Psyc 110 Midterm 1

Additional stimulation beyond the threshold of excitation will result in a greater depolarization of the membrane during an action potential. a. True b. False

False Because it gets hyper polarized and goes more down and negative. all of nothing rule

What are the different parts of a neuron?

Soma Axon Nodes of ranvier Dendrites Myelin sheath Axon terminal Terminal button

What is the approximate resting potential of the inside of a neuron's membrane, relative to the outside? a. -70 millivolts b. +10 millivolts c. 0 millivolts d. +90 millivolts

a. -70 millivolts

Which of the following would be a physiological explanation for why birds sing? a. Testosterone causes the growth of certain brain areas which control singing in certain birds. b. Birds sing due to instinct. c. Birds sing because they hear their song early in life and form a template which controls later singing. d. Birds sing to defend territories and attract mates.

a. Testosterone causes the growth of certain brain areas which control singing in certain birds.

At rest, the inside of a neuron's membrane is more negative than the outside. a. True b. False

a. True

If you fell asleep on a sunny beach lying on your stomach, then your dorsal side would likely be sunburned. a. True b. False

a. True

Increasing the electrical gradient for potassium would reduce the tendency for potassium ions to exit the neuron. a. True b. False

a. True

Parasympathetic neurons use acetylcholine as their neurotransmitter. a. True b. False

a. True

The amount of temporal summation depends on the rate of stimulation. a. True b. False

a. True

Whether or not a neurotransmitter is excitatory depends on the response of the postsynaptic receptor. a. True b. False

a. True

When a membrane is at rest, what attracts potassium ions to the inside of the cell? a. an electrical gradient b. a concentration gradient c. both an electrical gradient and a concentration gradient d. neither an electrical gradient nor a concentration gradient

a. an electrical gradient

The information sender of the neuron, conveying an impulse toward either other neurons or a gland or muscle is called the: a. axon. b. dendrite. c. soma. d. myelin.

a. axon.

If you believe the mind and the brain to be separate, but somehow interact with each other, you would be considered a: a. dualist. b. materialist. c. monist. d. separatist.

a. dualist.

Depolarization is to ____ as hyperpolarization is to ____. a. excitation; inhibition b. inhibition; excitation c. increasing the threshold; decreasing the threshold d. decreasing the threshold; increasing the threshold

a. excitation; inhibition

Nodes of Ranvier are: a. gaps in the myelin of axons. b. the same as the myelin sheath. c. the spiny outgrowths on dendrites. d. responsible for cell metabolism

a. gaps in the myelin of axons.

What is the result if a stimulus shifts the potential inside a neuron from the resting potential to a more negative potential? a. hyperpolarization b. depolarization c. an action potential d. a threshold

a. hyperpolarization

Under what conditions is it impossible for a stimulus to produce an action potential? a. if the membrane is in its absolute refractory period b. if it occurs at the same time as a hyperpolarizing stimulus c. if sodium ions are more concentrated outside the cell than inside d. if the potassium gates have been blocked

a. if the membrane is in its absolute refractory period

The raphe system: a. increases the brain's readiness to respond to stimuli. b. is important for balance and coordination. c. controls the sensory areas of the spinal cord. d. regulates the rate of production of cerebrospinal fluid

a. increases the brain's readiness to respond to stimuli.

An axon releases chemicals: a. into the presynaptic terminal. b. into the junction between neurons. c. through the efferent terminals. d. to the mitochondria.

a. into the presynaptic terminal.

When a neuron's membrane is at rest, the concentration gradient tends to move sodium ____ the cell and the electrical gradient tends to move it ____ the cell. a. into, into b. into, out of c. out of, into d. out of, out of

a. into, into

Breathing, heart rate, vomiting, salivation, coughing, and sneezing are all controlled by which structure? a. medulla b. thalamus c. cerebellum d. pons

a. medulla

Inhibitory synapses on a neuron: a. move the membrane potential away from threshold. b. weaken the cell's polarization. c. increase the probability of an action potential. d. move the potential closer to the cell's threshold.

a. move the membrane potential away from threshold.

