Biopsychology & Neuroscience

Question 1

What is biopsychology?

Answer 1

Biopsychology is a branch of psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behaviour and mental processes.

Question 2

What is neuroscience?

Answer 2

Neuroscience is the branch of studies on the structure and functioning of the brain.

Question 3

What is the nervous system?

Answer 3

The nervous system is a network of neurons which carries information to and from all parts of the body.

Question 4

What are neurons?

Answer 4

Neurons are the basic cell that makes up the nervous system.

Question 5

What is a dendrite and what is its function?

Answer 5

A dendrite is the receiving or input portions of a neuron. They are usually short, narrow and highly branched structures and are attached to the cell body/soma. It receives messages from other cells or neurons.

Question 6

What is a soma and what is its function?

Answer 6

The soma is the cell body of a neuron and houses the nucleus, it integrates signals received from multiple dendrites and passes it down the axon when it is sufficiently aroused.

Question 7

What is an axon and what is its function?

Answer 7

A fibre attached to the soma, its function is to carry messages out to other cells or neurons.

Question 8

What is an axon terminal and what is its function?

Answer 8

Several shorter fibres that have swellings or little knobs on the ends, located at the ends of an axon. It is responsible for communicating with other nerve cells.

Question 9

What is a myelin sheath and what is its function?

Answer 9

Myelin sheath is an insulating layer that forms around nerves. It protects the neuron and also allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells.

Question 10

What are a bundle of axons called in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system?

Answer 10

Tracts in the CNS, nerves in the PNS.

Question 11

What is an action potential?

Answer 11

Action potentials in neurons are also known as “nerve impulses” or “spikes”. A neuron that emits an action potential, or nerve impulse, is often said to “fire”.

Question 12

When do neurons fire?

Answer 12

Neurons have a threshold for firing, when a stimulus strong enough gets past the threshold, it makes the neuron fire.

Question 13

What are synaptic vesicles and what are their functions?

Answer 13

A synaptic vesicle is a sac-like structure which contains neurotransmitters. It releases neurotransmitters through the synaptic cleft/synaptic gap when a neuron is fired.

Question 14

What is a neurotransmitter and where are they initially stored?

Answer 14

Neurotransmitters are chemicals found in the synaptic vesicles that, when released, have an effect on the next cell (postsynaptic neuron).

Question 15

What is a synaptic gap?

Answer 15

A fluid-filled small gap between the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron.

Question 16

How does a postsynaptic cell receive the neurotransmitters?

Answer 16

Through receptor sites located on the postsynaptic membrane along the dendrite of the postsynaptic neuron, the sites are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters.

Question 17

What are the 2 types of effects that can occur when a neuron receives a neurotransmitter?

Answer 17

Excitatory (causes neuron to turn on or fire) or inhibitory (causes neuron to turn off or prevent it from firing).

Question 18

What are some important neurotransmitters? hint: 7

Answer 18

Acetylcholine - Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in arousal, attention, memory and controls muscle contractions

Norepinephrine - Mainly excitatory; involved in arousal and mood

Dopamine - Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in controls of movement and sensations of pleasure, anything pleasurable involves in a release of dopamine

Serotonin - Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in sleep, mood, anxiety & appetite, mood regulation is one of its major function, psychiatrist may recommend medication targeting serotonin for people with depression

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) - Major inhibitory neurotransmitter; involved in sleep and inhibits movement, alcohol mimics the activity of GABA

Glutamate - Major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in learning, memory formation, nervous system development, and synaptic plasticity

Endorphins - Inhibitory neural regulators; involved in pain relief

Question 19

What is an antagonist?

Answer 19

Chemical substances that block or reduce a cells’ response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.

Question 20

What is an agonist?

Answer 20

Agonists are chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter (can be excitatory or inhibitory) on the receptor sites of the next cell, which can either increase or decrease activity of the cell.

Question 21

What is the function of an antagonist drug?

Answer 21

An antagonist drug mimics the effect of natural chemicals or neurotransmitters, however it does not enhance cellular activity and instead blocks the receptor site receiving the chemical or neurotransmitter.

Question 22

What is the function of an agonist drug?

Answer 22

An agonist drug mimics the effects of the natural chemicals or neurotransmitters, and fills up the receptor sites, leading to enhanced cellular activity.

Question 23

What is reuptake and what occurs during the process?

