PSYC380 / Quiz: Nerve Cells, Impulses, and Brain Anatomy
U Question 1
0 / 3 pts
When you touch something, where does the conscious perception occur?
In your hand
In your brain
Between your hand and your brain
In both your hand and your brain
Question 2
3 / 3 pts
Why do we need a blood–brain barrier?
To prevent proteins from leaking out of the brain
To prevent high blood pressure from damaging the brain
To enable more nutrition to reach the brain
To protect the brain from viruses and harmful chemicals
Question 3
3 / 3 pts
Why is so little research done on local neurons?
Local neurons are tiny.
Local neurons are uncommon.
Local neurons do not convey information.
Local neurons are immature.
Question 4
3 / 3 pts
How does an evolutionary explanation of behavior differ from a functional explanation?
An evolutionary explanation predicts how the behavior will change in the future.
An evolutionary explanation relates a behavior to the maturation of the nervous system.
An evolutionary explanation explains why a behavior is advantageous.
An evolutionary explanation traces a behavior to ancestral species.
I Question 5
0 / 3 pts
If one action potential started at the cell body (orthodromic) and another one started at the tip of the
axon (antidromic), they would stop when they met at the center. Why?
The overstimulation would damage the axon.
Each run into the other one’s refractory period.
The sodium–potassium pump would cause the action potentials to cease.
Each would fail to find the usual synaptic ending.
Question 6
3 / 3 pts
What is the opposite of dualism?
Vegetarianism
Pacifism
Monism
Solipsism
Question 7
3 / 3 pts
What is a disadvantage of the blood–brain barrier?
It produces electrical discharges.
It forces the body to maintain high blood pressure.
It keeps most nutrients out of the brain.
It puts a limit on brain size.
Question 8
3 / 3 pts
What does depolarization of a neuron membrane mean?
Increasing its negative charge
Decreasing its negative charge
Making it unable to conduct an action potential
Causing it to change shape
Question 9
3 / 3 pts
What do “minimalists” say about animal research?
Only minimal restraints should apply to animal research.
Only government researchers should be allowed to do animal research.
Only medical researchers should be allowed to do animal research.
Only certain types of animal research should be acceptable.
Question 10
3 / 3 pts
Because of the all-or-none law, what is the only way an axon can signal the difference between a weak
signal and a strong signal?
By changing the amplitude of its action potentials
By changing the velocity of its action potentials
By changing the frequency of its action potentials
By changing the direction of its action potentials
Question 11
3 / 3 pts
How do glucose and amino acids cross the blood–brain barrier?
With active transport by proteins
By dissolving in the fats of the membrane
Through the gaps between endothelial cells
By being broken down into their elements and then reassembled
Question 12
3 / 3 pts
According to the idea of a tripartite synapse, what does an astrocyte do at a synapse?
Stores mitochondria for later use
Synthesizes proteins to repair membranes
Electrically stimulates the axon to release its transmitter
Releases chemicals to modify input to the receiving cell
I Question 13
0 / 3 pts
An infant monkey grasps anything placed in the palm of the hand because this response enables it to
cling to its mother. What type of explanation is this?
Physiological
Ontogenetic
Evolutionary
Functional
Question 14
3 / 3 pts
Which part of a neuron has chromosomes?
The synapse
The cell body
The axon
The dendrites
Question 15
3 / 3 pts
How long are the longest axons?
No more than a few millimeters
Approximately five centimeters
More than a meter
Twice as long as the cell’s largest dendrite
Question 16
3 / 3 pts
How is an action potential conducted in a myelinated axon?
Through a sequence of synapses
By a relay from one node of Ranvier to the next
Without any movement of sodium or potassium
In one jump from the start to the finish
Question 17
3 / 3 pts
Santiago Ramón y Cajal was famous for which of the following discoveries?
Transmission at the synapses depends on chemicals.
Mental illness has a biological basis.
Genetic differences influence behavioral development.
The brain is composed of cells.
Question 18
3 / 3 pts
What causes an action potential?
Sodium and potassium ions exchanging positions within the cell
Potassium ions leaving the cell
Sodium ions leaving the cell
Sodium ions entering the cell
Question 19
3 / 3 pts
Two bird species sing similar songs because they had a recent ancestor in common. What type of
explanation is this?
Physiological
Ontogenetic
Evolutionary
Functional
I Question 20
0 / 3 pts
When the membrane is at rest, why don’t sodium ions enter the cell?
The concentration gradient pushes them out.
The electrical gradient pushes them out.
Both the concentration gradient and the electrical gradient push them out.
The sodium gates are closed.
Question 21
3 / 3 pts
What is the brain’s most abundant neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
Serotonin
Glutamate
Acetylcholine
Question 22
3 / 3 pts
What is one difference between ionotropic and metabotropic synapses?
Ionotropic effects are excitatory.
Ionotropic effects are inhibitory.
