Deck 3: Biological Foundations in Behavior

Question 1

In a resting neuron,some substances can pass freely across the membrane,whereas others cannot.This is because the membrane is:

A) ionic.
B) semi-permeable.
C) polarized.
D) myelinated.

Answer 1

semi-permeable.

Question 2

The ____________ is a layer of white,fatty coating that insulates the axon.

A) myelin sheath
B) ion
C) synapse
D) node of Ranvier

Answer 2

myelin sheath

Question 3

Dendrites:

A) receive signals from other neurons.
B) transmit signals to other neurons.
C) are located in the nucleus and carry the cell's genetic information.
D) help speed the flow of information between neurons.

Answer 3

receive signals from other neurons.

Question 4

In a polarized neuron,which of following correctly states the distribution of charges on each side of the membrane?

A) negative on the outside and positive on the inside
B) negative on the outside and negative on the inside
C) positive on the outside and positive on the inside
D) positive on the outside and negative on the inside

Question 5

Another term that describes neural transmission is:

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

Question 6

You are a neuron that is depolarizing.What is happening?

A) Your membrane is becoming less permeable to sodium ions.
B) Gates in your membrane are opening,and proteins are crossing the membrane.
C) You are moving negatively charged particles to the outside of your membrane.
D) Your membrane is becoming more permeable,and sodium ions are flowing in.

Question 7

Individual nerve cells are called:

A) axons.
B) neurons.
C) synapses.
D) neurotransmitters.

Question 8

A polarized neuron is:

A) sending information.
B) secreting neurotransmitters.
C) receiving information.
D) resting.

Question 9

The nervous system is a complex,vast network composed of ____________ neurons,which is close in number to the stars in our galaxy.

A) 100 billion
B) one million
C) 10 thousand
D) 10 million

Question 10

The ____________ carries messages away from the cell body and toward the synapse.

A) dendrite
B) myelin sheath
C) axon
D) spinal cord

Question 11

Which physical event would be MOST like an action potential?

A) a column of water moving simultaneously through a pipe
B) a pack of dogs barking,with each dog influencing the other dogs
C) a flashlight sending a code
D) a row of standing dominoes,where one falling domino tips over the next

Question 12

The myelin sheath is able to increase the speed the axon conducts neural impulses because it:

A) insulates the neuron.
B) allows the action potential to skip through the gray matter of the brain.
C) has specialized vesicles that contain neurotransmitters.
D) wraps around the dendrites and speeds transmission to the cell body.

Question 13

The fluid that bathes neural cells is rich in:

A) protein.
B) potassium.
C) sodium.
D) nitrogen.

Question 14

The outer membrane of a neuron is semipermeable.This means that:

A) a very specific number of sodium ions are allowed to cross the membrane.
B) the fluid outside the membrane is positively charged.
C) some substances,but not others,can pass through the membrane.
D) the membrane must be depolarized before any particles can pass through it.

Question 15

The ____________ is the physical space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite (or cell body)of the next neuron.

A) myelin sheath
B) receptor site
C) synaptic gap
D) node of Ranvier

Question 16

What is meant by the "all-or-none" principle?

A) When one neuron fires,all neurons fire.
B) Once an action potential is produced,its magnitude is always the same.
C) The stronger the depolarization,the stronger the action potential.
D) When one neuron is inhibited,all neurons are inhibited.

Question 17

The primary function of the axon is to:

A) carry messages away from the cell body and transmit these messages to the next neuron.
B) receive signals being sent by other neurons.
C) trigger a chain of events know as the "axon potential."
D) ensure the neuron is properly charged,both positively and negatively.

Question 18

In multiple sclerosis,what happens at the level of the neuron?

A) The myelin sheath deteriorates.
B) The gates in the membrane are fused shut.
C) Sodium can no longer cross the membrane.
D) The neuron stops making neurotransmitters.

Question 19

Computer is to wire as ____________ is to ____________.

