Chapter 49: Nervous Systems

Which of the following contributes to learning and memory storage in the brain? A. Excitatory neurotransmitters released from presynaptic neurons into synapses B. Repeated, weak stimulation of receiving neurons C. A decreased concentration of calcium ions entering receiving neurons through calcium channels D. Inactivation of the AMPA glutamate receptor into the postsynaptic membrane E. A decline in long-term potentiation

A. Excitatory neurotransmitters released from presynaptic neurons into synapses

Which of the following is a true statement regarding a reflex response? A. It requires a sensory neuron, an interneuron, and motor nerves. B. Pain receptors in the skin send a message to the brain to initiate motor movement. C. It is a conscious response to painful stimuli. D. The response is carried out solely by the peripheral nervous system E. None of the listed responses is correct.

A. It requires a sensory neuron, an interneuron, and motor nerves.

A physician friend of yours tells you about a patient with a head injury who suddenly stopped breathing during the examination. What portion of the brain was probably injured? A. Medulla oblongata B. Cerebellum C. Hypothalamus D. Cerebrum E. Pituitary

A. Medulla oblongata The medulla oblongata contains centers that control several visceral functions, such as breathing, heart and blood vessel activity, swallowing, vomiting, and digestion.

Which of the following is an action brought about by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system? A. Relaxing of lung bronchi B. Increase in salivation C. All of the listed responses are correct D. Constriction of pupils E. Increase in gallbladder activity

A. Relaxing of lung bronchi

Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder ____________. A. experience periods of increased energy, over talkativeness, and increased risk taking B. typically develop multiple personalities C. experience loss of motor control D. lack effective treatment options E. comprise 10% of the world's population

A. experience periods of increased energy, over talkativeness, and increased risk taking

A car accident victim presents with no memory of the accident or events following the accident, but can clearly recall events that occurred prior to the accident. Neurologists thus suspect damage to the __________. A. hippocampus B. frontal lobe C. cerebral cortex D. amygdala E. primary somatosensory cortex

A. hippocampus Damage to the hippocampus would prevent the patient from forming new short-term or long-term memories, but would not affect the ability to retain previously made long-term memories.

When the following events at the neuromuscular junction are put in proper sequence, the third event is A. neurotransmitter is released. B. Ca2+ ions rush in. C. an action potential depolarizes the terminal membrane. D. ligand-gated ion channels open.

A. neurotransmitter is released. Arrival of an action potential depolarizes the presynaptic membrane, causing voltage-gated Ca2+ ions to rush in. The influx of calcium triggers vesicles containing neurotransmitter to fuse with the membrane and release their contents. The neurotransmitter then diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to a ligand-gated ion channel in the post-synaptic membrane, causing that channel to open.

An increase in the size of the hindbrain of vertebrates has been associated with an increased ability in ____________. A. rapid, complex movement B. reasoning C. hearing D. vision E. olfaction

A. rapid, complex movement

Injury localized to the hypothalamus would most likely disrupt A. regulation of body temperature. B. sorting of sensory information. C. executive functions, such as decision making. D. coordination during locomotion. E. short-term memory.

A. regulation of body temperature.

The pathway that a nervous signal travels in completing a typical vertebrate reflex is ____________. A. sensors; sensory neurons; interneurons of the spinal cord; motor neuron B. brain; motor neuron; interneurons of the spinal cord; sensory neurons C. sensors; sensory neurons; interneurons of the spinal cord; brain; motor neuron D. brain; interneurons of the spinal cord; motor neurons; sensory neurons; sensors E. sensors; interneurons of the spinal cord; motor neurons; sensory neurons; brain

A. sensors; sensory neurons; interneurons of the spinal cord; motor neuron

A neuron that transmits an impulse to the central nervous system after the neuron is stimulated by the environment is called a(n) __________. A. sensory neuron B. interneuron C. motor neuron D. sympathetic neuron E. parasympathetic neuron

A. sensory neuron Sensory neurons communicate information between sensory receptors and the central nervous system about the external and internal environments.

While sitting quietly watching television, you suddenly hear the sound of glass breaking. Which of the following is responsible for your resulting rapid heartbeat? A. sympathetic division of the ANS B. sensory division of the PNS C. parasympathetic division of the ANS D. enteric division of the PNS E. central nervous system (CNS)

A. sympathetic division of the ANS The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates your "fight-or-flight" response.

Which of the following structures constitutes the mammalian forebrain? A. thalamus, epithalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebrum B. cerebrum only C. pons D. cerebrum and cerebellum E. cerebellum and medulla oblongata

A. thalamus, epithalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebrum The embryonic forebrain gives rise to the telencephalon and the diencephalon. The thalamus, epithalamus, and hypothalamus develop from the diencephalon; the cerebrum develops from the telencephalon.

