quiz 2

Question 1

heredity

Answer 1

the total set of characteristics biologically transmitted from parent to
offspring.

Question 2

genotype

Answer 2

is all of an individual’s genetic inheritance.

Question 3

phenotype

Answer 3

The actual expression of the genotype as the person’s visible characteristics and behavior

Question 4

CNS

Answer 4

consists of the spinal cord and brain

center of coordination and the mechanism that determines the most appropriate response to incoming impulses.

transmits info from environment & info from body to brain where is it reported, stored, & compaired with other info

transmit information about the environment and the body to the brain

Question 5

PNS

Answer 5

branching network of nerves, including the somatic system that controls all the skeletal muscles.

which is made up of all the nerve fibers that enter or leave the brain stem and spinal cord to supply the sensory receptors, muscles, and glands

lines of communication

Question 6

Motor Unit

Answer 6

A neuron and all the muscle fibers innervated by it are referred to as a motor unit because all the muscle fibers contract as a unit when stimulated by the motoneuron

A motor unit is a neuron and the muscle fibers it controls, which contract together when the neuron sends a signal.

Question 7

Critical periods

Answer 7

in which experience may be most effective in forging connections (wiring
the brain). From another perspective, these critical periods have more recently
been referred to as windows of opportunity, the theory that nature opens certain windows for the experience effect starting before birth and then “narrows” each opportunity, one by one.

-child who misses an opportunity may not develop the brain’s
circuitry to its full potential for a specific function.

Question 8

Brain plasticity

Answer 8

brains ability to change & reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences

Question 9

what contributes to an individuals development?

Answer 9

both nature (genetics) & nurture (environment)

Question 10

what is the basic unit of heredity found within a chromosome?

Answer 10

a gene

Question 11

what does the DNA molecule contain?

Answer 11

the genetic code

Question 12

how many genes does the human body contain?

Answer 12

20,000-25,000

Question 13

what are the primary functions of the nervous system?

Answer 13

-sensory function
-integrative function, which includes
the memory and thought processes
-motor function.

Question 14

somatic vs autonomic

Answer 14

both part of PNS
-somatic: voluntary & transmits signals to CNS
-autonomic: involuntary; ex: heart beat & breathing

Question 15

what does the cerebellum do?

Answer 15

it facilitates coordination & balance

Question 16

what is the sequence of CNS development?

Answer 16

1. cell proliferation & changes
2. migration
3. integration & differentiation
4. myelination
5. cell death

Question 17

what is integration & differentiation?

Answer 17

integration:the intricate interweaving of neural mechanisms toward their target destination

differentiation: the process
by means of which structure, function, or forms of behavior become more specialized

Question 18

when can differentiation occur?

Answer 18

after synaptogenesis

Question 19

what neurological changes occur with aging?

Answer 19

-loss of brain weight & neurons
-loss of vestibular awareness (balance)
-loss of nerve conduction velocity (slowing movements)

Question 20

what does the corpus callosum do?

Answer 20

it provides the link between the left & right brain

Question 21

what do both the left & right brain do?

Answer 21

left: logic, language, & sequential processing
right: nonverbal, visuospatial functions (e.g., music awareness, map reading, and figure drawing)

Question 22

what is pruning

Answer 22

the elimination of connections due to lack of use & stimulation

Question 23

what are pyramidal & extrapyramidal pathways?

Question 24

what are the parts of the CNS & what do they do?

Answer 24

-spinal cord: transmission pathway from body to brain, reflex behavior
-brain
—brainstem: posture, metabolic functions, involuntary reflexes
—cerebral cortex: critical thinking, info processing, precise motor movements
—basal ganglia: gross body movements
—cerebellum: coordination & balance

Question 25

what are the parts of the PNS & what do they do?

Answer 25

somatic: voluntary (skeletal muscles)
autonomic: involuntary (smooth muscles)

Question 26

what are the two types of nerve fibers?

Answer 26

afferent: signals from outside to spinal cord & brain
efferent: sends motor impulses from CNS to muscles & glands

Question 27

parts of neurons

Answer 27

cell body:
dendrite:
axon:
synapse: space or connection between axon & another neuron for purpose of sending messages

Question 28

what is a motor unit

Answer 28

a neuron & all the muslce fibers that a neuron controls

ascending tracks: sensory impulses to brain
descending tracks: sensory impulses from brain to rest of the body

Question 29

what are action potentials

Answer 29

brief impulses or wave of electricity sent from neurons through their axons in the form of single electrical clicks

Question 30

what are nerve conduction velocity

Answer 30

speed of which info travels from one nerve fiber to another

Question 31

what controls speed of impulses? & what is the reason for that?

Answer 31

-the presence or absence of myelin
-myelinated one will travel further
-nodes of ranvier allow for the conduction to jump quickly through saltatory conduction from one node to next

Question 32

what does schwann cell do?

Answer 32

insulating cell that forms myelinated sheath around axon

Question 33

what are the early developmental changes?

Answer 33

1. cell proliferation & changes
2. migrate & elaborate
3. integration & differentiation
4. myelination
5. cell death

Question 34

what is the degree of myelination closely related to?

Answer 34

maturation

Question 35

when does pruning actually occur?

Answer 35

around 10 years old

Question 36

does the brain develop new neurons?

Answer 36

yes
-a study on exercising mice showed that they produce 2.5 times the growth of new neurons than sedentary mice.
-environmental manipulations
may affect neurogenesis in a positive manner.

exercise increases cell proliferation

Question 37

what happens as you age

Answer 37

decrease in vestibular awareness (balance), brain weight, neurons, and dendritic density (forgetful), loss of nerve conduction velocity (reaction time)