Deck 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior

Question 1

The somatic nervous system consists of motor nerves,whose function is to

A)mobilize the body for action in a dangerous situation.
B)tell muscles what to do.
C)reduce the stress levels of the body.
D)convey information from the skin and muscles to the central nervous system.

Answer 1

tell muscles what to do.

Question 2

In the context of the characteristics of the nervous system,adaptability specifically refers to the brain's ability to

A)regulate complex systems.
B)combine data from multiple sources.
C)help adjust to changes in one's environment.
D)conduct electrical impulses.

Answer 2

help adjust to changes in one's environment.

Question 3

Which of the following is the function of the peripheral nervous system?

A)to myelinate dendrites
B)to execute glandular activities
C)to change the structure of the brain in response to experiences
D)to conduct information to the brain using motor nerves

Answer 3

to execute glandular activities

Question 4

In the context of the pathways in the nervous system,afferent nerves carry information

A)out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body.
B)to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.
C)out of the endocrine system to muscles and glands in the body.
D)to the heart and lungs from the muscles and glands.

Question 5

Roy,the conductor of an orchestra,guides and coordinates other musicians during stage performances. Which of the following characteristics of the nervous system predominantly commands Roy's behavior while conducting the orchestra?

A)inflexibility
B)integrity
C)polarity
D)adiposity

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of nerve cells?

A)They are unchanging structures.
B)They have a hereditary,biological foundation.
C)They provide structural support to glial cells.
D)They myelinate astrocytes.

Question 7

In the context of the divisions of the nervous system,the central nervous system consists of the

A)brain and spinal cord.
B)somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.
C)heart and lungs.
D)parasympathetic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system.

Question 8

Stand-up comedians who improvise constantly while on stage are demonstrating their ability to change according to the environment.Which of the following characteristics of the nervous system is most likely playing a predominant role in their adaptability?

A)carcinogenicity
B)simplicity
C)polarity
D)plasticity

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of plasticity?

A)Changes in the brain structure in response to experience
B)Transmission of information from a neuron to a glial cell
C)Myelination of epidermal cells
D)Changes in the structure of astrocytes residing within glial cells

Question 10

_____ is the part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body.

A)Central nervous system
B)Somatic nervous system
C)Sympathetic nervous system
D)Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 11

Which of the following nervous systems contains the majority of nerve cells in the human body?

A)the central nervous system
B)the somatic nervous system
C)the autonomic nervous system
D)the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 12

In the context of nervous system pathways,nerves that carry information about the external environment to the brain and spinal cord are known as _____ nerves.

A)efferent
B)afferent
C)motor
D)mirror

Question 13

In the context of the characteristics of the nervous system,the brain's special physical capacity for change is referred to as its

A)complexity.
B)integrative capacity.
C)plasticity.
D)structural capacity.

Question 14

In the context of nervous system pathways,nerves that carry information out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body are known as _____ nerves.

A)efferent
B)afferent
C)sensory
D)mirror

Question 15

The body's electrochemical communication circuitry is known as the _____ system.

A)endocrine
B)nervous
C)circulatory
D)respiratory

Question 16

In the context of the pathways in the nervous system,efferent nerves carry information

A)out of the endocrine system to other areas of the body.
B)to the heart and lungs from the muscles and glands.
C)out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body.
D)to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.

Question 17

In the context of the divisions of the nervous system,the brain is categorized within the _____ nervous system.

A)peripheral
B)parasympathetic
C)central
D)sympathetic

Question 18

In the context of the divisions of the nervous system,the autonomic nervous system consists of the

A)brain and spinal cord.
B)somatic nervous system.
C)peripheral nervous system and central nervous system.
D)parasympathetic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true of the pathways in the nervous system?

A)Motor nerves carry information to the brain and spinal cord.
B)Each neuron is a one-way street in the nervous system.
C)Sensory nerves carry information out of the brain and spinal cord.
D)When an impulse travels through a neuron,it does so chemically.

Question 20

Lolita,a nine-year-old girl,met with an accident that led to a head injury.She was able to recover from this injury in a few months.Which of the following characteristics of the nervous system most likely played a predominant role in her recovery?

A)simplicity
B)adiposity
C)plasticity
D)acridity

Question 21

Which division of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for physiological symptoms such as increased heart rate and butterflies in the stomach?

A)somatic nervous system
B)parasympathetic nervous system
C)sympathetic nervous system
D)central nervous system

Question 22

Which of the following statement is true of motor neurons?

A)They produce mirror neurons.
B)They provide structural support to glial cells.
C)They do not respond to sensory information.
D)They are not activated when a human performs an action.

Question 23

After taking her English final,Natalie attempts to relax in her chair by meditating.She is attempting to reduce her heart and respiration rates,as well as her muscular tension.In this scenario,her physiological relaxation can be best attributed to the functioning of her _____ nervous system.

