Psych Chapter 3
The medulla, the cerebellum, and the pons are found in the:
hindbrain
Which of the following best describes the functions of the hypothalamus?
Basic survival
A neurotransmitter is defined as:
a chemical substance that transmits information in the nervous system.
In a neural pathway, a synapse is:
a gap between an axon's terminal button and another neuron's dendrite.
In the history of psychology, Phineas Gage is generally known as ________.
a railroad worker who suffered frontal lobe brain damage due to a freak accident
A ________ scan involves taking a number of x-rays of a particular section of a person's body or brain.
computerized tomography (CT) scan
Neurotransmitters are stored:
in terminal buttons in synaptic vesicles
The primary function of the myelin sheath is to
insulate axons so that signals travel quickly and without interruption.
The frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex adjoins all lobes except the:
occipital.
The ________ nervous system is responsible for stimulating digestion and causing the bladder to contract.
parasympathetic
The somatic and autonomic divisions are part of the
peripheral nervous system
What scanning technique measures brain activity by locating radiation that has been injected into the body and localized in areas of the brain?
positron emission tomography scan
The autonomic nervous system is especially important for:
preparing the body for emergencies and returning it to a calm state
Jennifer has been depressed for several months, and she decided to take an overdose of sleeping pills. After taking the pills, her breathing rate decreased dramatically, her heart slowed down, and her blood pressure decreased. Which brain structure is the drug acting on?
reticular formation
Neurons that transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system are:
sensory neurons
Sensory and motor neurons of the ________ nervous system are associated with activities traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary.
somatic
The central nervous system consists of the brain and the ________.
spinal cord
When the pupils of your eyes dilate, you can mostly attribute this to the functioning of the ________ nervous system.
sympathetic
The space between two neurons is called the ________.
synapse
Studying close relatives allows behavioral geneticists to determine ________.
the relative contributions of genes and environment in a population
Which structure in the brainstem activates the rest of the brain to produce a state of arousal?
Reticular formation
While watching her favorite television comedy, Laura falls fast asleep. Even though her boyfriend Rob tries hard to wake her, he simply cannot get her to keep her eyes open. Which part of Laura's brain is Rob trying to activate?
Reticular formation
Damaged or insufficient myelin sheath would cause which of the following?
Slowed nerve impulses
The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for which aspect of behavior?
Taking care of the body's functions at rest.
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of:
brain and spinal cord
Of the following nervous systems, the one that is NOT associated with the other four would be the ________ nervous system.
central
The large convoluted outer layer of the brain is called the:
cerebral cortex
When a skill or behavior is lateralized, this means it is...
located more in one hemisphere of the brain than the other
The ________ is the deep groove that separates the brain into two halves.
longitudinal fissure
Such activities as breathing and heartbeat are regulated by the
medulla
The ________ is located deep within the brain, and it includes structures such as the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area.
midbrain
Polygenic means that most traits are controlled by ________.
more than one gene
If a person's cerebellum were damaged in an accident, you would expect that person to have problems with:
muscle coordination
The protective coating around the neuron that speeds transmission of neural impulses is called the:
myelin sheath
A(n) ________ is a brain cell.
neuron