Answer 23

Reuptake is the removal of neurotransmitter molecules from the synaptic cleft back into the synaptic vesicles of the presynaptic membrane that released them.

Question 24

Which neurotransmitter is not taken back into the synaptic vesicles through the reuptake process and why?

Answer 24

Acetylcholine as it is responsible for muscle activity and muscle activity occurs rapidly and constantly.

Question 25

How is the neurotransmitter acetylcholine broken down and cleared from the synaptic gap?

Answer 25

A specific enzyme is designed to break apart Acetylcholine and clear the synaptic gap very quickly through a process called enzymatic degradation.

Question 26

What is the effect of cocaine in the reuptake process of dopamine? What are the effects of cocaine to the dopamine receptors?

Answer 26

Cocaine inhibits the reuptake of dopamine by the presynaptic’s neuron axon terminals.

This increases the availability of dopamine in the synapse and its effect on other neurons.

The increased availability of dopamine coupled with the recurrent stimulation of the dopamine receptors, results in a downregulation, or pruning of the receptors.

A downregulation is the process of reducing or suppressing a response to a stimulus.

Question 27

The entire nervous system is comprised of which 2 main nervous systems?

Answer 27

Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Question 28

What is the central nervous system made up of?

Answer 28

The brain and the spinal cord.

Question 29

What are the basic functions of the brain in the central nervous system?

Answer 29

It interprets and stores information, and also makes decisions or sends commands out to the muscle or other parts of the body (organs, glands).

Question 30

What is the spinal cord and what are its functions in the central nervous system?

Answer 30

The spinal cord is a long bundle of neurons connects the brain and the PNS, carrying messages between the brain and the body.

It is also houses neurons responsible for the spinal cord reflex.

Question 31

What are the 3 kinds of neurons are located in the spinal cord?

Answer 31

Sensory or afferent neurons (Carry messages from the sense receptors to the CNS)

Motor or efferent neurons (Carry messages from the CNS towards muscles and glands)

Interneurons (Carry messages between sensory and motor neurons)

Question 32

What is the peripheral nervous system and what is its main function?

Answer 32

The peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves and neurons not contained in the brain and spinal cord, it transmits information to and from the CNS.

Question 33

What is the peripheral nervous system comprised of?

Answer 33

The somatic nervous system & the autonomic nervous system.

Question 34

What is the somatic nervous system and what is its main function?

Answer 34

The somatic nervous system consists of nerves that control the voluntary muscles of the system.

It is also made up of the sensory pathway and the motor pathway.

Question 35

What is the autonomic nervous system and what is its main function?

Answer 35

The autonomic nervous system has system functions that are mostly automatic, it consists of nerves that control the involuntary muscles, organs and glands.

Question 36

What are the 2 divisions which the autonomic nervous systems are divided to?

Answer 36

The sympathetic division and the parasympathetic division.

Question 37

Where is the sympathetic division in the autonomic nervous system located and what is its function?

Answer 37

Primarily located on the middle of the spinal column - running from near the top of the ribcage to the waist area and is usually called the “fight-or-flight” system.

It prepares body to react to stressful events and bodily arousal, it can perform functions such as: dilate pupils, dilates bronchi, decreases salivation, increases heart rate, decreases digestive functions, inhibits bladder contraction.

Question 38

Where is the parasympathetic division in the autonomic nervous system located and what is its function?

Answer 38

Primarily located at the top and bottom of the spinal column and is usually called the “eat-drink-and-rest” or “rest-and-digest” system.

It maintains body functions under normal conditions (not stressed, resting and relaxing) and saves energy after bodily arousal, or lack thereof.

Extra: It can perform functions such as: increases salivation, constricts bronchi, constricts pupils and stimulates tear glands, slows heart rate, allows bladder contraction, increases digestive functions.

Question 39

What is the endocrine system and what is its function?

Answer 39

The endocrine system is a group of glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream, using the circulatory system to travel to the target organs and affecting behaviour and emotions by stimulating muscles, organs or other glands of the body.

Its function is to support and sustain the rest-and-digest & fight-or-flight responses that are initiated by the PNS.

Question 40

What are the 6 endocrine glands part of the endocrine system?

Answer 40

Pituitary gland
Pineal gland
Thyroid gland
Pancreas
Gonads (sex glands, ovaries and testes)
Adrenal glands

Question 41

Where is the pituitary gland from the endocrine system located and what is its function?