A)somatic
B)central
C)parasympathetic
D)sympathetic

Question 24

While preparing dinner,Maya accidentally touches a hot dish.Which of the following divisions of the nervous system will be responsible for conveying information to the brain that she has touched something hot?

A)the sympathetic nervous system
B)the autonomic nervous system
C)the somatic nervous system
D)the parasympathetic nervous system

Question 25

If a person needs to run away from a dangerous situation,the _____ nervous system sends blood to the person's extremities to prepare him or her for taking off.

A)central
B)somatic
C)sympathetic
D)parasympathetic

Question 26

Which of the following is true about the autonomic nervous system?

A)It is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
B)It monitors processes such as breathing and digestion.
C)It conveys information from the skin and muscles to the central nervous system.
D)It consists of sensory nerves.

Question 27

Catherine is confronted by a man with a gun as she walks home from work one night.In this scenario,Catherine's _____ will prepare her body to run from the situation by increasing blood flow to her extremities.

A)parasympathetic nervous system
B)central nervous system
C)sympathetic nervous system
D)somatic nervous system

Question 28

Nancy is in her building elevator going down to the lobby when the elevator stops suddenly between floors,and the doors don't open.Nancy's heart starts pounding,and her palms start sweating.In this scenario,Nancy's physiological responses can be best attributed to her _____ nervous system.

A)central
B)somatic
C)parasympathetic
D)sympathetic

Question 29

_____ are activated in human and nonhuman primates both when they perform an action and when they watch someone else perform that same action.

A)Mirror neurons
B)Glial cells
C)Motor neurons
D)Afferent nerves

Question 30

In the context of the divisions of the nervous system,the somatic nervous system consists of sensory nerves,whose function is to

A)mobilize the body for action in a dangerous situation.
B)calm the body to inhibit a particular action.
C)take messages to the body's internal organs from the brain.
D)convey information from the skin and muscles to the central nervous system.

Question 31

Which division of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for carrying messages to and from the body's internal organs and monitoring processes such as breathing,heart rate,and digestion?

A)somatic nervous system
B)autonomic nervous system
C)limbic system
D)circulatory system

Question 32

Nine-year-old Anna learns ballet by watching her mother and imitating her mother's movements.In the context of neurons,which of the following types of cells is most directly responsible for Anna's method of learning?

A)mirror neurons
B)glial cells
C)Schwann cells
D)astrocytes

Question 33

Lionel is preparing for his first job interview.The night before the interview,he is restless and anxious;his palms are sweating and his heart is beating faster than usual.In this scenario,Lionel's physiological responses can be best attributed to his _____ nervous system.

A)central
B)somatic
C)parasympathetic
D)sympathetic

Question 34

Which of the following is a characteristic of mirror neurons?

A)They produce glial cells and afferent neurons.
B)They are responsible for the myelination of dendrites.
C)They appear to respond to both motor and sensory information.
D)They receive information through their axons and transmit information through their dendrites.

Question 35

In an emergency,the sympathetic nervous system helps the body by

A)unmyelinating neurons to facilitate faster information transmission.
B)stimulating the production of glial cells to help transmit chemical messages.
C)reducing the rate of information exchange between the autonomic nervous system and the motor nerves.
D)triggering the release of stress hormones.

Question 36

In the context of the divisions of the nervous system,such processes as heart rate,breathing,and digestion are monitored by the

A)somatic nervous system.
B)circulatory system.
C)lymphatic system.
D)autonomic nervous system.

Question 37

Elizabeth feels her heart racing while she waits for her turn at a job interview.These physiological symptoms are most likely produced by her _____ nervous system.

A)central
B)somatic
C)parasympathetic
D)sympathetic

Question 38

Julie hears the news about a bus accident on television.She believes her son was on the same bus and is overcome by anxiety which is primarily caused by her _____ nervous system.When her son phones and informs her that he was not on the bus,Julie is relieved and begins to relax.This response is primarily caused by her _____ nervous system.

A)somatic;autonomic
B)central;somatic
C)sympathetic;parasympathetic
D)parasympathetic;central

Question 39

Which part of the nervous system will be most active when Martin,a backpacker,acts quickly in response to a wild animal approaching him?

A)sympathetic nervous system
B)central nervous system
C)somatic nervous system
D)parasympathetic nervous system

Question 40

Harry is driving on the interstate highway for the first time since he obtained his license.He is nervous and wants to get off the interstate but cannot do so;his heart and pulse are racing.In this scenario,Harry's physiological responses can be best attributed to his _____ nervous system.

A)sympathetic
B)parasympathetic
C)somatic
D)central

Question 41

In the context of the nervous system,by far,the majority of information processing in the brain is done by

A)neurons.
B)glial cells.
C)astrocytes.
D)satellite cells.

