiny spaces between neurons?

A)dendrites
B)axons
C)synapses
D)basal ganglia

Question 44

Who among the following is most likely to have elevated levels of endorphins?

A)Amy, a 30-year-old teacher, who is in shock after a car wreck.
B)Jamie, a 40-year-old diplomat, who is on a cruise.
C)Martha, a 32-year-old homemaker, who is showing symptoms of schizophrenia.
D)Joshua, a 17-year-old student, who is depressed after seeing his low SAT scores.

Question 45

Kenny has been diagnosed with Parkinson disease and has been prescribed medication to manage some of his symptoms.The medication elevates the levels of dopamine in his system.If the levels of dopamine in his system become excessive, Kenny is most likely to exhibit symptoms associated with

A)depression.
B)multiple sclerosis.
C)Alzheimer disease.
D)schizophrenia.

Question 46

Melinda suffers from migraine headaches and seizures.In the context of neurotransmitter functioning, which of the following most likely plays a significant role in her symptoms?

A)too little norepinephrine
B)too much glutamate
C)too much acetylcholine
D)too little dopamine

Question 47

Depression is associated with low levels of which neurotransmitter?

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

Question 48

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in

A)learning and memory.
B)vision and hearing.
C)mood regulation.
D)reproductive function.

Question 49

When a neuron is at its resting state, what is the status of the charges on each side of the cell membrane?

A)There is a negative charge on the outside of the cell membrane, and a positive charge on the inside.
B)There is a negative charge on the inside of the cell membrane and a positive charge on the outside.
C)There is a negative charge on both the outside and the inside of the cell membrane.
D)There is a positive charge on both the outside and the inside of the cell membrane.

Question 50

Resting potential is the

A)amount of time a signal travels through the central nervous system.
B)amount of time a neuron must "rest" in between firing episodes.
C)stable, positive charge of an inactive neuron.
D)stable, negative charge of an inactive neuron.

Question 51

_____ inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system, but it excites the heart muscle, intestines, and urogenital tract.

A)Serotonin
B)Dopamine
C)Norepinephrine
D)GABA

Question 52

The membrane of the resting neuron is said to be

A)deconcentrated.
B)depolarized.
C)concentrated.
D)polarized.

Question 53

According to the all-or-nothing principle,

A)if all the neurons in a network are not integrated, the "message" carried by the neurons will be lost.
B)the amount of time a neuron must "rest" in between firing episodes is stable.
C)once the electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity, it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any intensity.
D)as a person ages, his or her neurological system slows down and the intensity of neural impulses decreases significantly.

Question 54

When a neuron sends an action potential, it is commonly said to be

A)firing.
B)grading.
C)depolarizing.
D)classifying.

Question 55

Which of the following is true of the neurotransmitter serotonin?

A)It is related to the personality trait of extraversion.
B)It inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system.
C)It is involved in the regulation of mood and attention.
D)It is hardly involved in the regulation of sleep.

Question 56

In the context of the neural impulse, which of the following is true about the depolarization of neuron membranes?

A)It is characterized by more negatively charged ions on the inside of the cell and more positively charged ions on the outside.
B)It occurs when there is a decrease in the charge difference between the fluids inside and outside of the neuron.
C)It is the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon.
D)It is the phase that allows sodium ions to move out of the neuron.

Question 57

A powerful surge of oxytocin is released in a

A)person who is in shock after a car wreck.
B)long-distance runner.
C)young boy on a roller-coaster ride.
D)mother who has just given birth.

Question 58

In the context of neurotransmitters, which of the following best describes the effect of norepinephrine stimulation?

A)It plays a role in the human tendency to feel pleasure during orgasm.
B)It plays a role in forming emotional bonds with romantic partners.
C)It inhibits the heart muscle, intestines, and urogenital tract.
D)It helps to control the level of alertness.

Question 59

_____ are chemical substances that are stored in very tiny sacs within the neuron's terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap to the next neuron.

A)Neurotransmitters
B)Neural impulses
C)Synapses
D)Dendrites

Question 60

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

A)High levels of oxytocin-Alzheimer disease
B)Low levels of dopamine-Parkinson disease
C)Low levels of acetylcholine-Schizophrenia
D)High levels of serotonin-Depression

Question 61

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique that

A)allows scientists to see what is happening in the brain while it is working.
B)requires injecting the brain with a substance but still cannot portray brain function.
C)measures the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain and then sends this information to a computer for analysis.
D)examines the effects of lesions in brain tissue.

Question 62

Harry has been diagnosed with epilepsy by his neurologist.Which of the following should the neurologist use to assess Harry's epilepsy by studying his brain-wave activity?

