Question 1

Give an account of the major neurotransmitters found in the human brain and how their organisation allows the diversity of functions that the brain has.

Accepted Answer

The human brain is a complex organ that relies on a variety of neurotransmitters to carry out its diverse functions. Some of the major neurotransmitters found in the human brain include dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and glutamate.

Dopamine is involved in reward and pleasure, as well as movement and emotional regulation. Serotonin plays a role in mood regulation, sleep, and appetite. Acetylcholine is important for learning, memory, and muscle control. GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, helping to regulate anxiety and stress. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in learning and memory.

The organization of these neurotransmitters in the brain allows for the diversity of functions that the brain has. Different regions of the brain have different concentrations of these neurotransmitters, and their interactions with each other and with other signaling molecules allow for the complex and coordinated functioning of the brain. For example, dopamine pathways are involved in motivation and reward, while serotonin pathways are involved in mood regulation. The balance and interplay of these neurotransmitters allow for the brain to carry out a wide range of functions, from basic survival to complex cognitive processes.

Question 2

Retrograde signalling is where ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   action potentials can directly be transferred from one neuron to another
B)   action potentials can travel from the terminals to the dendrites to influence their sensitivity to incoming neurotransmitters
C)   the neurotransmitter binding to its receptor causes a change in intracellular signalling cascades in the postsynaptic cell
D)   the postsynaptic cell releases a substance detected by the presynaptic cell D

Question 3

The nerves that innervate the heart to increase the rate at which it beats can be described as ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   autonomic efferent nerves
B)   cranial nerves
C)   sensory afferent nerves
D)   somatic nerves A

Question 4

The term 'presynaptic neuron' refers to a neuron which ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   has a primary role to detect neurotransmitter
B)   is firing action potentials
C)   is below threshold but depolarising
D)   releases neurotransmitter from its terminals

Question 5

The role of the myelination is to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   amplify the size of the action potentials
B)   ensure that the sodium ions are at a high concentration on the outside of the neuron
C)   increase the rate of conduction of action potentials along the axon
D)   reduce the chance that the neuron will become depleted of potassium ions

Question 6

During the depolarization phase of a neuronal action potential, ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   the Na+-K+ ATPase is turned off
B)   there is an increase in sodium influx through ion channels
C)   there is an increase in the amount of ion exchange by the Na+-K+ ATPase
D)   there is decreased efflux of potassium through ion channels

Question 7

Discuss how the structure of a neuron allows it to perform its function.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss how the structure of a neuron...

Question 8

The usual direction of information flow through a neuron is ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   axon, terminal, soma
B)   dendrite, soma, terminal
C)   soma, terminal, dendrite
D)   terminal, axon, dendrite

Question 9

A postsynaptic cell ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   can respond to all neurotransmitters
B)   computes all of the inputs it receives to bring about an appropriate change in its activity
C)   must be a neuron
D)   only receives input from one presynaptic cell

Question 10

Neurotransmitter receptors can be described as being ligand-gated ion channels. This means that if they bind to their neurotransmitter, ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   then an action potential will be generated in the postsynaptic cell
B)   they only open if sodium levels outside the cell are also high
C)   they undergo a structural change that causes an ion channel to open
D)   they will cause the postsynaptic cell membrane to depolarise

Question 11

Grey matter appears darker in colour than white matter because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   it has a greater density of blood vessels
B)   the neurons are pigmented
C)   there is a greater density of neurons
D)   there is less myelin

Question 12

The resting membrane potential of a neuron comes about because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   neuronal membranes are unusually impermeable compared to the membranes of other cell types
B)   of the unequal distribution of ions between the outside and inside of the neuron
C)   the concentration of ions within the brain is different to other tissues
D)   the neuronal membranes contain ion transporters which are more active than in other cell types

Question 13

What is meant by the term 'structure-function' relationship? Using examples, discuss the validity of this term for the brain.

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Signal transduction refers to the process by which ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   action potentials are generated in axons
B)   chemicals are released from nerve terminals
C)   myelination affects action potential conduction
D)   sensory information is converted into electrical signals

Question 15

Sensory information can also be described as ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   afferent information
B)   cranial information
C)   efferent information
D)   external information

Question 16

The term tripartite synapse refers to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   the ability of synapses to alter their function in response to changing inputs
B)   the ability of the postsynaptic cell to express more than one kind of neurotransmitter receptor
C)   the extremely small gap between the pre- and postsynaptic cells
D)   the involvement of astrocytes in neurotransmission at synapses

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the monoamine neurotransmitters is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)   Although produced by a relatively small number of neurons their actions are widespread throughout the brain.
B)   Their receptors are mostly ligand-gated ion channels.
C)   Their receptors are only found postsynaptically.
D)   Their receptors are usually found on separate populations of neurons to the receptors for GABA and glutamate.

Question 18

Neurotransmitters ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   are all members of the same chemical class
B)   Are only ever involved in communication from the pre- to the postsynaptic cell
C)   bind to only one type of receptor
D)   can be excitatory or inhibitory

Question 19

Give an account of the gross anatomical arrangement of the human nervous system.

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

Which of the following statement about efferent neurons is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are only found in the spinal nerves.
B)   They convey information from one region of the brain to another.
C)   They convey information from the central nervous system to the periphery.
D)   They convey sensory information from the head to the spinal cord.

Exam 1: Structure and Communication in the Nervous System