Question 42

In the context of specialized cell structure,the primary function of dendrites is to

A)keep the cell alive.
B)insulate axons.
C)secrete hormones.
D)receive information.

Question 43

In the context of specialized cell structure,the _____ is the part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells.

A)axon
B)dendrite
C)glial cell
D)nucleus

Question 44

Which of the following is the best representation of the flow of information within a neuron?

A)cell body dendrite axon
B)dendrite cell body axon
C)axon nucleus dendrite
D)nucleus dendrite axon

Question 45

Which of the following is a true statement about dendrites?

A)They encase and insulate most axons.
B)They are treelike fibers projecting from a neuron.
C)They contain the nucleus of a neuron.
D)They direct the manufacture of substances required for growth of neurons.

Question 46

In the context of specialized cell structure,the myelin sheath is a layer of cells containing

A)fat.
B)scar tissue.
C)glia.
D)treelike fibers.

Question 47

Which of the following is a function of the cell body in a nerve cell?

A)It encases and insulates most axons.
B)It produces glia.
C)It reverses the direction of flow of information in a neuron.
D)It directs the manufacture of substances required for growth and maintenance of neurons.

Question 48

Which of the following is a function of the axon in a nerve cell in the context of specialized cell structure?

A)It manufactures substances required for growth and maintenance.
B)It is responsible for converting acting potential to resting potential.
C)It carries information away from the cell body toward other cells.
D)It receives information and orients it toward the neuron's cell body.

Question 49

Dendrites differ from axons in that dendrites

A)are myelinated,whereas axons are not myelinated.
B)receive information,whereas axons send information.
C)are branched,whereas axons are singular.
D)are efferent,whereas axons are afferent.

Question 50

In the nervous system,glial cells

A)provide support and nutritional benefits to neurons.
B)handle majority of the information processing in the brain.
C)serve as a substitute for afferent neurons.
D)produce new neurons and replace old neurons.

Question 51

The membrane surrounding an axon prevents negative and positive ions from randomly flowing into or out of the cell because it is

A)pliable.
B)semipermeable.
C)malleable.
D)fragile.

Question 52

Walter has a degenerative condition known as multiple sclerosis (MS).In the context of specialized cell structure,his disease causes

A)replacement of scar tissue by the myelin sheath.
B)hardening of the myelin sheath.
C)duplication of mirror neurons.
D)conversion of glial cells to neurons.

Question 53

Which of the following is true about the myelin sheath that cover the axons of nerve cells?

A)It is responsible for making axons poor conductors of electricity.
B)It facilitates the transmission of electrical impulses.
C)It produces glia.
D)It directs the manufacture of substances that the neuron needs for growth and maintenance.

Question 54

In the context of specialized cell structure,which of the following scenarios acts as the closest analogy to the function of the myelin sheath in the brain?

A)Becky is riding her skateboard down the hill.
B)Juan is rolling down the windows in his car to create resistance.
C)Amber is waxing her surfboard so that it will move easily through water.
D)Gerald is adding another coat of paint to the outer walls of his house.

Question 55

Which of the following statements is true of glial cells?

A)They are responsible for the majority of information processing in the brain.
B)They keep neurons running smoothly.
C)They transform motor nerves into afferent nerves.
D)They constantly change the direction of information flow in neurons.

Question 56

In the context of specialized cell structure,which of the following components of a nerve cell hardens in patients with multiple sclerosis?

A)cell body
B)dendrites
C)nucleus
D)myelin sheath

Question 57

The two types of cells in the nervous system are neurons and

A)glial cells.
B)motor nerves.
C)epithelial cells.
D)efferent nerves.

Question 58

In the context of the neural impulse,which of the following is true about the depolarization of neuron membranes?

A)It is characterized by the movement of neurotransmitters through the axon.
B)It decreases the charge difference between the fluids inside and outside of the neuron.
C)It is the brief wave of negative electrical charge that sweeps down the axon.
D)It produces sodium ions in the dendrites of a neuron.

Question 59

A neurobiologist explains to his students that the human nervous system is analogous to electrical circuits in homes.If the circuit wires are not insulated,they are likely to cause a short circuit.In this scenario,the insulation on the wires can be likened to the _____ in the neural system.

A)terminal button
B)dendrites
C)cell body
D)myelin sheath

Question 60

Which of the following occurs when a neuron is resting?

A)Its membrane's ion channels are closed.
B)The fluid outside the membrane has no electrical charge.
C)Fluids and ions can sometimes flow into and out of it.
D)It transmits information.

Question 61

Some of the drugs that alleviate Alzheimer symptoms do so by compensating for the loss of the brain's supply of

A)acetylcholine.
B)benzene.
C)prolactin.
D)pepsin.