Ionotropic effects are faster.
Ionotropic effects last longer.
Question 23
3 / 3 pts
What is meant by spatial summation at a synapse?
Transmission at a synapse is slower than transmission along an axon.
Inputs from several locations combine their effects on a neuron.
Repeated stimuli in a short time combine their effects on a neuron.
A single stimulus can cause flexion of one muscle and extension of another.
Question 24
3 / 3 pts
What is meant by temporal summation at a synapse?
Transmission at a synapse is slower than transmission along an axon.
Inputs from several locations combine their effects on a neuron.
Repeated stimuli in a short time combine their effects on a neuron.
A single stimulus can cause flexion of one muscle and extension of another.
Question 25
3 / 3 pts
Why does eating carbohydrates increase brain serotonin?
The resulting increase in energy makes it easier to synthesize serotonin.
The resulting increase in insulin removes certain amino acids from the blood.
The resulting increase in body temperature lets serotonin cross the blood–brain barrier.
The resulting increase in digestion helps the body break down proteins.
Question 26
3 / 3 pts
In Sherrington’s research, what was the effect of making a cut in the spinal cord?
It stopped all reflexive responses.
It stopped any coordination between the left side and the right side.
It caused the animal to go into prolonged sleep.
It made reflexive responses more consistent.
Question 27
3 / 3 pts
Why did Sherrington measure the delay between a stimulus on the foot and a reflexive response?
To compare myelinated axons with unmyelinated ones
To compare the speed of reflexes among species that evolved from a common ancestor
To compare the speed of a reflex to the speed of axonal transmission
To find the correlation between speed of response and cognitive abilities
Question 28
3 / 3 pts
What research first demonstrated chemical transmission at synapses?
Loewi transferred fluid from one frog’s heart to another.
Sherrington measured the speed of reflexes in dogs.
Eccles measured EPSPs and IPSPs in isolated neurons.
Volkow demonstrated the effects of drugs on behavior.
Question 29
3 / 3 pts
How does a metabotropic synaptic receptor exert its effects?
It activates a second messenger inside the neuron.
It increases the activity of the mitochondria.
It opens a channel for one type of ion to pass.
It increases the activity of the sodium–potassium pump.
Question 30
3 / 3 pts
Stimuli from several locations produce a response that a single stimulus does not. What did Sherrington
infer from that observation?
Synapses show temporal summation.
Synapses show spatial summation.
Synapses can be either excitatory or inhibitory.
Synapses transmit more slowly than axons.
Question 31
3 / 3 pts
The primary somatosensory cortex is in which lobe of the cortex?
Occipital
Parietal
Temporal
Frontal
Question 32
3 / 3 pts
Why does being nervous interfere with sexual arousal?
Nervousness shifts most activity to the left side of the brain.
Nervousness shifts most activity to the right side of the brain.
Nervousness inhibits the parasympathetic nervous system.
Nervousness inhibits the sympathetic nervous system.
Question 33
3 / 3 pts
What are the typical symptoms of Klüver-Bucy syndrome?
Dizziness, nausea, and prolonged hiccups
Sleeplessness and difficulty coordinating vision with movement
Inability to coordinate the left and right halves of the body
Fearlessness and inappropriate eating and sexual behaviors
Question 34
3 / 3 pts
In anatomy, what is the opposite of proximal?
Anterior
Ventral
Distal
Ipsilateral
Question 35
3 / 3 pts
The forebrain has input and output from which sides?
Input from the ipsilateral side, output to the ipsilateral side
Input from the contralateral side, output to the contralateral side
Input from the ipsilateral side, output to the contralateral side
Input from the contralateral side, output to the ipsilateral side
Question 36
4 / 4 pts
Which types of chemicals minimize the damage from strokes, at least in laboratory animals?
Antioxidants
Cannabinoids
Antibiotics
Decongestants
Question 37
4 / 4 pts
If we provided every child with an equally good environment, what would happen to the estimates of
heritability?
They would increase.
They would decrease.
They would increase for some behaviors and decrease for others.
They would remain unchanged.
Question 38
4 / 4 pts
How long does myelination continue in humans?
During the second trimester of pregnancy
Until shortly after birth
Until adolescence
For decades
Question 39
4 / 4 pts
Which people who are older are most likely to retain their cognitive abilities?
Those who live in a cool, rainy climate.
Those who take early retirement.
Those who remain physically active.
Those who follow a vegetarian diet.
Question 40
4 / 4 pts
Suppose “T” is a dominant gene for the ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and “t” is a recessive
gene for the inability to taste it. Which couples could possibly have both a child who tastes it and a child
who does not?
Father TT, mother tt
Father Tt, mother TT
Father Tt, mother Tt
Father tt, mother tt
Quiz Score: 113 out of 125
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Time: 90 minutes
Current Score: 113 out of 125
Kept Score: 113 out of 125
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