Question 1

Despite its dangers, a young man continues to take cocaine because of the feelings of euphoria it produces for him. This powerful arousal of his nervous system is probably due to cocaine's ability to ________.
A) inhibit enzymes that break down neurotransmitters
B) block the receptor sites for neurotransmitters
C) increase the release of dopamine
D) allow excess amounts of dopamine to accumulate in the synapses

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite its dangers, a young man continues...

Question 2

The nervous system is comprised of two major parts - the ________.
A) central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
B) brain and the spinal cord
C) afferent nervous system and the efferent nervous system
D) sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Accepted Answer

The nervous system is composed of two main parts - the central nervous system, which includes the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, which includes all of the nerves that extend from the central nervous system to the rest of the body. The afferent and efferent systems are subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system, while the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 3

Research on human brain tissue has found that human brains are ________.
A) capable of neurogenesis only during early childhood
B) capable of neurogenesis only through adolescence
C) capable of neurogenesis even in adulthood
D) not capable of neurogenesis after birth

Accepted Answer

Recent research has shown that the human brain is capable of neurogenesis even in adulthood. While neurogenesis is most active during childhood and adolescence, it does continue in certain regions of the brain throughout adulthood.

Question 4

After drinking several cups of strong coffee, a person develops "coffee nerves" or "jitters." This probably is due to the ability of caffeine to ________.
A) block adenosine receptor sites
B) cause neurotransmitters to leak out of the synaptic vesicles and be destroyed by enzymes
C) cause an increase in the release of excitatory neurotransmitters
D) inhibit enzymes which break down excitatory neurotransmitters

Accepted Answer

Caffeine blocks adenosine receptor sites in the brain, which normally inhibit the release of excitatory neurotransmitters. This leads to an increase in the release of these neurotransmitters and can result in jittery or anxious feelings.

Question 5

The neurotransmitter known as the "mood molecule" is ________.
A) dopamine
B) norepinephrine
C) acetylcholine
D) serotonin

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is often referred to as the "mood molecule" because it is involved in regulating mood, emotions, and anxiety. It is a neurotransmitter that is linked to feelings of happiness and well-being, and low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression and anxiety disorders.

Question 6

Endorphins ________.
A) are less powerful than enkaphalins
B) reduce pain messages in the brain
C) are radically different in function from neurotransmitters
D) are found where neurons meet skeletal muscles

Accepted Answer

Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced by the body that function to reduce pain messages in the brain. They are more powerful than enkaphalins and are not radically different in function from other neurotransmitters. They are not typically found where neurons meet skeletal muscles.

Question 7

The brain and spinal cord contain about ________ percent of the body's neurons.
A) 40
B) 65
C) 15
D) 90

Accepted Answer

The brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system, contain about 90 percent of the body's neurons. This highlights the high concentration of neurons in these areas, crucial for processing and transmitting information throughout the body.

Question 8

A frog muscle is stimulated with an electric current but the muscle doesn't twitch. This probably happens because ________.
A) ionic balance has been restored
B) the synapses are underactive
C) the threshold of excitation was not reached
D) the graded potential is too great

Accepted Answer

A muscle will only twitch when the electrical stimulus reaches the threshold of excitation, which is the minimum amount of stimulus needed for an action potential to be generated in the muscle cells. If the threshold of excitation is not reached, the muscle will not twitch. Factors such as fatigue, low calcium levels or neuromuscular diseases can lead to a failure to reach the threshold.

Question 9

Immediately after firing, a neuron cannot fire again no matter how strong the incoming messages may be. This period is called the ________ period.
A) relative refractory
B) primary refractory
C) polarization
D) absolute refractory

Accepted Answer

The period immediately after firing, during which a neuron cannot fire again no matter how strong the incoming messages may be, is called the absolute refractory period.

Question 10

When a neural impulse reaches the end of an axon, it causes tiny oval sacs at the end of the axon to release chemicals called ________.
A) hormones
B) neurotransmitters
C) antioxidants
D) electrolytes

Accepted Answer

When a neural impulse reaches the end of an axon, it causes tiny oval sacs called synaptic vesicles at the end of the axon to release chemicals called neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap. Hormones are released by glands, electrolytes are ions that help transmit electrical impulses, and antioxidants are molecules that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Question 11

R. Rosenzweig examined rats by studying the ________.
A) behavioral effects of lesions in different parts of their brains
B) sexual orientation effects of prenatal exposure to maternal hormones
C) effects on their brains of electrical stimulation to the frontal and parietal lobes
D) effects on their brains of exposure to impoverished or enriched environments

Accepted Answer

R. Rosenzweig is known for his research on the effects of environmental enrichment or impoverishment on the neuroplasticity of the brain in rats. His studies demonstrated that rats raised in enriched environments showed significant differences in brain structure compared to those raised in impoverished conditions.