A) axon;dendrite
B) neuron;spinal cord
C) synapses;axon
D) nervous system;neuron

Question 20

The nucleus of the neuron is located in the:

A) axon.
B) dendrite.
C) cell body.
D) synapse.

Question 21

Some simple reflexes,such as the reflexive withdrawal of one's hand when it touches a hot object,travel up an afferent nerve to the:

A) cerebral cortex.
B) arms and legs.
C) thalamus.
D) spinal cord.

Question 22

Recent research has suggested that glial cells may play a role in:

A) sleep.
B) appetite.
C) love.
D) memory.

Question 23

____________ cells assist ____________ by transporting nutrients to them,producing the myelin sheath,and influencing the transmission of messages across synapses.

A) Glial;neurons
B) Neuron;neurotransmitters
C) Axon;dendrites
D) Interneuron;afferent neurons

Question 24

Psychoactive drugs that operate by reducing the amount of the neurotransmitter that is reabsorbed by the axon keep the neurotransmitter active in the synapse for ____________ periods of time,____________ the likelihood of neural transmission.

A) longer;increasing.
B) shorter;increasing
C) longer;decreasing
D) shorter;decreasing

Question 25

Neurons in the central nervous system that connect to other neurons are termed:

A) efferent neurons.
B) afferent neurons.
C) glial cells.
D) interneurons.

Question 26

Prozac,an antidepressant,increases the effectiveness of neurotransmitter systems by:

A) reducing the reabsorption of the neurotransmitter which positively affects mood.
B) mimicking the natural neurotransmitter and stimulating receptor sites on the dendrite.
C) blocking receptor sites and inhibiting neural transmission.
D) blocking receptor sites and increasing the likelihood of neural transmission.

Question 27

When you touch a hot pan on the stove and immediately remove your hand,____________ is (are)responsible for your quick reaction time.

A) afferent neurons
B) interneurons
C) efferent neurons
D) the cerebral cortex

Question 28

The purpose of the peripheral nervous system is to:

A) relay messages from the spinal cord to the brain
B) process simple reflexes
C) increase and decrease levels of neurotransmitters in the brain
D) support the central nervous system by transporting nutrients

Question 29

The neural message being delivered in a synaptic transmission is carried across the synaptic gap by:

A) electrical substances.
B) ionic substances.
C) syntonic substances.
D) chemical substances.

Question 30

Of the following,which is the best description of the role of glial cells?

A) manager
B) creative director
C) assistant
D) meter reader

Question 31

A message is traveling from your central nervous system to your left arm.The message is traveling through:

A) interneurons.
B) afferent neurons.
C) efferent neurons.
D) both afferent and efferent neurons.

Question 32

Which of the following can be found in a synaptic vesicle?

A) sodium
B) myelin
C) calcium
D) neurotransmitters

Question 33

Afferent neurons transmit information from the:

A) body to the brain and spinal cord.
B) body to the brain,and from the brain to the body.
C) brain to the body.
D) brain to the spinal cord.

Question 34

Neurotransmitters are released from:

A) dendrites.
B) receptor sites.
C) cell bodies.
D) synaptic vesicles.

Question 35

What impact do neurotransmitters have on the receiving neuron?

A) All neurotransmitters excite the receiving neuron.
B) All neurotransmitters inhibit the receiving neuron.
C) Some neurotransmitters excite the receiving neuron,while others inhibit the receiving neuron.
D) Because the strength of depolarization influences neurotransmission,neurotransmitters can be either excitatory or inhibitory.

Question 36

The vesicles containing neurotransmitters are located in the:

A) cell body.
B) dendrite.
C) synaptic knob of the axon.
D) synapse.

Question 37

The transmission of messages between neurons is:

A) electrical.
B) chemical.
C) both electrical and chemical.
D) neither electrical nor chemical.

Question 38

Which function of glial cells has led researchers to propose that they play a role in memory?

A) none of these
B) secreting ATP to cause the axon to release more or less neurotransmitter the next time it fires
C) transporting nutrients from blood cells to neurons
D) producing the myelin sheath

Question 39

Which of the following does NOT require processing in the brain?