Damage to the occipital lobe would be most likely result in __________. A. visual impairment B. auditory impairment C. impaired judgment D. the impairment of speech E. a numbness in the extremities

A. visual impairment Visual perception and visual association are located in the occipital lobe.

Which of the following statements is true? A. Action potential propagation requires voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels. B. Action potential height is independent of the strength of neuron stimulation. C. Membrane potentials are found only in neurons. D. Action potentials alter ion concentration gradients across the nerve cell membrane.

B. Action potential height is independent of the strength of neuron stimulation. As an all-or-nothing event, action potentials have a constant height (amplitude). All cells have membrane potentials, but only in neurons does the activity of voltage-gated ion channels generate action potentials. A neuron can fire multiple action potentials because these events do not appreciably change ion concentrations on either side of the membrane.

Which of the following statements is an accurate description of animal cognition? A. Cognition is primarily a result of processes occurring in the hippocampus. B. Some birds can understand abstract concepts such as numbers. C. Mammals are the only animals considered to have cognitive abilities D. Cognition depends on a highly convoluted cerebral cortex. E. All species rely on the same brain region for cognition.

B. Some birds can understand abstract concepts such as numbers.

Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are similar in that both ____________. A. together affect only 1% of the world's population B. become more common with age C. affect only the hindbrain D. have entirely environmental causes E. can be cured with existing medications

B. become more common with age

As you start to pick up your biology book, you suddenly realize that it is much heavier than you expected. Which of the following brain regions is responsible for the rapid adjustment of muscle force that allows you to pick up the book smoothly? A. medulla oblongata B. cerebellum C. hypothalamus D. pituitary E. cerebrum

B. cerebellum The cerebellum receives sensory information about the joints and the length of the muscles and uses this information to provide the automatic coordination of movements and balance.

In humans, the part of the brain that increases in size and complexity most significantly during the second and third month of embryonic development is derived from the embryonic __________. A. hindbrain B. forebrain C. midbrain D. forebrain and midbrain E. midbrain and hindbrain

B. forebrain The cerebral cortex develops from the telencephalon, which is an outgrowth of the forebrain.

Gray matter of the nervous system differs from white matter in that ____________. A. gray matter results from damage to white matter B. gray matter is primarily made up of neuron cell bodies, whereas white matter consists mainly of bundled axons C. gray matter develops from white matter D. gray matter makes up the brain, and white matter is found only in peripheral nerves E. gray matter makes up the brains of invertebrates, whereas white matter makes up the brains of vertebrates

B. gray matter is primarily made up of neuron cell bodies, whereas white matter consists mainly of bundled axons

Which of the following structures or regions is incorrectly paired with its function? A. cerebellum-coordination of movement and balance B. limbic system-motor control of speech C. corpus callosum-communication between the left and right cerebral cortices D. amygdala-emotional memory E. medulla oblongata-homeostatic control

B. limbic system-motor control of speech

The corpus callosum connects the __________. A. pons and medulla B. right and left cerebral hemispheres C. gray and white matter of the spinal cord D. cerebellum and spinal cord E. pituitary and the hypothalamus

B. right and left cerebral hemispheres A thick band of fibers known as the corpus callosum connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

The axon hillock is the site where A. nodes of Ranvier are located. B. summation occurs that determines whether an action potential is generated. C. synaptic output is directed across the synaptic cleft. D. synaptic input first reaches a postsynaptic cell.

B. summation occurs that determines whether an action potential is generated. The integration of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to a neuron occurs at the axon hillock, a thickening formed where the axon emerges from the cell body. An action potential occurs if the summed effects of the inputs bring the membrane potential to threshold at the axon hillock.

The main input center for sensory information going to the cerebrum is the __________. A. pons B. thalamus C. cerebrum D. medulla oblongata E. cerebellum

B. thalamus The thalamus is a relay center for motor and sensory messages, except those from olfactory receptors, in all vertebrate classes.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) involves lasting changes in ____________. A. the length of the axons B. the strength of signal transmission across synapses C. the number of neurons D. the mass of the brain E. the number of neural synapses

B. the strength of signal transmission across synapses

Which of the following statements is an accurate description of biological clocks? A. Only humans have their physiology regulated by a biological clock. B. The consistency of a biological clock depends on sensory information indicating when it is day and night. C. In an unchanging environment, there is little variation in the periodicity of the human biological clock. D. In humans, daily activity cycles maintained by the biological clock are adjusted by the amygdala to match environmental conditions. E. A biological clock is an adaptation that first arose in vertebrates.