Answer 41

Located just below the brain and connected to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus controls the glandular system by influencing the pituitary gland, it is known as the “master gland” and it controls and influences all of the other endocrine glands.

Question 42

Where is the pineal gland from the endocrine system located and what is its function?

Answer 42

Located towards the rear and above the brainstem, it plays important role in several biological rhythms such as regulating circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle).

Secretes the hormone melatonin, which helps to track day length (and seasons).

Question 43

Where is the thyroid gland from the endocrine system located and what is its function?

Answer 43

Located inside the neck and secretes hormones such as thyroxin that regulate growth and metabolism.

Question 44

Where is the pancreas from the endocrine system located and what is its function?

Answer 44

The pancreas is located behind the stomach in the upper left abdomen. It controls level of blood sugar by secreting insulin and glucagon.

Too little insulin results in diabetes, too much insulin results in hypoglycemia.

Question 45

What are gonads in the endocrine system and what is its function?

Answer 45

The sex glands, includes the ovaries and testes. It secretes hormones that regulate sexual behaviour and reproduction.

Question 46

Where are the adrenal glands in the endocrine system located and what are their functions?

Answer 46

Located on top of each kidney, releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, when people are under stress and aids in arousing the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

It also produces a type of hormones called corticoids (or steroids) that regulate salt intake and help initiate and control stress reactions.

Question 47

What are the 3 primary divisions of the brain?

Answer 47

Forebrain, the midbrain, and the hindbrain.

Question 48

What are the 4 parts of the hindbrain?

Answer 48

Medulla
Pons
Reticular formation
Cerebellum

Question 49

What is a medulla, where is it located in the hindbrain and what is its function?

Answer 49

The medulla is a large swelling located at the top of the spinal cord. It is responsible for life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing.

It also contains sensory nerves where it crosses over from the left and right sides, hence sensory information from the left side of the body goes over to the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Question 50

What are pons, where are they located in the hindbrain and what are their functions?

Answer 50

Pons are larger swellings above the medulla, it bridges the cerebellum and upper section of the brain.

It consists of crossover motor nerves carrying messages from the brain to the body, coordinating movements of the left and right sides of the body.

It also influences sleep, dreaming and arousal.

Question 51

What is a reticular formation, where is it located in the hindbrain and what is its function?

Answer 51

A reticular formation is a network of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and pons, the neurons are responsible for people’s general attention, alertness, awareness and arousal.

It also allows people to ignore constant, unchanging information and to be alert to changes in information.

A part called the reticular activating system, stimulates the upper part of the brain, keeping people awake and alert

Question 52

What is a cerebellum, where is it located in the hindbrain and what is its function?

Answer 52

The cerebellum is located the base of the skull, behind the pons and below the main part of the brain.

It is a part of the lower brain that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movements and several cognitive functions such as balance.

It also coordinates walking, and movements of speech.

Learned reflexes, skills and habits are also stored in the cerebellum, allowing them to be more or less automatic.

Question 53

What is the limbic system and what does it consist of?

Answer 53

The limbic system is a group of several brain structures located primarily under the cortex.

It consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and the cingulate cortex.

Question 54

Where is the thalamus located in the limbic system and what is its function?

Answer 54

The thalamus is located in the centre of the brain.

It processes and relays sensory information (from the senses, EXCEPT for smell) from the lower parts of the brain to the cortex.

Question 55

Where is the hypothalamus located in the limbic system and what is its function?

Answer 55

The hypothalamus is located below and in-front of the thalamus.

It regulates body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleeping and waking, sexual activity, and emotions.

It also sits right above the pituitary gland, and controls the pituitary glands (i.e. regulating hormones), connecting the nervous system and the endocrine system.

Question 56

Where is the hippocampus located in the limbic system and what is its function?

Answer 56

The hippocampus (seahorse-shaped) is located within the medial temporal lobe on each side of the brain.

It is instrumental in forming long-term declarative memories,
ACh (acetylcholine) is involved in the memory function of the hippocampus.

Question 57

Where is the amygdala located in the limbic system and what is its function?

Answer 57

The amygdala (almond-shaped) is located near the hippocampus, medially in the temporal lobe. It is involved in fear responses and memory of fear.