A) simple memories
B) simple reflexes
C) experience of muscle fatigue
D) feeling of texture

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT part of the central nervous system?

A) spinal cord
B) afferent neurons
C) brain
D) interneurons

Question 41

The major divisions of the nervous system are divided into the:

A) somatic and autonomic systems.
B) central and peripheral nervous systems.
C) brain and spinal cord.
D) peripheral and autonomic systems.

Question 42

The primary responsibility of the hindbrain is to:

A) control conscious experience and intelligence.
B) perform routine functions that keep the body working properly.
C) route sensory messages to appropriate parts of the brain.
D) generate spoken language.

Question 43

In students who experience extreme test anxiety,it is likely that their ____________ nervous system(s)is/are working over time.

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

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a function of the autonomic nervous system?

A) heart rate and breathing
B) emotional reactions
C) carrying messages to the skeletal muscles
D) activation of the digestive tract

Question 45

You are a neuron in the hand.Your only job is to send messages to the brain and spinal cord.You are:

A) an interneuron.
B) a "handy" neuron.
C) an efferent neuron.
D) an afferent neuron.

Question 46

Clusters of cell bodies of neurons the central nervous system are referred to as:

A) glials.
B) vesicles.
C) interneurons.
D) ganglia.

Question 47

The ____________ nervous system carries messages from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles that control the movements of our bodies.

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

Question 48

The hindbrain contains the medulla,pons,and the:

A) cerebrum.
B) thalamus.
C) cerebellum.
D) hypothalamus.

Question 49

A primary function of the autonomic nervous system is:

A) problem solving.
B) regulating the activity of internal organs.
C) transmitting sensory information to the central nervous system.
D) transmitting information from the brain to the skeletal muscles.

Question 50

Which of the following is the responsibility of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A) slowing heart rate
B) increasing blood flow and muscle tension in large muscles
C) opening the pupils of the eyes
D) dilating the passageways of the lungs to increase air flow

Question 51

The autonomic nervous system is divided into the:

A) brain and spinal cord.
B) somatic and autosomatic nervous systems.
C) sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
D) peripheral and central nervous systems.

Question 52

Which of the following is the responsibility of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A) communicating between the spinal cord and the brain
B) maintaining balance regulation of the internal organs
C) carrying messages from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles
D) preparing the body to respond to stress

Question 53

When you ride a bike,which division of the nervous system is responsible for the complex coordination of your muscles?

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

Question 54

A primary function of the sympathetic nervous system is to:

A) prepare the body to respond to stress.
B) regulate motivation.
C) regulate emotion.
D) control the skeletal muscles.

Question 55

The hindbrain is involved in all of the following functions EXCEPT:

A) breathing.
B) reflexes and complex muscle movements.
C) perception of pain.
D) balance and coordination.

Question 56

When your hand touches a hot object,how does the message to quickly remove your hand travel?

A) across a neuron in the brain to an afferent neuron in the muscles
B) across an efferent neuron from the hand to the brain to a neuron in the brain to an afferent neuron from the brain to the muscles
C) across an afferent neuron from the hand to the spinal cord to an interneuron in the spinal cord to an efferent neuron from the spinal cord to the muscles
D) across an interneuron in the hand to another interneuron in the muscles

Question 57

The ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system are more connected to one another than are the ganglia of the parasympathetic nervous system.This arrangement results in the sympathetic nervous system operating in a ____________ manner than does the parasympathetic nervous system.

A) more selective
B) less reactive
C) more diffuse
D) less flexible

Question 58

Which brain structure is a slight swelling right at the top of the spinal cord,where the cord enters the brain?

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

Question 59

You are alone in an empty parking garage when you suddenly hear footsteps behind you.Your heart races,your stomach tightens,and your mouth feels dry.Which of the following is accountable for this response?

