Deck 3: The Neuroscience of Behavior

Question 1

Which statement about information transmission between neurons is correct?

A) Neurons send electrical messages across the synaptic cleft.
B) Most neurons receive information from only one or two other neurons.
C) Information between two neurons passes in only one direction at the synapse.
D) Glial cells are responsible for information transmission outside the brain.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

To allow communication, neurons

A) are physically connected, allowing electrical impulses to travel across neurons.
B) send chemical messages across small gaps between neurons.
C) send electric sparks into the surrounding conductive fluid.
D) have the most powerful impact on the other neurons that they touch directly.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Refer to the figure below.
The numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4 refer to _______, respectively.

A) dendrites, cell body, axon, and axon terminals
B) basal ganglia, cell body, axon, and axon terminals
C) dendrites, interneuron, cell body, and axon terminals
D) axon terminals, cell body, interneuron, and synapses

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following shows the correct sequence of information flow after a neuron receives input?

A) Dendrites $\rightarrow$ axon $\rightarrow$ axon terminals $\rightarrow$ synapse
B) Cell body $\rightarrow$ neurotransmitter receptors $\rightarrow$ synapse $\rightarrow$ axon terminal
C) Dendrites $\rightarrow$ glia $\rightarrow$ axon $\rightarrow$ synapse
D) Axon terminal $\rightarrow$ neurotransmitter receptors $\rightarrow$ cell body $\rightarrow$ dendrite

Question 5

Axons differ from dendrites in that

A) axons branch far more than dendrites.
B) neurons typically have more axons than dendrites.
C) axons are always much shorter than dendrites.
D) axons transmit information and dendrites receive information.

Question 6

Debi just ran a marathon in less than four hours and felt no pain during the run. Her lack of pain was most likely due to

A) endorphins.
B) serotonin.
C) acetylcholine.
D) GABA.

Question 7

Which statement about neurotransmitters is accurate?

A) Neurotransmitters are briefly absorbed into the cell body of the postsynaptic neuron.
B) Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron.
C) Neurotransmitters can only be released about once per second.
D) Most neurotransmitters have the same shape.

Question 8

Giving a person a drug very similar in molecular shape to GABA would likely result in

A) increased sensitivity to pain.
B) improved coordination.
C) increased heart rate.
D) decreased neural activity.

Question 9

A woman with a disease that has damaged her dopamine receptors is most likely to experience

A) a racing heart.
B) increased pain.
C) movement abnormalities.
D) higher levels of neural activity.

Question 10

Which accurately reflects the path of information flow that takes place when child jerks his hand away from a hot pan?

A) Spinal interneurons $\rightarrow$ parietal cortex $\rightarrow$ motor neurons
B) Sensory neurons $\rightarrow$ sensory cortex $\rightarrow$ spinal interneurons
C) Sensory neurons $\rightarrow$ spinal interneurons $\rightarrow$ motor neurons
D) Sensory neurons $\rightarrow$ cerebellum $\rightarrow$ motor neurons

Question 11

The three main functional types of neurons are

A) agonist, antagonist, and glial.
B) motor, sensory, and interneurons.
C) glial, basal, and sympathetic.
D) hyperpolarized, depolarized, and limbic.

Question 12

The primary type of neuron in neural networks is a

A) motor neuron.
B) interneuron.
C) sensory neuron.
D) afferent neuron.

Question 13

A major difference between motor neurons and sensory neurons is that motor neurons

A) more often release acetylcholine.
B) are more likely to be sending messages toward the brain.
C) are less likely to synapse on glands.
D) do not connect with interneurons.

Question 14

Which statement most accurately describes the brain?

A) The function of identical brain regions differs greatly across individuals.
B) External brain stimulation cannot reproduce feelings or sensations.
C) The mind is independent of the brain.
D) The brain is like a machine with electrical and chemical components.

Question 15

Complex behavior is controlled by

A) neural networks.
B) sensory neurons.
C) the mind, rather than the brain.
D) degradative enzymes.

Question 16

Which of these behaviors is most likely to be controlled by a neural network?

A) Jerking your hand away from something sharp
B) Understanding a joke
C) Experiencing candy as sweet
D) Throwing your arms out for balance when you slip

Question 17

In the case of Deidre, a woman with epilepsy, doctors stimulated different regions of her brain to

A) train her brain to transmit electrical signals normally.
B) find the tumor causing her epilepsy.
C) determine which brain functions were located in the area causing her seizures.
D) cause her brain to produce higher levels of endorphins.

