Question 1

All of the following statements concerning development of the nervous system of a vertebrate embryo are correct except

Accepted Answer

A)  the anterior end of the neural tube forms the brain. 
B)  the medulla, pons, and cerebellum develop from the hindbrain. 
C)  the spinal cord forms from the neural tube. 
D)  the telencephalon develops into the cerebrum. 
E)  the forebrain develops into the telencephalon and brainstem.

Question 2

The region of the brain believed to be essential for the integration of spoken and written language is the

Accepted Answer

A)  corpus callosum. 
B)  right cerebral hemisphere. 
C)  occipital lobe. 
D)  frontal lobe. 
E)  angular gyrus.

Question 3

The part of the brain that is essential for the acquisition of declarative memories is called the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The part of the brain that is...

Question 4

The reticular activating system in the brainstem can promote wakefulness

Accepted Answer

A)  when sensory information from the spinal cord passes through and activates nuclei in the brainstem. 
B)  when descending information from the thalamus indicates the wake/sleep cycle. 
C)  if the cranial nerves transmit information about increased energy needs. 
D)  when stimulated by the vagus nerve. 
E)  when input from the cerebrum activates cerebellar nuclei.

Question 5

Which of the following about the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its actions can be characterized as "rest and digest." 
B)  Its preganglionic neurons use acetylcholine as their neurotransmitter. 
C)  It relaxes airways. 
D)  Its postganglionic neurons use acetylcholine as their neurotransmitter. 
E)  It works in opposition to the sympathetic division in its effects on most target organs.

Question 6

Long-lasting synaptic changes that lead to learning and memory include long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) of brain circuits.The main difference between these two phenomena is

Accepted Answer

A)  the level and frequency of the stimulation to the brain. 
B)  one results in learning, the other results in memory. 
C)  they occur in different circuits of the brain. 
D)  LTP is long-lasting, whereas LTD is temporary. 
E)  LTD is long-lasting, whereas LTP is temporary.

Question 7

Damage to the embryonic diencephalon could potentially damage development of which two brain structures?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Damage to the embryonic diencephalon could potentially...

Question 8

In the context of M.A.Wilson's study of rats, "place cells" in the hippocampus

Accepted Answer

A)  only send action potentials during sleep. 
B)  refer to a specific location in the brain. 
C)  are neurons that fire when the rat is at a particular location in a maze. 
D)  occur in pairs. 
E)  are not able to distinguish right or left turns, only forward motion.

Question 9

Neural pathways of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system can be distinguished from one another by

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of target organs they have. 
B)  whether they have an inhibitory or excitatory effect on the target organs. 
C)  whether preganglionic neurons emerge from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord or from the brainstem and sacral region of the spinal cord. 
D)  whether the cell body of the preganglionic neuron is in the limbic system or spinal cord. 
E)  the type of preganglionic neurotransmitter they use.

Question 10

In the visual system, each retinal ganglion cell demonstrates convergence of information because

Accepted Answer

A)  it takes in all that it sees in its visual field. 
B)  the information it sends to the brain comes from many photoreceptors. 
C)  each one sums the amount of light it receives. 
D)  of the number of action potentials it fires. 
E)  of the connections it has to other retinal ganglion cells.

Question 11

Which statement about mammal brain evolution is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dolphins and humans have much larger brains that would be predicted based on body sizes. 
B)  Elephants and blue whales have large brains, but they fall close to the regression line of brain mass versus body mass. 
C)  The cerebral cortex is elaborated in mammals. 
D)  Convolutions in the brains of mammals decrease the surface area of the cortex. 
E)  The percent of cortex that is association cortex is greatest in humans.

Question 12

The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system decreases digestive activity and stimulates release of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous...

Question 13

Roughly _______ percent of a typical night's sleep is devoted to REM sleep, the stage at which dreams or nightmares are experienced.

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  20 
C)  30 
D)  40 
E)  50

Question 14

The thalamus is the relay station for touch and pressure information from the body, which it sends to the _______ cortex of the _______ lobe for processing.

Accepted Answer

A)  primary motor; frontal 
B)  primary somatosensory; parietal 
C)  auditory; temporal 
D)  visual; occipital 
E)  premotor; frontal

Question 15

Which of the following statements about learning and memory is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Long-term depression decreases synaptic strength. 
B)  Learning is the modification of behavior based on experience. 
C)  Memory is the ability of the nervous system to retain what is learned. 
D)  Long-term potentiation increases synaptic strength. 
E)  Removal of the hippocampus in adulthood disrupts the ability to remember events from childhood.

Question 16

Learning is defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  remembering something that was seen and heard. 
B)  the ability to form thoughts about an experience. 
C)  the response of the nervous system to language. 
D)  the modification of behavior by experience. 
E)  retaining what is experienced.

Question 17

Choose the pair that contains the two correct ways to cause an increase in glycogen synthesis by the liver.

Accepted Answer

A)  Damaging the sympathetic nerve to the liver; applying norepinephrine to liver cells 
B)  Stimulating the parasympathetic nerve to the liver; applying acetylcholine to liver cells 
C)  Damaging the sympathetic nerve to the liver; applying acetylcholine to liver cells 
D)  Stimulating the sympathetic nerve to the liver; applying norepinephrine to liver cells 
E)  Damaging the parasympathetic nerve to the liver; applying acetylcholine to cells

Question 18

Analyze the differences between the size and structure of the brain of a human and the brain of a rat.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Analyze the differences between the size and...

Question 19

During storytelling hour at the local library, a college student volunteers to read aloud to preschoolers.This act requires an ability to integrate the written word and the spoken word that is controlled by the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of During storytelling hour at the local library,...

Question 20

The _______ division of the autonomic nervous system stimulates uptake of glucose.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The _______ division of the autonomic nervous...

Exam 46: The Mammalian Nervous System: Structure and Higher Functions