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

Question 60

The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the:

A) brain and spinal cord
B) somatic and parasympathetic systems
C) autonomic and sympathetic systems
D) somatic and autonomic nervous systems

Question 61

The link between the upper and lower brain is the:

A) thalamus.
B) corpus callosum.
C) hypothalamus.
D) hippocampus.

Question 62

Of all the functions assigned to the hypothalamus,which could be called the primary function?

A) memory
B) motivation and emotion
C) muscular coordination
D) perception

Question 63

Which of the following is NOT part of the limbic system?

A) amygdala
B) cingulate cortex
C) cerebellum
D) hippocampus

Question 64

Asher suffered damage when a tumor was removed from his brain.As a result,he becomes sexually aroused at irregular and inappropriate times.Of the following,which area of Asher's brain was most likely damaged?

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

Question 65

Which area of the brain is believed to tie together sights,sounds,and meanings of memories stored in various parts of the cortex?

A) hypothalamus
B) hippocampus
C) amygdala
D) frontal lobes

Question 66

In multiple sclerosis,myelin begins to deteriorate,resulting in difficulties with the coordination of complex muscle movements.Given this information,in which area of the brain are demyelinating neurons likely to be located?

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

Question 67

Which area of the brain is particularly involved in spatial memory and has been shown to contain more neuron cell bodies in the brains of London taxi drivers?

A) reticular formation
B) hypothalamus
C) hippocampus
D) cerebral cortex

Question 68

Spinal cord injuries that involve damage to the medulla tend to be fatal because with an impaired medulla:

A) people no longer have an appetite and are therefore not motivated to eat.
B) people cannot remember basic safety guidelines and subsequently injure themselves.
C) balance is compromised and people are likely to fall on their heads.
D) involuntary reflexes such as breathing are affected.

Question 69

The reticular formation is a set of neurons that project from the:

A) forebrain into the midbrain.
B) medulla and pons into the spinal cord.
C) thalamus into the hypothalamus.
D) cerebral cortex into the hippocampus.

Question 70

Which three brain areas play a role in comparing current emotion-related information with information stored in memory?

A) amygdala,cerebellum,and hippocampus
B) hippocampus,amygdala,and cingulate cortex
C) amygdala,hypothalamus,and hippocampus
D) hippocampus,thalamus,and hypothalamus

Question 71

Sensory information from the eyes and ears is routed to the cortex by the:

A) hippocampus.
B) thalamus.
C) cingulate cortex.
D) amygdala.

Question 72

The brain area most closely linked to functions of the autonomic nervous system is the:

A) pons.
B) thalamus.
C) hypothalamus.
D) corpus callosum.

Question 73

The midbrain is a small area located:

A) in the cerebral cortex.
B) directly above the medulla.
C) at the top of the spinal cord.
D) at the top of the hindbrain.

Question 74

An important function of the pons is:

A) regulation of breathing.
B) reflexive movement of the head.
C) hearing.
D) posture.

Question 75

Marilyn experienced intense and unpredictable periods of rage.An MRI revealed that Marilyn had a tumor stimulating neurons in a specific brain area.Given what you know about the brain,her tumor was most likely located in which of the following regions of the brain?

A) hippocampus
B) thalamus
C) Broca's area
D) amygdala

Question 76

As a hunter tracks a flock of geese during hunting season,he keeps the crosshairs of his rifle accurately fixed on the moving targets.His performance is maintained in large part by the:

A) reticular formation.
B) pons.
C) cerebellum.
D) midbrain.

Question 77

Which part of the brain regulates breathing?

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

Question 78

The reticular formation works to:

A) maintain muscle tone and cardiac reflexes.
B) filter sensory information.
C) regulate emotional arousal.
D) form new memories.

Question 79

The midbrain is largely responsible for:

A) balance.
B) orienting the eyes and ears.
C) parasympathetic functions.
D) emotion and motivation.

Question 80

Enrico developed a blood clot that destroyed part of his thalamus.Which of the following symptoms would most likely relate to this damage?

A) wild irrational joy for no apparent reason
B) constant dizziness and loss of balance
C) perceptual deficits
D) permanent coma