Question 18

A punch is painful, while a hug is not, because a punch produces _______ action potentials from each sensory neuron.

A) stronger
B) more frequent
C) faster-moving
D) fewer

Question 19

Which of these events occurs first during an action potential?

A) Gated potassium channels close.
B) Gated sodium channels open.
C) Gated sodium channels close.
D) The inside of the neuron becomes negatively charged.

Question 20

During an action potential

A) the inside of a neuron's axon becomes more positively charged than the outside.
B) potassium ions are finally allowed into the neuron.
C) gated sodium channels close.
D) the neuron seeks a balanced electrical charge.

Question 21

Neurons are more likely to fire when they

A) lack nodes of Ranvier.
B) are depolarized.
C) are hyperpolarized.
D) have many dendrites.

Question 22

The voltage difference across a neuron's membrane

A) remains constant.
B) changes frequently.
C) fluctuates, but always with a negative charge inside.
D) fluctuates, but always with a positive charge inside.

Question 23

Excitatory synapses

A) force negatively charged ions into neurons.
B) exist only outside the brain.
C) bring neurons closer to the firing threshold.
D) hyperpolarize neurons.

Question 24

Action potentials travel at speeds

A) near the speed of light.
B) around 400 miles per hour.
C) that differ from one neuron to another.
D) around 10,000 miles per hour.

Question 25

All of the following are reasons action potentials are similar to toilet flushes except:

A) Pushing the toilet lever harder does not produce a bigger flush, just like pushing a neuron beyond threshold does not increase the size of the action potential.
B) Like after a flush, it takes a while before the neuron can fire again.
C) Like the flush, the action potential travels in only one direction.
D) Like the toilet outflow goes to a single sewer line, the action potential impacts only the next neuron in line.

Question 26

A neuron's refractory phase is defined as the

A) moment of depolarization.
B) moment when the action potential leaps to the next node of Ranvier.
C) brief period during and immediately after an action potential when a neuron cannot produce another action potential.
D) developmental period before a neuron has been myelinated.

Question 27

The key purpose of myelin is to

A) activate the sympathetic nervous system.
B) provide electrical insulation.
C) trigger muscle cells to fire.
D) facilitate the reuptake of neurotransmitters.

Question 28

Myelinated axons are useful because they

A) prevent saltatory conduction.
B) decrease the number of nodes of Ranvier.
C) allow action potentials to travel more quickly.
D) are less likely to reach the firing threshold.

Question 29

The fastest-traveling action potential would be found in a neuron with

A) no nodes of Ranvier.
B) a well-myelinated, thick axon.
C) an unmyelinated thick axon.
D) an unmyelinated, thin axon.

Question 30

White matter refers to

A) brain regions filled with neuronal cell bodies.
B) depolarized areas of a neuron.
C) the part of an axon that contains sodium channels.
D) parts of the brain filled with myelinated axons.

Question 31

Otto Loewi electrically stimulated a nerve in a frog heart. He then applied fluid surrounding that heart to a second heart. In this experiment, he found evidence that

A) neurons communicate chemically.
B) neurons communicate electrically.
C) the speed of neural transmission differs across species.
D) his theory of saltatory conduction was correct.

Question 32

_______ activate receptors in the same way as the normal neurotransmitters do.

A) Agonists
B) Antagonists
C) Hyperpolarized neurons
D) Mirror neurons

Question 33

Cici is trying to overcome her heroin addiction. She takes a daily medication that keeps her from getting high, even if she uses heroin. This medication is most likely

A) an endorphin agonist.
B) an endorphin antagonist.
C) causing depolarization of neurons in the frontal lobe.
D) causing hyperpolarization of sensory neurons.

Question 34

What effect would you most expect from a norepinephrine agonist?

A) Improved mood
B) Reduced anxiety
C) Slowed breathing
D) Accelerated heart rate

Question 35

Julius has taken an anxiety-reducing medication. This medication is most likely

A) an acetylcholine agonist.
B) an acetylcholine antagonist.
C) a GABA agonist.
D) a GABA antagonist.

Question 36

Jessie has taken a medication that interferes with her ability to feel pleasure. This medication is most likely a

A) dopamine antagonist.
B) dopamine agonist.
C) norepinephrine antagonist.
D) norepinephrine agonist.

Question 37

Endocrine glands release hormones directly into the

A) resting potential.
B) synaptic cleft.
C) nodes of Ranvier.
D) axon terminal.

