module 5.1 Flashcards by Holly Buff

The ability of the brain to change its anatomy over time, within limits is known as

plasticity
regression
connectivity
long term potentiation

plasticity

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The human central nervous system

begins to form during the fetal stage
is unlike all other vertebrate central nervous systems in its developmental process
begins to form when the embryo is about two weeks old
begins to form when the embryo is about two months old

begins to form when the embryo is about two weeks old

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Stem cells are important for which of the following developmental processes?

migration
proliferation
myelination
synaptogenisis

proliferation

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As the neural tube sinks under the surface of the skin, the forward end enlarges and differentiates into the:

spine, midbrain, and forebrain
hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain
hindbrain, midbrain
midbrain, forebrain

hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain

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Children of mothers who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy are at increased risk of

intellectual deficits
Korsakoff’s syndrome
Rett syndrome
Parkinson’s disease

intellectual deficits

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Competition of neurons for postsynaptic sites results in survival of only the most sucessful axons. This general principle is called:

natural selection
evolution
apoptosis
neural Darwinism

neural Darwinism

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Early in development the nervous system begins as a:

A tube surrounding a fluid filled cavity
spherical structure in the center of the embryo
diffuse system of cells scatered throughout the body
single layer of cells covering the heart and other internal organs

A tube surrounding a fluid filled cavity

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Axons sort themselves over the surface of the target area

by following a gradient of chemicals
through apoptosis
through necrosis
based on their size

by following a gradient of chemicals

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Apoptosis

is a programmed mechanism of cell death
promotes the survival and growth of the axon
promotes the survival and growth of dendrites
promotes teh activity of neurons

is a programmed mechanism of cell death

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The final stage of neurodevelopment is called:

synaptogenisis
differentiation
migration
fusion

synaptogenisis

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Myelination in the human brain:

is complete upon birth
is complete around the second birthday
is complete sometime shortly after adolescence
continues well into the adult years

continues well into the adult years

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How much alcohol, if any, can a pregnant woman drink without worrying about the negative effects on her child?

The equivalent of two cocktails a day
The equivalent of one beer a day
Anything less than what causes her to act drunk
Unknown, and therefore abstention is recommended

Unknown, and therefore abstention is recommended

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The mechanism of fetal alcohol syndrome probably relates to

over excited neurons
apoptosis
decreases apoptosis
necrosis

apoptosis

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What happened when Weiss grafted an extra leg onto a salamander adjacent to one of the hindlegs

the new leg gradually took over for the old
the new leg withered and died
nerves from the old leg attached to the new in a random fashion
Branches of axons from the old leg attached to corresponding muscles in the new

Branches of axons from the old leg attached to corresponding muscles in the new

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Why is it that all neurons in a health adult brain have made appropriate connections?

Chemical messages from our muscles tell our brain how many neurons to form and that number perfectly matches the connections required
if an axon does not make the appropriate connections by a certain age, it dies
we are born with all connections formed
connections form rapidly, but we learn to use whatever connections have formed

if an axon does not make the appropriate connections by a certain age, it dies

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Alcohol suppresses the release of _________, the brain’s main excitatory transmitter.

5-HT
DA
GABA
glutamate

glutamate

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Brain studies of blind people suggest that they have greater attention to touch and auditory stimulation because

cortical areas for touch and audition are thicker
their visual cortex is used for touch and verbal tasks
they have greater neural branching
they have greater neurotrophin release

their visual cortex is used for touch and verbal tasks

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The most likely explanation for the excess proliferation of neurons in early development is that it

compensates for the connection errors
uses up excess stored fuel
increases learning capactiy when it is most needed
prevents apoptosis

compensates for the connection errors

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Which of the following aspects of brain and neural functioning can be most clearly altered by experience?

velocity of action potentials
structure of dendrites and axons
chemical constituents of the ventricles
number of laminae in the cerebral cortex

structure of dendrites and axons

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The fluid-filled cavity of the developing neural tube becomes the

forebrain
midbrain
spinal cord
ventricular system

ventricular system

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Roger Sperry cut a newt’s optic nerve and rotated the eye. Axons form what used to be the dorsal part of the retina (now located on the ventral side) grew back to the target areas:

that ordinarily get input from the dorsal retina
that ordinarily get input from the ventral retina
that ordinarily get input from the center of the retina
equally and diffusely

that ordinarily get input from the dorsal retina

Children of mothers who use cocaine during pregnancy

have a slightly higher birth weight
are likely to develop Turner’s syndrome
have a slightly lower IQ
are born with severe abnormalities resembling cerebral palsy