Question 12

An elderly male is diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease. His physician tells him the disorder involves a deficiency of ________.
A) acetylcholine
B) serotonin
C) norepinephrine
D) dopamine

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a decline in the production and release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This deficiency impairs cognition, memory, and behavioral functioning.

Question 13

A neuron is likely to fire ________ when stimulated by a strong signal.
A) in a coded sequence
B) for a longer period of time
C) more often
D) more intensely

Accepted Answer

When stimulated by a strong signal, a neuron is more likely to fire more often in response to the intensity of the signal. This is known as the firing rate or frequency, and it is how the brain codes and interprets different types and strengths of stimuli.

Question 14

The "all or none law" is the principle stating that ________.
A) a neuron fires at full strength or not at all
B) all neurons in an area fire at the same intensity or not at all
C) a neuron must be receiving only "fire" messages through its dendrites or it will not fire at all
D) all the neurons in a particular area of the brain fire simultaneously or not at all

Accepted Answer

The "all or none law" states that a neuron either fires at full strength or not at all, meaning that if the threshold for an action potential is not met, the neuron will not fire at all. This principle applies to individual neurons, not to groups of neurons firing together.

Question 15

Undifferentiated precursor cells that, under the right conditions, can give rise to any specialized cell in the body are called ________ cells.
A) stem
B) receptor
C) glial
D) T-cells

Accepted Answer

Undifferentiated precursor cells that can give rise to any specialized cell in the body are called stem cells. Receptor, glial, and T-cells are not capable of this type of differentiation.

Question 16

Depression is linked to an ________.
A) oversupply of serotonin and an undersupply of norepinephrine
B) undersupply of serotonin and an oversupply of norepinephrine
C) undersupply of serotonin and norepinephrine
D) oversupply of serotonin and norepinephrine

Accepted Answer

Depression is often linked to a deficiency in certain neurotransmitters, particularly an undersupply of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are involved in regulating mood, anxiety, and happiness.

Question 17

A person with schizophrenia is most likely to have a problem with which of the following neurotransmitters?
A) dopamine
B) serotonin
C) acetylcholine
D) norepinephrine

Accepted Answer

Studies have suggested that schizophrenia is associated with an overactivity of dopamine receptors in certain areas of the brain. Therefore, medication used to treat schizophrenia often targets dopamine receptors in order to reduce these symptoms.

Question 18

The action potential causes neurotransmitters to be released into the ________.
A) cell membrane
B) synaptic space
C) axon
D) myelin sheath

Accepted Answer

Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic space, the gap between the presynaptic neuron and the postsynaptic neuron or target cell.

Question 19

Because they have similar chemical structures, morphine and other narcotics are able to lock into receptor sites for ________.
A) dopamine
B) serotonin
C) endorphins
D) acetylcholine

Accepted Answer

Morphine and other narcotics are able to lock into receptor sites for endorphins because they have similar chemical structures. Endorphins are natural pain-relieving and mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. The binding of narcotics to endorphin receptors in the brain produces a similar effect to endorphins, leading to pain relief and feelings of euphoria.

Question 20

In research with human patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, fetal nerve cell transplants ________.
A) resulted in only sporadic, temporary improvements in motor control
B) improved motor control for periods of only 1 to 4 years
C) improved motor control for periods of 5 to 10 years
D) resulted in no improvement in motor control

Accepted Answer

Fetal nerve cell transplants have been shown to improve motor control in Parkinson's patients for periods of 5 to 10 years, according to some studies.

Quiz 2: The Biological Basis of Behavior

Despite its dangers, a young man continues to take cocaine because of the feelings of euphoria it produces for him. This powerful arousal of his nervous system is probably due to cocaine's ability to ________.

The nervous system is comprised of two major parts - the ________.

Research on human brain tissue has found that human brains are ________.

After drinking several cups of strong coffee, a person develops "coffee nerves" or "jitters." This probably is due to the ability of caffeine to ________.

The neurotransmitter known as the "mood molecule" is ________.

Endorphins ________.

The brain and spinal cord contain about ________ percent of the body's neurons.

A frog muscle is stimulated with an electric current but the muscle doesn't twitch. This probably happens because ________.

Immediately after firing, a neuron cannot fire again no matter how strong the incoming messages may be. This period is called the ________ period.

When a neural impulse reaches the end of an axon, it causes tiny oval sacs at the end of the axon to release chemicals called ________.

R. Rosenzweig examined rats by studying the ________.

An elderly male is diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease. His physician tells him the disorder involves a deficiency of ________.

A neuron is likely to fire ________ when stimulated by a strong signal.

The "all or none law" is the principle stating that ________.

Undifferentiated precursor cells that, under the right conditions, can give rise to any specialized cell in the body are called ________ cells.

Depression is linked to an ________.

A person with schizophrenia is most likely to have a problem with which of the following neurotransmitters?

The action potential causes neurotransmitters to be released into the ________.

Because they have similar chemical structures, morphine and other narcotics are able to lock into receptor sites for ________.

In research with human patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, fetal nerve cell transplants ________.