Question 38

The thyroid and the pituitary gland are part of the

A) somatosensory cortex.
B) limbic system.
C) central nervous system.
D) endocrine system.

Question 39

Jake has recently developed a disease that causes him to release too much testosterone. Compared with his behavior prior to developing the disease, his behavior now is likely to be

A) more reserved and thoughtful.
B) more irritable and aggressive.
C) unchanged, as enzymes break neurotransmitters down quickly.
D) unchanged, as testosterone does not affect brain functioning.

Question 40

How does serotonin differ from estrogen?

A) Serotonin is released into the bloodstream, whereas estrogen is released into synapses.
B) Serotonin is part of the endocrine system, whereas estrogen is not.
C) Serotonin is released into synapses, whereas estrogen is released into the bloodstream.
D) Estrogen causes saltatory conduction, whereas serotonin does not.

Question 41

The endocrine system controls

A) sensation and perception.
B) neurotransmitter breakdown and reuptake.
C) neurotransmitter production.
D) hormone production and release.

Question 42

Messages from the central nervous system are carried to muscles by

A) sensory neurons.
B) the sympathetic nervous system.
C) the hypothalamus.
D) motor neurons.

Question 43

Your brain's _______ lobe is most involved in allowing you to feel an annoying pebble in your shoe.

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

Question 44

Which function is most directly controlled by the brainstem?

A) Memory formation
B) Balance
C) Language
D) Breathing

Question 45

You are home alone when you hear strange noises in your house. This causes your _______ system to trigger your heart to race.

A) somatic nervous
B) limbic
C) sympathetic nervous
D) parasympathetic nervous

Question 46

When you scrape your knee, pain is relayed from your knee to your central nervous system by

A) the parasympathetic system.
B) the limbic system.
C) sensory neurons.
D) interneurons.

Question 47

Benedict was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident. His injury was most likely located in his _______ system.

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

Question 48

Which brain region regulates hunger and thirst?

A) Corpus callosum
B) Basal ganglia
C) Hypothalamus
D) Limbic system

Question 49

To demonstrate that brain stimulation can create visual illusions, a doctor would stimulate his patient's

A) hypothalamus.
B) frontal lobe.
C) limbic system.
D) occipital lobe.

Question 50

Key functions of the hypothalamus are

A) attention and memory.
B) problem solving and planning.
C) the regulation of hunger and thirst.
D) motor coordination and balance.

Question 51

If you electrically stimulated a laboratory monkey's frontal lobe, the monkey would

A) make a grasping motion.
B) think it heard a sound.
C) think it saw something.
D) have a fight-or-flight response.

Question 52

If a doctor stimulated your occipital lobe, which would you be most likely to experience?

A) Buzzing sounds
B) Odors
C) Tickling sensations
D) Lights and colors

Question 53

Which side effect is most likely following the removal of a large tumor from a patient's cerebellum?

A) Problems with memory formation
B) Difficulty with balance and motor coordination
C) Poor language comprehension
D) Impaired visual perception

Question 54

In what brain area would a stroke be most likely to impair language comprehension?

A) Left temporal lobe
B) Right temporal lobe
C) Left prefrontal cortex
D) Right prefrontal cortex

Question 55

After surgery to control epilepsy, Miguel could understand people but lost his ability to speak. It is most likely that the surgery impacted his

A) basal ganglia.
B) somatosensory cortex.
C) cerebellum.
D) Broca's area.

Question 56

The corpus callosum is directly responsible for

A) transferring information between the left and right hemispheres.
B) controlling the pituitary gland.
C) triggering movement.
D) activating the autonomic nervous system.

Question 57

Shona has a tumor in her limbic system. What symptom would you expect her to experience?

A) Auditory hallucinations
B) Frequent forgetfulness
C) Lack of fine motor coordination
D) Visual impairment

Question 58

Sensory information from the left side of the body is processed in the _______ and mapped onto the cortex.

A) right hemisphere
B) left hemisphere
C) left and right hemispheres
D) corpus callosum

Question 59

Refer to the figure below.
The numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4 refer to the _______, respectively.

A) corpus callosum, pituitary, cerebellum, and thalamus
B) cerebellum, nucleus, amygdala, and brainstem
C) limbic system, thalamus, corpus callosum, and cerebellum
D) corpus callosum, thalamus, pituitary, and cerebellum

Question 60

Which statement most accurately reflects the brain's hemispheric specialization?

A) Left-handed people's brains are typically mirror images of right-handed people's brains.
B) The left side of the brain specializes in emotional processing.
C) The right side of the brain specializes in language processing.
D) The right side of the brain plays a more significant role in spatial processing.