Together, the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system make up the ____ nervous system. a. peripheral b. central c. sympathetic d. dorsal

a. peripheral

One function of the thalamus is to: a. relay sensory information to the cerebral cortex. b. regulate sleep cycles. c. direct the secretions of the hypothalamus. d. moderate emotional outbursts

a. relay sensory information to the cerebral cortex.

Which part of the nervous system prepares the body for "fight or flight" activities? a. sympathetic b. somatic c. parasympathetic d. peripheral

a. sympathetic

The small gap where communication between neurons occurs is called a. synapse b. axon c. dendrite d. potential

a. synapse

The neuron will produce an action potential only if the depolarization exceeds what level? a. the threshold of excitation b. the resting potential c. hyperpolarization d. the refractory period

a. the threshold of excitation

Which type of explanation would describe 'fear' in terms of the neural activity in the amygdala? a. Function b. Causation c. Evolutionary d. Development

b. Causation

A neuron can code information using the amplitude of the action potential a. True b. False

b. False

In a myelinated axon, sodium channels are absent in the nodes of Ranvier. a. True b. False

b. False

Motor neurons receive input from muscle cells. a. True b. False

b. False

The parasympathetic nervous system activates the "fight or flight" response. a. True b. False

b. False

The sodium-potassium pump is what normally brings the membrane back to its original state of polarization after the peak of the action potential. a. True b. False

b. False

Transmission of information between neurons occurs in the same way as transmission along the axon. a. True b. False

b. False

A drug that blocks the sodium gates of a neuron's membrane would: a. decrease the threshold. b. block the action potential. c. cause repeated action potentials. d. eliminate the refractory period.

b. block the action potential.

What tends to open the sodium gates across a neuron's membrane? a. hyperpolarization of the membrane b. depolarization of the membrane c. increase in the sodium concentration outside the neuron d. passing the peak of the action potential and entering the refractory period

b. depolarization of the membrane

Which part of the cerebral cortex is most important for the sense of touch? a. occipital lobe b. parietal lobe c. temporal lobe d. frontal lobe

b. parietal lobe

A neural coding scheme that utilizes the number of action potentials per second to indicate stimulus quality is an example of a. Muller's code b. rate code c. time code d. labeled-line code

b. rate code

After building a snowman, you notice that your hands are cold. The type of neuron that carries information about the temperature of your hands to your spinal cord is a(n): a. motor neuron. b. sensory neuron. c. interneuron. d. intrinsic neuron.

b. sensory neuron.

Neurons differ most strongly from other body cells in their: a. temperature. b. shape. c. osmotic pressure. d. mitochondria

b. shape.

What causes an EPSP? a. the deactivation of cytoplasmic enzymes b. the opening of sodium channels c. the opening of potassium channels d. inherited paranormal psychic abilities

b. the opening of sodium channels

Mental experiences are separable from brain activity a. True b. False

b.) false

When the neuronal membrane is at rest, the sodium channels: a. permit sodium ions to pass quickly and easily. b. permit potassium ions to cross instead of sodium. c. are closed. d. fluctuate rapidly between open and closed.

c. are closed.

49. When an action potential reaches the end of an axon, it evokes the release of neurotransmitters by opening ____ channels in the axon terminal. a. chloride b. bicarbonate c. calcium d. oxygen

c. calcium

47. Increased permeability to which of the following ions would most likely result in an IPSP? a. sodium b. calcium c. chloride d. none of the above

c. chloride

The membrane of a neuron is specialized to: a. keep all types of intercellular chemicals from moving out of the neuron. b. keep all types of extracellular chemicals from moving into the neuron. c. control the exchange of chemicals between the inside and outside of the cell. d. produce chains of fatty acids and proteins

c. control the exchange of chemicals between the inside and outside of the cell.

Professor Jones suggests that the fright you experience when confronted by a burglar is the same thing as the pattern of activity in your brain at that time. What form of monism is this? a. mentality b. mentalism c. identify position d. law of conservatio

c. identify position

Chocolate can be described in terms of the chemicals that comprise it or in terms of how good it tastes. These different descriptions of the same thing are comparable to how differently some people describe mental processes and brain activities, according to: a. mentalism. b. dualism. c. identity position. d. materialism.

c. identity position.