It also influences our motivation, emotional control and interpretations of nonverbal emotional expressions.

Information from the senses goes to the amygdala before the upper part of brain is involved, so that people can respond to danger quickly, sometimes before they are consciously aware.

Question 58

Where is the cingulate cortex located in the limbic system and what is its function?

Answer 58

Found above the corpus callosum in the frontal and parietal lobes.

It is divided into 4 regions that play different important roles in emotional, cognitive and autonomic information processing.

Question 59

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 59

The outermost part of the brain, it is made up of tightly packed neurons and its surface anatomy is full of wrinkles.

Question 60

Why is the cerebral cortex wrinkled?

Answer 60

It allows a much larger area of cortical cells to exist in the small space inside the skull.

Question 61

What is the cerebrum?

Answer 61

The cerebrum is the upper part of the brain, where it is divided into two sections called the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 62

What are cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 62

The left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Question 63

What are the 4 lobes located on each hemisphere?

Answer 63

Occipital lobes, parietal lobes, temporal lobes and frontal lobes.

Question 64

Where are the occipital lobes located and what are their functions?

Answer 64

It is located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere.

It processes visual information from the eyes in the primary visual cortex, receiving nerve impulses from the visual thalamus.

The visual association cortex in this lobe and parts of the temporal and parietal lobe helps to identify and make sense of visual information received from the primary visual cortex.

Question 65

Where are the parietal lobes located and what are their functions?

Answer 65

Located at the top and back, under the parietal bone.

Contains the primary somatosensory cortex at the front of the lobe responsible for processing information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature and body position.

Cells at the top of the brain receive information from the bottom of the body, this neurological map is called the cortical sensory homunculus.

Question 66

Where are the temporal lobes located and what are their functions?

Answer 66

Located behind the temples of the head.

The primary auditory cortex detects discrete qualities of sound, such as pitch and volume.

The auditory association cortex analyses the data about sound so that we are able to recognize words or melodies.

The left temporal lobe (in most people) also contains Wernicke’s area.

Question 67

What is Wernicke’s area and where is it located?

Answer 67

Wernicke’s area is located in the left temporal lobe (for most people).

It is involved in understanding the meaning or comprehension of words and language.

Question 68

What happens when the Wernicke’s area is damaged?

Answer 68

Damage to the area results in Wernicke’s aphasia, which causes the person to be unable to understand or produce meaningful language.

Question 69

Where are the frontal lobes located and what are their functions?

Answer 69

Located at the front of the brain, it is responsible for higher mental functions, such as planning, personality, memory storage, complex decision making, and (in the left hemisphere usually) areas devoted to language.

Also helps in controlling emotions with its connection to the limbic system.

Contains the prefrontal cortex, motor cortex and Broca’s area.

Question 70

What is the motor cortex, where is it located and what is its function?

Answer 70

A band of neurons located at the back of each frontal lobe, seated beside the primary somatosensory cortex.

It controls the movements of the body’s voluntary muscles by sending commands to the somatic nervous system (from the PNS).

Question 71

Where is the Broca’s area located and what is its function?

Answer 71

Usually located in the left frontal lobe (for right-handed people), it is associated with the production and fluency of speech.

Question 72

What happens when the Broca’s area is damaged?

Answer 72

Damage to the area results in Broca’s aphasia, which causes the person to be unable to use written or spoken language fluently.

Question 73

What is the corpus callosum and what is its function?

Answer 73

A thick band of neural fibres or axons containing contralateral pathways between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Its function is to allow the left and right hemispheres of the brain to communicate between each other.

Question 74

In general, how do the left and right hemispheres of the brain process information?

Answer 74

The left hemisphere processes information in a sequence and is good at breaking things down into smaller parts, or performing analysis.

The right hemisphere processes information all at once and usually simultaneously, a more global or holistic style of processing.

Question 75

What is hemispheric lateralisation?

Answer 75

Hemispheric lateralisation is the tendency for some neural functions or cognitive processes to be specialised to one side of the brain or the other.

In the brain, there are some tasks that are supported by 1 hemisphere, in terms of taking the lead and exerting control. However, in most cases both hemispheres are always involved.

Question 76

How are synaptic connections influenced and strengthened?

Answer 76

Synaptic connections are influenced by experiences, repetition of actions and stimuli helps to strengthen connections and make them more permanent.