Question 61

Damage to the left cerebral hemisphere would most likely affect a man's ability to

A) move the left side of his body.
B) feel sensation on the left side of his body.
C) speak and understand language.
D) experience emotion.

Question 62

The limbic system is most involved in

A) movement.
B) breathing.
C) the regulation of body temperature.
D) emotion.

Question 63

In the homunculus that corresponds to the mapping of the somatosensory cortex, which body part occupies the largest area?

A) Hand
B) Trunk
C) Nose
D) Leg

Question 64

Xavier has a disease that disrupts the functioning of his sympathetic nervous system. A likely symptom is

A) failure to activate the fight-or-flight response in dangerous situations.
B) excessive anxiety.
C) inability to digest food.
D) impaired fine motor coordination.

Question 65

Your roommate has accused you of stealing money from her. Your racing heart and rapid breathing are triggered by your _______ nervous system.

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

Question 66

The key role of the central nervous system is to

A) analyze sensory information and control behavior.
B) transport sensory information to the spinal cord.
C) activate the fight-or-flight response.
D) gather information about internal processes.

Question 67

The technique that detects voltage changes in the brain is

A) computed tomography (CT).
B) electroencephalography (EEG).
C) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
D) positron emission tomography (PET).

Question 68

A scientist would most likely use _______ to find out which parts of the brain are involved in performing mathematical calculations.

A) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
B) the lesion method
C) a lobotomy
D) computed tomography (CT)

Question 69

PET scans

A) provide a less detailed image of the brain than does transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
B) show brain structures but not areas of brain activity.
C) track radioactive markers in the blood.
D) require intense X-ray exposure.

Question 70

Brain plasticity

A) is the ability of the brain to fully repair its damaged areas.
B) involves changes in the brain connected with storing memories.
C) is present only through the teen years.
D) disappears around age 40.

Question 71

EEGs make it possible to

A) study the brain's oxygen use in real time.
B) see the specific size and location of a tumor.
C) detect the electrical activity of specific neurons in monkeys.
D) visualize developmental changes in brain structure.

Question 72

A scientist is interested in understanding how the size of the prefrontal cortex changes between the ages of 9 and 13. Which of the following brain imaging techniques would she be most likely to use?

A) Electroencephalography (EEG)
B) Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
C) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
D) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Question 73

A researcher is interested in understanding how the physical structure of the corpus callosum changes from childhood to adulthood. Which of the following would be the most useful brain imaging technique?

A) Electroencephalography (EEG)
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Positron emission tomography (PET)
D) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Question 74

A scientist is testing the hypothesis that inhibiting neural activity in the prefrontal cortex could help relieve depression. Which technique would be most useful for testing this hypothesis?

A) Computed tomography (CT)
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
D) Positron emission tomography (PET)

Question 75

Collecting fMRI data

A) begins with the injection of a radioactive marker.
B) requires control scans and task-specific scans.
C) starts with capturing X-ray data from all possible angles.
D) begins with the placement of sensors on the scalp to detect electrical activity.

Question 76

Refer to the figure below.
This mean difference image shows the most active brain areas across participants when they are completing a specific task. If lighter areas mean greater brain activity, what task were participants most likely completing?

A) Speaking
B) Listening to music
C) Touching something with a rough texture
D) Looking at an image

Question 77

A scientific paper includes a brain image showing that memory regions are active when research participants tell practiced lies but not when participants tell spontaneous lies. What would you expect this image to be?

A) An MRI image showing activity in the prefrontal cortex
B) An fMRI image showing activity in the limbic system
C) A PET scan image showing activity in the occipital lobe
D) A CT scan image showing activity in the parietal lobe

Question 78

A researcher claims that the same area of the brain is active when we feel physical pain as when we feel hurt by social rejection. Which of the following would support her claims?

A) PET scan results showing strong activation in the amygdala during social rejection
B) An fMRI scan showing intense blood flow in the limbic system during social rejection
C) PET scans showing activity in the sensory cortex when the researcher says hurtful things to the participants
D) Images from fMRI scans that look similar for subjects experiencing physical pain and subjects experiencing social rejection

Question 79

The antidepressant medication Prozac works by keeping serotonin from returning to the presynaptic neuron. In other words, it inhibits the _______ process.

Question 80

A bow hunter has poisoned his arrow tip with curare, which inhibits muscle movement by binding to neurotransmitter receptors. Curare is likely similar in physical structure to _______.