Chapter 2

Question 1

What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

Question 2

What is the basic unit of the nervous system?

Answer 2

Neurons

Question 3

What are the three phases of neuron communication?

Answer 3

Transmission, reception, and integration.

Question 4

What is the resting state of a neuron

Answer 4

When a neuron is inactive and has a negative electrical charge.

Question 5

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

Answer 5

To insulate the axon and speed up neural communication.

Question 6

What happens during neurotransmitter reuptake?

Answer 6

Neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron.

Question 7

What is the difference between an excitatory signal and an inhibitory signal?

Answer 7

Excitatory signals increase the likelihood of neuron firing, while inhibitory signals decrease it.

Question 8

Name two types of drugs that affect neurotransmitter function.

Answer 8

Agonists (enhance action) and antagonists (block action).

Question 9

What is the role of serotonin in the brain?

Answer 9

Serotonin regulates emotional states, impulse control, and dreaming.

Question 10

What brain region is involved in speech production?

Answer 10

Broca’s area in the left frontal region.

Question 11

What function does the cerebellum serve?

Answer 11

It coordinates movement and maintains balance.

Question 12

Which brain structure is associated with forming memories?

Answer 12

The hippocampus

Question 13

What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 13

Occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes.

Question 14

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 14

It regulates involuntary body functions, such as heart rate and digestion.

Question 15

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 15

Sympathetic (prepares the body for action) and parasympathetic (returns the body to resting state)

Question 16

What is the role of the endocrine system in behavior?

Answer 16

It influences behavior through hormones released by endocrine glands.

Question 17

What are twin studies used for in behavioral genetics

Answer 17

To study the influence of genetics and environment by comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

Question 18

What is plasticity in the brain?

Answer 18

The brain’s ability to change by growing new neurons, forming new connections, and reorganizing itself.

Question 19

What is epigenetics?

Answer 19

The study of how environment affects gene expression.

Question 20

What is the function of the medulla in the hindbrain?

Answer 20

The medulla controls basic life functions like heart rate, breathing, and swallowing.

Question 21

What role does the pons play in the hindbrain?

Answer 21

The pons is involved in sleep, arousal, and coordinating movements between the left and right sides of the body.

Question 22

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Answer 22

The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement, maintains posture and balance, and plays a role in motor learning.

Question 23

What is the role of the substantia nigra in the midbrain?

Answer 23

The substantia nigra is important for initiating voluntary movement. Its degeneration is linked to Parkinson’s disease.

Question 24

What does the thalamus do in the forebrain?

Answer 24

The thalamus acts as a relay station, processing and transmitting sensory information to the cerebral cortex (except for smell).

Question 25

What are the main functions of the hypothalamus?

Answer 25

The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other homeostatic systems, and controls the pituitary gland, which influences hormone release.

Question 26

What role does the hippocampus play in the brain?

Answer 26

The hippocampus is crucial for the formation of new memories and spatial navigation.

Question 27

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 27

The amygdala processes emotions, especially fear and aggression, and enhances memory formation during emotionally charged events.

Question 28

What is the function of the occipital lobe in the cerebral cortex?

Answer 28

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information. It contains the primary visual cortex, which interprets visual signals from the eyes.

Question 29

What is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Answer 29

The parietal lobe processes sensory information related to touch, pressure, and body position. It includes the primary somatosensory cortex, which receives tactile information.

Question 30

What does the temporal lobe handle?

Answer 30

The temporal lobe is involved in processing auditory information, language comprehension, and recognizing objects and faces. It contains the primary auditory cortex.

Question 31

What is the primary role of the frontal lobe?

Answer 31

The frontal lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as attention, decision-making, problem-solving, voluntary movement, and inhibiting inappropriate behaviors. It contains the primary motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex.

Question 32

What is the corpus callosum, and what does it do?

Answer 32

The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres, allowing them to communicate and coordinate actions.

Question 33

What is the fusiform face area, and where is it located?

Answer 33

The fusiform face area is located at the intersection of the temporal and occipital lobes and is specialized in facial recognition.

Question 34

How do the left and right hemispheres of the brain differ in terms of specialization?

Answer 34

The left hemisphere specializes in logical reasoning, language processing, and controlling the right side of the body. The right hemisphere specializes in spatial awareness, creativity, and controlling the left side of the body.

Question 35

What is the function of Broca’s area in the brain?

Answer 35

Broca’s area, located in the left frontal lobe, is responsible for speech production and language expression.

Question 36

What is the function of the dendrites in a neuron?

Answer 36

Dendrites receive signals from other neurons and transmit this information to the cell body.

Question 37

What does the cell body (soma) of a neuron do?

Answer 37

The cell body contains the nucleus and organelles, and it integrates incoming signals and generates outgoing signals to the axon.

Question 38

What is the role of the axon in a neuron?

Answer 38

The axon carries electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Question 39

What are terminal buttons (axon terminals) and their function?

Answer 39

Terminal buttons are at the end of the axon, and they release neurotransmitters into the synapse to transmit the signal to the next neuron.

Question 40

What is the myelin sheath, and what is its function?

Answer 40

The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that insulates the axon, speeding up the transmission of electrical signals along the axon.