Question 77

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 77

Where unused synaptic connections and nerve cells are cleared away to make way for functioning connections and cells.

Question 78

What is long-term potentiation in terms of synapses?

Answer 78

Long-term potentiation is based on the Hebbian principle: “Neurons that fire together, wire together.”

With repeated activation of the group of neurons and repeated synaptic activity, the connections between the neurons are strengthened, partly by the creation of more receptors in the postsynaptic neuron.

Question 79

What are the benefits of long-term potentiation in synapses?

Answer 79

A potentiated postsynaptic neuron with more receptor sites, makes the neuron more sensitive to signals.

This increases signal transmission and efficiency and makes the pathway more likely to be activated in the future, making it easier to either recall memories or to perform a task.

Question 80

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 80

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to constantly change the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma.

Dendrites grow and new synapses are formed in some areas as people learn new things throughout life.

Question 81

What is neurogenesis?

Answer 81

Neurogenesis is the formation of new neurons, this occurs primarily during prenatal development but may also occur at lesser levels in some brain areas, primarily the hippocampus, during adulthood.

Question 82

What are some methods of studying the brain?

Answer 82

Lesioning case studies and brain stimulation.

Question 83

What are the 3 brain stimulation methods?

Answer 83

Deep brain stimulation (DBS): Invasive procedure where holes are drilled into skull and electrodes are implanted into brain tissue, stimulation is done through electrodes.

Transcranial electrical current stimulation (tECS): Non-invasive procedure that involves application of weak electrical current to the scalp using electrodes, the currents can make it easier or more difficult for neurons to fire.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): Non-invasive procedure which uses a magnetic coil to apply magnetic pulses to induce electric current in the brain,
this stimulates neurons in a targeted area of the cortex.

Question 84

What are neuroimaging techniques?

Answer 84

Directly images the brain’s structure or its function. These methods vary in their degree of spatial resolution (ability to see fine detail) and temporal resolution (ability to time lock a recorded event).

Question 85

What are the 7 common types of neuroimaging techniques?

Answer 85

Computed tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Functional MRI (fMRI)
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Question 86

Which part of the neuron carries messages to other cells?
a. soma
b. dendrite
c. axon
d. myelin

Answer 86

c. axon

Question 87

Which one of the following is NOT a function of glial cells?
a. generating myelin
b. getting nutrients to the neurons
c. cleaning up the remains of dead neurons
d. generating action potentials

Answer 87

d. generating action potentials

Question 88

Neurotransmitters must pass from an axon terminal to the next
dendrite by crossing a fluid-filled space called the:
a. neuron.
b. synapse.
c. reuptake inhibitor.
d. glial cell.

Answer 88

b. synapse.

Question 89

The venom of a black widow spider acts as a(n) ______ by
mimicking the effects of acetylcholine.
a. protagonist
b. agonist
c. antagonist
d. glial cell

Answer 89

b. agonist

Question 90

Which of the following is associated with pain relief?
a. glutamate
b. acetylcholine
c. endorphins
d. serotonin

Answer 90

c. endorphins

Question 91

Which of the following techniques involves passing a mild current through the brain to activate certain structures without damaging them?

a. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
b. electroconvulsive tomography (ECT)
c. electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
d. deep brain lesioning

Answer 91

c. electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)

Question 92

Which of the following techniques analyzes blood oxygen levels to
look at the functioning of the brain?
a. EEG
b. fMRI
c. CT
d. PET

Answer 92

b. fMRI

Question 93

Amy wants to measure how levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter
in the brain, affects mood. Which of the following imaging techniques should she use?
a. positron emission tomography (PET)
b. MRI spectroscopy
c. diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
d. magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Answer 93

b. MRI spectroscopy

Question 94

Felix participated in a research in which he wore sponge-like electrodes while he was made to perform a few cognitive tasks. The researcher was trying to study the electrical functioning of his brain.