A)electrooculography
B)electromyography
C)electroencephalograph
D)electrocardiograph

Question 63

The reticular formation of the midbrain is involved in

A)controlling breathing and regulating reflexes to maintain an upright posture.
B)stereotyped patterns of behavior such as walking, sleeping, or turning to attend to a sudden noise.
C)the control and coordination of balance, hearing, and parasympathetic function.
D)governing higher brain functions, such as thinking, learning, and consciousness.

Question 64

Damien has been unable to sleep for the past few weeks.He wakes up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep.On certain occasions, he cannot fall asleep at all and at other times, he is unable to wake up from sleep.In the context of organization of the brain, Damien's problem with sleep and arousal is most likely caused by the poor functioning of the

A)pons.
B)amygdala.
C)medulla.
D)cerebellum.

Question 65

Michael has schizophrenia.His doctor prescribed a new drug that blocks or interferes with the activity of dopamine.Michael's doctor is using _____ to treat his disorder.

A)an agonist
B)an antagonist
C)a brain lesion
D)a lobotomy

Question 66

Marshall's cerebellum was damaged in a car accident.Marshal is likely to have problems with

A)breathing and heart rate.
B)seeing and hearing.
C)talking and understanding.
D)balance and muscle coordination.

Question 67

Which of the following methods of studying the brain records the brain's electrical activity by placing electrodes on the scalp to detect brain-wave activity?

A)electroencephalograph (EEG)
B)positron emission tomography (PET)
C)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
D)functional MRI (fMRI)

Question 68

Which part of the nervous system regulates breathing and heart rate?

A)hypothalamus
B)pons
C)medulla
D)cerebellum

Question 69

Mark Johnson, a doctor in Dallas, prescribed an antidepressant drug Prozac to his patient, Ted.Prozac works by increasing brain levels of serotonin.This means that Prozac is considered

A)an agonist.
B)an antagonist.
C)an endorphin.
D)an oxytocin.

Question 70

An _____ is a drug that mimics or increases a neurotransmitter's effects, whereas an _____ is a drug that blocks a neurotransmitter's effects.

A)agonist/antagonist
B)antagonist/agonist
C)oxytocin/endorphin
D)endorphin/oxytocin

Question 71

In which of the following ways does functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) detect the functioning of the brain?

A)It exploits changes in blood oxygen that occur in association with brain activity.
B)It measures the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain.
C)It places electrodes on the scalp to detect brain-wave activity.
D)It establishes a cause-effect relationship between variables associated with brain activity.

Question 72

The _____ relays information between the brain and the eyes and ears.

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

Question 73

Stern Tyler, a neuroscientist who is collecting data for a new research study, uses techniques for monitoring the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain.Which of the following methods is Stern Tyler using in this study?

A)brain lesioning
B)staining
C)positron emission tomography (PET scan)
D)electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 74

Michael, a researcher in the field of neuroscience, has a theory about a specific area of the brain causing difficulties in face recognition.To draw a solid causal inference, he intends to test his hypothesis on dogs by disrupting regions of their brains and examining the effects of this disruption on the dogs' face-recognition capacity.Which of the following techniques should be used by Michael to achieve his purpose?

A)computerized axial tomography (CAT scan)
B)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C)transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
D)functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Question 75

Which of the following is a significance of the brain-lesioning process?

A)It assesses the amount of glucose in the various brain regions.
B)It gives a three-dimensional view of various brain regions.
C)It gives a sense of the functions of the damaged brain regions.
D)It assesses the amount of radioactivity in several brain regions.

Question 76

Which of the following principles underlies the technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?

A)It rests on the principle that mental activity is associated with changes in glucose levels in the brain.
B)It rests on the principle that mental activity is associated with changes in the oxygenated blood levels in the brain.
C)It rests on the principle that mental activity is associated with changes in hydrogenated blood levels in the brain.
D)It rests on the principle that mental activity is associated with changes in magnetic fields in the brain.

Question 77

Which of the following is true of the brain-imaging technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

A)It does not allow researchers to draw cause-and-effect conclusions.
B)It examines neuronal functioning following brain-injuring events.
C)It is not used to treat any neurological and psychological disorders.
D)It is the most painful technique used in examining the role of various regions of the brain.

Question 78

Neuroscientists who surgically remove, destroy, or eliminate the brain tissue of laboratory animals are using which of the following techniques for studying the brain?

A)electroencephalogram
B)positron emission tomography (PET)
C)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
D)brain lesioning

Question 79

Lilly, who has just given birth, is able to provide nourishment for her baby and loves her newborn unconditionally.Which of the following neurotransmitters is said to play an important role in this case?

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

Question 80

Arnold Becker, a doctor in Seattle, needs information about the location and extent of damage involving stroke and loss of memory of his patient, Judith.Which of the following techniques will he most likely use to diagnose Judith's condition?

A)brain lesioning
B)computerized axial tomography (CAT scan)
C)positron emission tomography (PET)
D)electroencephalogram (EEG)