What is the difference in voltage called that typically exists between the inside and the outside of a neuron? a. concentration gradient b. generator potential c. membrane potential d. shock value

c. membrane potential

The hippocampus plays a major role in: a. innate sexual behavior. b. temperature regulation. c. memory d. secretion of hormones

c. memory

At the peak of the action potential, the electrical gradient of potassium: a. is the same as during the resting potential. b. pulls sodium into the cell. c. pushes potassium out of the cell. d. pulls potassium into the cell

c. pushes potassium out of the cell.

Which of the following would be a functional explanation for why birds sing? a. Testosterone causes the growth of certain brain areas which control singing in certain birds. b. Birds sing due to instinct. c. Birds sing because they hear their song early in life and form a template which controls later singing. d. Birds sing to defend territories and attract mates.

d. Birds sing to defend territories and attract mates.

The primary difference between an EPSP and an action potential is that a. the magnitude of an action potential decreases as it travels along the membrane. b. EPSPs occur without sodium ions entering the cell. c. action potentials are always hyperpolarizations. d. EPSPs are subthreshold events that decay over time and space.

d. EPSPs are subthreshold events that decay over time and space.

If you were to stub your toe and feel the pressure a second or two before you feel the pain, then which of the following statements is most likely true? a. Pain sensitive neurons are large and myelinated. b. Pain sensitive neurons are longer. c. Pressure sensitive neurons are small and lightly myelinated. d. Pressure sensitive neurons are large and myelinated.

d. Pressure sensitive neurons are large and myelinated.

Stimulus A depolarizes a neuron just barely above the threshold. Stimulus B depolarizes a neuron to 10 mV beyond threshold. What can we expect to happen? a. Stimulus B will produce an action potential that is conducted at a faster speed than A. b. Stimulus B will produce an action potential of greater magnitude than stimulus A. c. Stimulus B will produce an action potential but stimulus A will not. d. Stimulus A and stimulus B will produce the same response in the neurons.

d. Stimulus A and stimulus B will produce the same response in the neurons.

Which division of the nervous system consists of neurons that control the heart, intestines, and other organs? a. internal b. afferent c. somatic d. autonomic

d. autonomic

What are the two parts of the central nervous system? a. autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system b. cerebrum and cerebellum c. sympathetic division and parasympathetic division d. brain and spinal cord

d. brain and spinal cord

In most bird species, only the male sings and then only in his territory during the reproductive season. This is to attract females and to ward off other males, which serves to improve their chances of mating. This behavior demonstrates: a. that physiological explanations are preferred over other kinds of explanations. b. learning during a critical period. c. that physiological, ontogenetic, evolutionary, and functional explanations are mutually exclusive. d. how physiological, ontogenetic, evolutionary, and functional explanations can all be used to explain the same behavior.

d. how physiological, ontogenetic, evolutionary, and functional explanations can all be used to explain the same behavior.

Damage to the basal ganglia would most likely cause problems with: a. touch. b. hearing. c. vision. d. movement.

d. movement.

The sodium-potassium pump pumps sodium ions ____ and potassium ions ____. a. into the cell; into the cell b. into the cell; out of the cell c. out of the cell; out of the cell d. out of the cell; into the cell

d. out of the cell; into the cell

The proper order of a reflex arc is: a. motor neuron, sensory neuron, interneuron. b. sensory neuron, motor neuron, interneuron. c. motor neuron, interneuron, sensory neuron. d. sensory neuron, interneuron, motor neuron.

d. sensory neuron, interneuron, motor neuron.

A certain weak stimulus produces no reflexive response, but a rapid repetition of that stimulus may produce such a response. What is this phenomenon called? a. spatial summation b. temporal summation c. saltatory conduction d. synaptic combination

d. synaptic combination

When you state that the neuron's membrane is polarized, you are referring to a difference in electrical potential between: a. the axons and the dendrites. b. the axon hillock and the cell body. c. sodium ions and potassium ions. d. the inside and the outside of the membrane.

d. the inside and the outside of the membrane.

Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining whether or not two EPSPs combine to reach threshold? a. size of the EPSPs b. timing between them c. threshold of the postsynaptic cell d. threshold of the presynaptic cell

d. threshold of the presynaptic cell