Which of the following techniques was being used by the researcher?

a. DTI
b. CT
c. FMRI
d. EEG

Answer 94

d. EEG

Question 95

Which brain structure relays incoming sensory information?

a. hypothalamus
b. thalamus
c. reticular formation
d. pons

Answer 95

b. thalamus

Question 96

If you were to develop a rare condition in which you were not able to remember to be afraid of certain situations, animals, or events, which part of the brain would most likely be damaged?

a. thalamus
b. cingulate cortex
c. hypothalamus
d. amygdala

Answer 96

d. amygdala

Question 97

What part of the brain can sometimes be referred to as the “rind” or outer covering?

a. medulla
b. thalamus
c. cortex
d. corpus callosum

Answer 97

c. cortex

Question 98

In which of the following lobes of the cortex would you find the primary visual cortex?

a. frontal
b. occipital
c. temporal
d. parietal

Answer 98

b. occipital

Question 99

Alex injured the left side of his head in an accident. When he woke up, he couldn’t understand why his mom was not helping him reach the TV remote. His mom informed him later that he pointed at the TV remote and said, “Mom, please pass me the airplane.” Alex’s predicament is most like which of the following disorders?

a. Wernicke’s aphasia
b. Broca’s aphasia
c. apraxia
d. spatial neglect

Answer 99

a. Wernicke’s aphasia

Question 100

If your fingers land on a thorn while plucking roses from a garden, you will quickly withdraw your hands without even being conscious of it. This message will not even travel to your brain and will be controlled by your spinal cord. This highlights the presence of:

a. the sympathetic nervous system.
b. neurogenesis.
c. the reflex arc.
d. the parasympathetic system

Answer 100

c. the reflex arc.

Question 101

What is the process whereby the structure and function of brain cells change in response to trauma, damage, or even learning?

a. deep lesioning
b. shallow lesioning
c. neuroplasticity
d. cell regeneration

Answer 101

c. neuroplasticity

Question 102

The neurons of the sensory pathway contain:

a. efferent neurons.
b. afferent neurons.
c. both efferent and afferent neurons.
d. voluntary muscle fibers.

Answer 102

b. afferent neurons.

Question 103

Irene’s ability to listen to various sounds around her is due to which part of her nervous system?

a. the parasympathetic pathway of her autonomous nervous system
b. the motor pathway of her somatic nervous system
c. the sympathetic pathway of her autonomous nervous system
d. the sensory pathway of her somatic nervous system

Answer 103

d. the sensory pathway of her somatic nervous system

Question 104

Which of the following would be active if you have just had an automobile accident?

a. somatic division
b. parasympathetic division
c. sympathetic division
d. motor division

Answer 104

c. sympathetic division

Question 105

Emma has trouble sleeping at night and keeping awake in the day. This causes her to feel fatigued all the time and has affected her work performance. Emma might have a problem in the _______
gland of her endocrine system.

a. pineal
b. pituitary
c. thyroid
d. pancreas

Answer 105

a. pineal

Question 106

Ethan was born a premature, tiny baby. He grew at a tremendous rate from infancy to adulthood. Now, he is above average in size compared to other 20-year olds. Ethan’s growth is largely due to the
activity of which hormone?

a. growth hormone of the pituitary gland
b. insulin hormone of the pancreas
c. melatonin of the pineal gland
d. vasopressin of the pituitary gland

Answer 106

a. growth hormone of the pituitary gland

Question 107

Although oxytocin has been tied to a variety of prosocial behaviors such as “love” and “trust,” some researchers believe that in humans, it may actually work to increase _______.

a. negative pair bonding
b. heart rate and empathy
c. the importance of some social stimuli
d. social loafing

Answer 107

c. the importance of some social stimuli

Question 108

Which gland(s) have the greatest influence over other components of the endocrine system?

a. pineal
b. gonads
c. pituitary
d. pancreas

Answer 108

c. pituitary

Question 109

What is oxytocin and which gland produces it?

Answer 109

A hormone released by the posterior
pituitary gland that is involved in reproductive and parental behaviors.

Question 110

In the structure of the neuron, the _______ receives messages from other cells.

a. axon
b. dendrite
c. soma
d. myelin

Answer 110

b. dendrite

Question 111

Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells generate a fatty substance known as:

a. soma.
b. glial.
c. myelin.
d. neurilemma.

Answer 111

c. myelin.