Question 62

According to the all-or-nothing principle,which of the following would happen if the size of the electrical charge in a neural impulse was twice the size needed for the electrical impulse?

A)The neuron would go back to its resting potential without transmitting any information.
B)The intensity of the impulse would not be affected.
C)The intensity of the impulse would be twice as strong.
D)The axon of the neuron will develop a new branch.

Question 63

The _____ states that once an electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity in a neuron,it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any intensity.

A)depolarizing principle
B)all-or-nothing principle
C)permeability principle
D)nature-nurture principle

Question 64

In the context of the neuron structure,the tiny space between two neurons is called the

A)node of Ranvier.
B)cell body.
C)synapse.
D)interneuron.

Question 65

After delivering its message,some of the neurotransmitter is used up in the production of energy,and some of it is reabsorbed by the axon that released it to await the next neural impulse.In the context of synaptic transmission,this reabsorption is called

A)reuptake.
B)revision.
C)inhibition.
D)depolarization.

Question 66

The term _____ refers to the stable,negative charge of an inactive neuron.

A)depolarized potential
B)resting potential
C)action potential
D)discharge potential

Question 67

In the nervous system,which of the following is true of neurons and the neurotransmitters they secrete?

A)Most neurons secrete many neurotransmitters at the same time.
B)At any given time,a neuron is receiving a mixture of messages from the neurotransmitters.
C)Neurotransmitters in neurons cannot be both excitatory and inhibitory.
D)Neurotransmitters are located in the nuclei of the neurons.

Question 68

Which of the following is true of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine?

A)It is produced in excess in Alzheimer disease.
B)It is responsible for the degenerative disorder called multiple sclerosis (MS).
C)It is found only in the peripheral nervous system.
D)It is involved in muscle action,learning,and memory.

Question 69

Chemical substances that are stored in very tiny sacs within the terminal buttons and are involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap to the next neuron are known as

A)synaptic vesicles.
B)glial cells.
C)neurotransmitters.
D)ions.

Question 70

The term _____ describes the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon of a neuron.

A)resting potential
B)action potential
C)graded potential
D)polarized potential

Question 71

Jen and Jack are seated in the same row in an airplane but across the aisle from each other.If the information they exchange across the aisle represents the neural impulse between neurons,and Jen and Jack represent the neurons,the aisle most likely represents the

A)nodes of Ranvier.
B)axon hillock.
C)synapse.
D)interneurons.

Question 72

Which of the following is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system?

A)glutamate
B)acetylcholine (ACh)
C)gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
D)endorphin

Question 73

The difference between glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)is that glutamate

A)excites neurons to fire,whereas GABA inhibits neurons from firing.
B)stimulates the release of glial cells,whereas GABA inhibits the release of glial cells.
C)produces neurotransmitters,whereas GABA breaks down neurotransmitters.
D)causes neurons to change structurally,whereas GABA causes neurons to change chemically.

Question 74

Which of the following is a function of gamma aminobutyric acid?

A)to control the precision of the signal being carried from one neuron to the next
B)to play a role in exciting neurons to fire
C)to serve as the brain's accelerator
D)to excite heart muscle and intestines

Question 75

In the context of the neural impulse,which of the following is the status of the charges on each side of the cell membrane during the stage of resting potential?

A)a negative charge on the outside of the cell membrane and a positive charge on the inside
B)a negative charge on the inside of the cell membrane and a positive charge on the outside
C)a negative charge on both the outside and the inside of the cell membrane
D)a positive charge on both the outside and the inside of the cell membrane

Question 76

Which of the following statements is true of neurotransmitters?

A)They are stored in dendrites.
B)They are electrical signals.
C)They move in a random manner.
D)They are the source of nutrition for most neurons.

Question 77

Which of the following is a similarity between the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and glutamate?

A)Both are associated with Alzheimer disease.
B)Both play a key function in the brain by inhibiting neurons from firing.
C)Both are responsible for the myelination of dendrites.
D)Both play a key role in reducing the production of glial cells.

Question 78

Which of the following is true of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)?

A)It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
B)It is primarily responsible for muscle action,learning,and memory.
C)It is primarily responsible for controlling voluntary movement.
D)It is an excitatory neurotransmitter.

Question 79

Martin's father is experiencing memory loss related to Alzheimer disease.In the context of neurotransmitters,this is most likely due to the insufficient production of _____ in his brain.

A)pepsin
B)gastrin
C)acetylcholine
D)adenosine

Question 80

Before an impulse can cross the synaptic gap between neurons,the impulse must be

A)converted into an electrical signal.
B)processed by a glial cell.
C)converted into a chemical signal.
D)myelinated within the terminal buttons.