Question 1

A new drug has the effect of opening sodium channels at the postsynaptic membrane. The result at the postsynaptic membrane is likely to be
A)depolarization
B)hyperpolarization
C)increased rate of firing
D)inhibition
E)increased reuptake

Accepted Answer

Opening sodium channels at the postsynaptic membrane allows sodium ions to flow into the cell, leading to depolarization. This makes the inside of the cell more positive and closer to the threshold for firing an action potential.

Question 2

What causes the negative resting potential of neurons? When is a neuron said to be in a state of polarization?

Accepted Answer

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Question 3

According to the text, if you were trying to design a new drug treatment for depression, you would probably target the neurotransmitter
A)acetylcholine
B)GABA
C)dopamine
D)endorphin
E)serotonin

Accepted Answer

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been closely linked with mood regulation, and abnormalities in serotonin levels or its receptor function are associated with depression. Therefore, targeting serotonin is a common strategy in the design of antidepressant drugs.

Question 4

What is the nature and importance of the myelin sheath? Which disorder results from inadequate myelinization?

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

Which structural characteristics permit the many possible interconnections among neurons?

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

What chemical changes cause the process of depolarization that creates graded and action potentials? How do these potentials differ from one another?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Let's say that you are working on new drug treatment for Parkinson's disease. According to your text, which of the following neurotransmitters are you likely to target?
A)GABA
B)Serotonin
C)Dopamine
D)Norepinephrine
E)Glutamate

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is primarily associated with the depletion of dopamine in the brain, which is why treatments often focus on increasing dopamine levels or mimicking its action.

Question 8

One big difference between axons and dendrites involves the type of electrical activity that occurs in each. Axons generate _____, while dendrites produce ______.
A)action potentials; graded potentials
B)depolarized zones; hyperpolarized zones
C)sodium inflow; potassium outflow
D)additive signals; all-or-none signals
E)resting potentials; action potentials

Accepted Answer

Axons are specialized for the generation and conduction of action potentials, which are all-or-none electrical signals that travel along the axon to communicate with other neurons or muscles. Dendrites, on the other hand, primarily receive signals from other neurons, which result in graded potentials. These graded potentials can vary in size and are not all-or-none like action potentials; instead, they reflect the strength of the stimulus.

Question 9

A friend of yours was at a party and took some drugs. He is euphoric but doesn't know what he took. Another friend told you that the drug works solely by blocking reuptake. What kind of drug did your friend take?
A)An amphetamine
B)Alcohol
C)GHB
D)Cocaine
E)An agonist

Accepted Answer

Cocaine works by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain, leading to increased levels of these neurotransmitters and causing euphoria.

Question 10

How do neurons communicate through synaptic transmission?

Accepted Answer

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Question 11

You are observing the speed of an action potential in a neuron. You note that the conduction speed is quite high (300 kilometres an hour). Most likely, this neuron
A)is found in the autonomic nervous system
B)has many synaptic connections
C)does not have a synaptic cleft
D)uses GABA as the neurotransmitter
E)is covered in a myelin sheath

Accepted Answer

High-speed action potential conduction is typically associated with neurons that are myelinated. The myelin sheath acts as an insulating layer, allowing electrical impulses to jump between the nodes of Ranvier in a process known as saltatory conduction, significantly increasing the speed of transmission.

Question 12

A new drug has the effect of opening potassium channels at the postsynaptic membrane. The result at the postsynaptic membrane is likely to be
A)depolarization
B)hyperpolarization
C)increased rate of firing
D)excitation
E)increased reuptake

Accepted Answer

Opening potassium channels at the postsynaptic membrane allows potassium ions to flow out of the neuron, making the inside of the neuron more negative compared to the outside. This process is known as hyperpolarization, which makes the neuron less likely to fire an action potential, thus inhibiting its activity.

Question 13

Ion exchange in an axon (sodium in, potassium out) is the basis for
A)establishing a resting potential
B)generating an action potential
C)generating graded potentials
D)increasing the rate of firing
E)the formation of vesicles

Accepted Answer

Ion exchange, specifically the influx of sodium ions and efflux of potassium ions, is crucial for generating an action potential in neurons.