Question 112

Which of the following insulates and protects a neuron’s axon, as well as helps speed along electrical impulses?

a. synaptic knobs
b. myelin sheath
c. receptor sites
d. neuromodulators

Answer 112

b. myelin sheath

Question 113

When a neuron is in the resting potential state, the neuron is negatively charged on the _______ and positively charged on the _______.

a. top, bottom
b. outside, inside
c. inside, outside
d. bottom, top

Answer 113

c. inside, outside

Question 114

Which neurotransmitter stimulates skeletal muscle cells to contract but slows contractions of the heart?

a. GABA
b. acetylcholine (ACh)
c. serotonin
d. endorphin

Answer 114

b. acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 115

Heroin mimics the actions of endorphins, inhibiting pain signals.
Heroin is an example of a(n):

a. glial cell.
b. protagonist.
c. antagonist.
d. agonist.

Answer 115

d. agonist.

Question 116

Linda participates in a research study in which she is injected with glucose and asked to solve mathematical problems. During debriefing, the researcher told her that he wanted to study the functioning of her brain when she was solving the problems. Which of the following techniques is the researcher using?

a. PET
b. DTI
c. EEG
d. fMRI

Answer 116

a. PET

Question 117

Which technique of studying the brain involves injecting the patient with radioactive glucose?

a. EEG
b. PET
c. MRI
d. CT

Answer 117

b. PET

Question 118

Ronnie is driving his truck and suddenly a deer pulls out in front of his vehicle. Ronnie becomes alert and applies his brakes. Ronnie’s alertness and attention is due to which part of the brain?

a. reticular formation
b. pons
c. cerebellum
d. medulla

Answer 118

a. reticular formation

Question 119

Liam and Lacey are guitarists in their school band. Not only do they play the guitar effortlessly, but they are also known for their synchronization with each other. Which part of the brain do they rely upon to achieve this?

a. pons
b. reticular formation
c. medulla
d. cerebellum

Answer 119

d. cerebellum

Question 120

Your psychology professor refers to this as the great relay station of the brain. What part is he or she referring to?

a. amygdala
b. hypothalamus
c. hippocampus
d. thalamus

Answer 120

d. thalamus

Question 121

Which part of the brain is involved in the creation of long-term, declarative memories and is often linked to Alzheimer’s disease?

a. amygdala
b. thalamus
c. hypothalamus
d. hippocampus

Answer 121

d. hippocampus

Question 122

Raymond forgot to wear his helmet while playing cricket with his friends. He ducked his head at a bouncer, but the ball still hit the side of his head. He is now unable to hear and understand speech properly. Which part of his brain is most likely damaged?

a. occipital lobe
b. temporal lobe
c. frontal lobe
d. parietal lobe

Answer 122

b. temporal lobe

Question 123

Octavia understands speech but is unable to speak in a smooth and connected manner. This happened soon after one of her blood vessels in her brain got ruptured. Looking at the symptoms, where is the ruptured blood vessel most likely located?

a. right frontal lobe
b. left medial temporal lobe
c. left frontal lobe
d. right medial temporal lobe

Answer 123

c. left frontal lobe

Question 124

Lewis was involved in a road accident and sustained many head injuries. After he came out of his coma, his speech was fluent and coherent but it did not make sense.

One afternoon, he requested his brother if he could pass him the toilet as he was hungry. What is Lewis most likely suffering from?

a. spatial neglect
b. apraxia
c. Wernicke’s aphasia
d. Broca’s aphasia

Answer 124

c. Wernicke’s aphasia

Question 125

Although the brain works largely as a whole, which of the following is not a correct pairing of hemisphere and function?

a. left: control of right-handed motor functions
b. right: control of right-handed motor functions
c. right: recognition of faces
d. left: reading

Answer 125

b. right: control of right-handed motor functions

Question 126

What is the motor pathway of the somatic nervous system and what is its function?

Answer 126

The motor pathway consists of nerves (containing efferent neurons) carrying messages from the CNS to the voluntary, or skeletal, muscles of the body.

Question 127

What is the prefrontal cortex, where is it located and what is its function?

Answer 127

Located at the most forward part of the frontal lobe, it is linked to cognitive control and executive functions, which is our ability to consider future outcomes and control of our current behaviour to accomplish goals.

Question 128

What are the changes in communication between the left and right hemisphere of the brain due to the contralateral pathways in the corpus callosum?

Answer 128

Each brain hemisphere communicates with opposite sides of the body, the left brain hemisphere communicates with the right side of the body and vice versa, and also receives input from the right visual field and vice versa.

Question 129

What hormone does the pituitary gland of the endocrine system secrete?

Answer 129

Secretes the hormone oxytocin, which is involved in both reproductive and parental behaviour.