CH. 2 psychology test

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes is called

biological psychology

the brain's oldest region is the

brainstem

which limbic system structure regulates thirst and body temperature

hypothalamus

Standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, Jerry kept looking at his watch to see the time. As a result, he failed to see that a store employee was being robbed by a person just in front of him. Jerry most clearly suffered

inattentional blindness

circadian rhythm refers to

a pattern of biological functioning that occurs on a roughly 24-hour cycle

sleep is best defined as

a periodic natural loss of consciousness that involves distinct stages

during NREM sleep 1 , people may experience fantastic images that resemble

hallucinations

the medulla is the part of the brain that most directly regulates

heartbeat and breathing

some neurons enable you to grasp objects by relaying outgoing messages to the muscles in your arms and hands. these neurons are called

motor neurons

the 2 parts of the peripheral nervous system are the

somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

which of the following is located in the occipital lobes

visual cortex

After Carlos had been asleep for about an hour and a half, his heart began to beat faster, his breathing became fast and irregular, and his closed eyes began to dart back and forth. Carlos was most likely experiencing

REM sleep

fast and jerky movements of the eyes are especially likely to be associated with

REM sleep

the messages neurons carry are nerve impulses called

action potentials

which neural center in the limbic system plays an important role in emotions such as fear and rage

amygdala

a neuron's reaction of either firing at full strength or not firing at all is described as

an all-or-none response

a chemical such as morphine that temporarily reduces pain and anxiety is

an opiate

which of the following is located in the temporal lobes

auditory cortex

the parasympathetic nervous system is a division of the ___ nervous system

autonomic

the part of the neuron that transmits neural messages to other neurons or to muscles or glands is called the

axon

nerves are electrical cables formed from bundles of

axons

a neuron is best described as a

cell

the brain and spinal cord form the

central nervous system

which baseball-sized structure behind the brainstem serves many functions, including helping you judge time and to discriminate sounds and textures

cerebellum

the region of the human brain that is most important for being able to communicate complex ideas through the use of language is the

cerebral cortex

the branching extensions of nerve cells that receive incoming signals from sensory receptors or from other neurons are called the

dendrites

plasticity refers to the brain's capacity to change by forming new neural pathways based on

experience

narcolepsy is a disorder in which a person

experiences uncontrollable attacks of overwhelming sleepiness

which of the following is most likely to occur during REM sleep

genital arousal

the endocrine system consists of

glands

the amygdala consists of emotion-linked neural clusters in the

limbic system

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements is called the

motor cortex

the speed at which a neural impulse travels is increased when the axon is encased by a(n)

myelin sheath

the body's speedy electrochemical information network is called the

nervous system

an action potential refers to a

neural impulse

dendrites are branching extensions of

neurons

the cells that serve as the basic building blocks of the body's information system are called

neurons

consciousness is defined as

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

the 2 major divisions of the nervous system are the central and the ____ nervous system

peripheral

the master gland of the endocrine system is the

pituitary gland

insomnia is a disorder involving

recurring difficulty in falling or staying asleep

focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus is called

selective attention

the thalamus serves as a

sensory control center

information is carried from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the central nervous system by

sensory neurons

which of the following sleep disorders is most strongly associated with obesity

sleep apnea

the junctions between the axon tips of sending neurons and the dendrites or cell bodies of receiving neurons are called

synapses

the central nervous system consists of

the brain and the spinal cord

an axon is

the extension of a neuron that carries messages away from the cell body

which division of the autonomic nervous system arouses the body and mobilizes its energy in stressful situations?

the sympathetic nervous system

the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse is called the

threshold