have a slightly lower IQ

Developing neurons need _______ for survival

neurotrophins only
neurotropins and synaptic input
synaptic input only
apoptosis

neurotropins and synaptic input

Children of mothers who drink heavily during pregnancy are born with

fetal alcohol syndrome
Turner’s syndrome
Klinefelter’s syndrome
PKU

fetal alcohol syndrome

Which of the following would most likely interfere with migration of neurons during development? altering chemical paths damaging dendrites loss of myelin increased differentiation

altering chemical paths

What visual capabilities did Sperry's newt have after Sperry cut the optic nerve and rotated the eye? it regained normal vision it saw the world upside down and backwards it required experience to relearn how to see it remained blind

it saw the world upside down and backwards

What is signaled by nerve growth factor (NGF)? That a target cell has "accepted" an axon which target cell a growing axon should connect with that axons should elongate as the body grows bigger the need for new neurons to form in the brain areas that are lacking in neurons

That a target cell has "accepted" an axon

Whether or not a transplanted immature neuron adopts the properties of neurons in the new location or retains at least some properties of neurons from where it was taken depends largely on how much the transplanted neuron has: myelinated proliferated migrated differentiated

differentiated

Keeping animals in a varied environment with stimulation increases the branching of dendrites speed of action potentials density of Nodes of Ranvier along the axon thickness of axons

branching of dendrites

Focal hand Dystonia, sometimes called "musician's cramp" is caused by extreme overlap of cortical representation of the fingers deterioation of muscles in the hand demyelination of neurons in the fingers buildup of excess GABA in the temporal cortex

extreme overlap of cortical representation of the fingers

What is the process called when the primitive neuron begins to develop dendrites and an axon? differentiation migration myelination proliferation

differentiation

New neurons are known to develop in all of the following cases EXCEPT: olfactory receptors the human corpus callosum the brain area responsible for birdsong hippocampus of mammals

the human corpus callosum

Myelination is a process common to: all vertebrate axons all vertebrate dendrites some vertebrate axons some invertebrate axons

some vertebrate axons

After the migrating neuron reaches its destination, _______ begin to form. dendrites axons nuclei ganglions

dendrites

Which of the following, if any,, would be more damaging to an adult brain than to the brain of an infant or fetus? Exposure to alcohol Infections like German measles Iodine deficiency in the diet All of these are more damaging to an infant brain

All of these are more damaging to an infant brain

Proliferation occurs: at the top of the spinal column around the vesicles around the ventricles at the expanding edge of the brain

around the ventricles

Necrosis is a programmed mechanism of cell death is cl death caused by an injury or a toxic substance. promotes the survival and growth of dendrites promotes the activity of neurons

is cl death caused by an injury or a toxic substance.

After maturity, the apoptotic mechanisms become hyperactive extinct dormant very complex

dormant

Which of the following are selective as axons form synapses with target cells? axons, but not target cells target cells, but not axons both axons and target cells neither axons nor target cells

both axons and target cells

Research in people over age sixty who were randomly assigned to experience six months of aerobic exercise showed: that they developed more axons that they developed less tumors that they developed greater thickness of the cortex that they developed less thickness of the cortex

that they developed greater thickness of the cortex

Immunoglobulins and chemokines play an important role in neural: migration proliferation synaptogenesis apoptosis

migration

Which of the following is NOT a function of neurotrophins Direct axonal growth during development Increase axonal branching in mature neurons Increase regrowth of axons after brain damage Induce apoptosis of neurons

Induce apoptosis of neurons

What statement most accurately describes embryonic development of the nervous system in humans? The majority of cells remain as primitive neurons until birth All synapses that are formed are permanent Neurons from before birth; synapses form after birth Far more neurons are produced than will ultimately survive

Far more neurons are produced than will ultimately survive

What modern practice helps prevent inadequate production of thyroid hormones? fluoride in drinking water processed sugar iodized salt artificial sweeteners

iodized salt

What is the production of new neurons called differentiation migration myelination proliferation

proliferation

Brain cells that are neither neurons nor glia, but which are capable of dividing and then differentiating into neurons or glia, are called: parallel fibers intrinsic cells stem cells glomeruli

stem cells

________ steer new axonal branches and synapses in the right direction Chemokines Immunoglobulin Glia Neurotrophins

Neurotrophins

An iodine deficiency in the diet can lead to an inadequate production of thyroid hormones. What is the result if this occurs in an infant or develpoping fetus? Down's syndrome mental retardation Tourette's syndrome accelerated body growth

mental retardation

In humans, myelination first occurs in the: spinal cord hindbrain midbrain forebrain

spinal cord

Massive cell death in the brain during parental development is indication of a genetic abnormality an indication of restricted blood flow to the fetus usually due to an autoimmune disorder normal

normal