Question 14

Let's say that you are a crime scene investigator. A victim has died and all you know is that the likely cause from a neurotransmitter level was due to GABA. What else would you suspect about this death?
A)The victim likely smoked a lot of cannabis.
B)The victim likely consumed a lot of amphetamines.
C)The victim likely consumed a lot of alcohol and benzodiazepines.
D)The victim likely had a rapid increase in sympathetic arousal.
E)The victim suffered a concussion.

Accepted Answer

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Alcohol and benzodiazepines both enhance the effect of GABA, leading to increased inhibition of the central nervous system, which can be lethal in high doses.

Question 15

Most neurotransmitters can have either an excitatory or an inhibitory effect. In contrast, which of the following neurotransmitters always has an inhibitory effect?
A)GABA
B)Serotonin
C)Dopamine
D)Norepinephrine
E)Glutamate

Accepted Answer

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, consistently having an inhibitory effect on neurons, reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.

Question 16

Name the three main parts of the neuron and describe their functions.

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

How do glial cells differ from neurons? What three functions do they have in the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

A friend of yours was at a party and took some drugs. He is aroused and alert but doesn't know what he took. Another friend told you that the drug works by releasing dopamine and norepinephrine as well as blocking their reuptake. What kind of drug did your friend take?
A)An amphetamine
B)Alcohol
C)GHB
D)Cocaine
E)Psilocybin

Accepted Answer

Amphetamines work by releasing dopamine and norepinephrine and blocking their reuptake, leading to increased arousal and alertness.

Question 19

The alternate opening and closing of sodium and potassium channels in the axon is responsible for generating
A)a refractory period
B)an action potential
C)a resting potential
D)presynaptic deactivation
E)graded potentials

Accepted Answer

The alternate opening and closing of sodium and potassium channels in the axon are key processes in generating an action potential, which is a rapid rise and fall in membrane potential that propagates along the axon.

Question 20

A friend of yours was at a party and took some drugs. You do not know exactly what she took, but another friend told you that the drug works by stimulating the release of GABA and decreasing the activity of glutamate. What kind of drug did your friend take?
A)An amphetamine
B)Alcohol
C)GHB
D)Cocaine
E)Psilocybin

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is known to stimulate the release of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and decrease the activity of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter.

Quiz 3: Biological Foundations of Behaviour

A new drug has the effect of opening sodium channels at the postsynaptic membrane. The result at the postsynaptic membrane is likely to be

What causes the negative resting potential of neurons? When is a neuron said to be in a state of polarization?

According to the text, if you were trying to design a new drug treatment for depression, you would probably target the neurotransmitter

What is the nature and importance of the myelin sheath? Which disorder results from inadequate myelinization?

Which structural characteristics permit the many possible interconnections among neurons?

What chemical changes cause the process of depolarization that creates graded and action potentials? How do these potentials differ from one another?

Let's say that you are working on new drug treatment for Parkinson's disease. According to your text, which of the following neurotransmitters are you likely to target?

One big difference between axons and dendrites involves the type of electrical activity that occurs in each. Axons generate _, while dendrites produce __.

A friend of yours was at a party and took some drugs. He is euphoric but doesn't know what he took. Another friend told you that the drug works solely by blocking reuptake. What kind of drug did your friend take?

How do neurons communicate through synaptic transmission?

You are observing the speed of an action potential in a neuron. You note that the conduction speed is quite high (300 kilometres an hour) . Most likely, this neuron

A new drug has the effect of opening potassium channels at the postsynaptic membrane. The result at the postsynaptic membrane is likely to be

Ion exchange in an axon (sodium in, potassium out) is the basis for

Let's say that you are a crime scene investigator. A victim has died and all you know is that the likely cause from a neurotransmitter level was due to GABA. What else would you suspect about this death?

Most neurotransmitters can have either an excitatory or an inhibitory effect. In contrast, which of the following neurotransmitters always has an inhibitory effect?

Name the three main parts of the neuron and describe their functions.

How do glial cells differ from neurons? What three functions do they have in the nervous system?

A friend of yours was at a party and took some drugs. He is aroused and alert but doesn't know what he took. Another friend told you that the drug works by releasing dopamine and norepinephrine as well as blocking their reuptake. What kind of drug did your friend take?

The alternate opening and closing of sodium and potassium channels in the axon is responsible for generating

A friend of yours was at a party and took some drugs. You do not know exactly what she took, but another friend told you that the drug works by stimulating the release of GABA and decreasing the activity of glutamate. What kind of drug did your friend take?