C. In an unchanging environment, there is little variation in the periodicity of the human biological clock.

Which of the following is caused by the death of neurons in the brain that release dopamine? A. None of the listed responses is correct B. Alzheimer's disease C. Parkinson's disease D. Major depressive disorder E. Schizophrenia

C. Parkinson's disease The lack of dopamine causes problems with motor function.

Which of the following is NOT regulated by the association areas in the cerebral cortex? A. thought and language B. learning and memory C. balance D. judgment E. personality

C. balance With the exception of balance, which is controlled by the cerebellum, all the other listed functions occur in the cerebral cortex.

A cluster of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system is referred to as a __________. A. peripheral nerve B. cranial nerve C. ganglion D. brainbow E. none of the listed responses is correct

C. ganglion

Which of the following is specific to the central nervous system? A. sensory receptors B. motor output C. integration D. sensory input E. All of the listed responses are correct.

C. integration Integration is the interpretation of sensory signals and the formulation of responses. It is a principal function of the central nervous system.

The glia present throughout the vertebrate brain or spinal cord that surround axons and speed up electrical signals are called __________. A. all of the listed responses are correct B. microglia C. oligodendrocytes D. Schwann cells E. astrocytes

C. oligodendrocytes

One of the functions of the __________ is monitoring breathing centers in the medulla. A. hypothalamus B. cerebellum C. pons D. thalamus E. cerebrum

C. pons he pons and the medulla together comprise part of the brainstem. The breathing centers in the medulla control breathing, and the pons monitors these centers.

Taking illegal amphetamines ("speed") can induce symptoms similar to __________. A. Parkinson's disease B. Alzheimer's disease C. bipolar disorder D. schizophrenia E. none of the listed responses is correct

C. schizophrenia

Which of the following is a component of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS)? A. Glia B. Nerves C. Brain D. All of the listed responses are correct E. Spinal cord

D. All of the listed responses are correct

What glial cells contribute most to the formation of the blood-brain barrier? A. Neurons B. Schwann cells C. Radial glia D. Astrocytes E. Ependymal Cells

D. Astrocytes Astrocytes induce the cells that line the capillaries in the brain to form tight junctions, resulting in the blood-brain barrier.

Which of the following neurotransmitters is most closely associated with schizophrenia, addiction, and Parkinson's disease? A. β-amyloid B. Amphetamine C. None of the listed responses is correct. D. Dopamine E. Glutamate

D. Dopamine

Which would be present in an animal with a nerve net? A. Ganglia B. Central nervous system C. Fused ganglia D. Radial symmetry E. Nerves

D. Radial symmetry A nerve net is found in animals such as cnidarians, which display radial symmetry.What is the DIFFERENCE between a neuron and a nerve?

What is the DIFFERENCE between a neuron and a nerve? A. Nerves are found only in the central nervous system. B. Neurons are made of white matter, nerves of gray matter. C. One has sensory functions, the other has motor functions. D. They consist of different numbers of cellular components. E. Nerves are found only in vertebrates.

D. They consist of different numbers of cellular components. A neuron is a single cell. A nerve consists of many axons bundled together by connective tissue.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) works by ____________. A. injecting radioactive glucose to enable a display of metabolic activity B. using magnets to position microscopes with a very high degree of precision C. measuring transmission of electrons through very thin sections stained with metal atoms D. detecting changes in local oxygen concentrations E. recording patterns of electrical activity through electrodes on the skin

D. detecting changes in local oxygen concentrations

The limbic system is involved in __________. A. speech and hearing B. control of heartbeat and respiration C. sleep and wakefulness D. emotion and memory E. vision

D. emotion and memory Mostly associated with emotion, the limbic system also includes two regions: the amygdala and hippocampus, which function in memory.

A man is admitted to the hospital suffering from an abnormally low body temperature, a loss of appetite, and extreme thirst. A brain scan shows a tumor located in the __________. A. right cerebral hemisphere B. corpus callosum C. pons D. hypothalamus E. cerebellum

D. hypothalamus Each of the problems experienced by the patient is associated with specific functions of the hypothalamus and its role in maintaining homeostasis.

Which of the following systems includes all the others? A. parasympathetic division B. autonomic nervous system (ANS) C. motor system D. peripheral nervous system (PNS) E. sympathetic division

D. peripheral nervous system (PNS) The PNS, which is broken down into sensory and motor components, includes all nervous tissue outside the central nervous system (CNS).

Which of the following parts of the nervous system would allow you to discover the qualities of a mouthful of black pepper? A. parasympathetic division B. enteric division C. motor division D. somatosensory cortex E. sympathetic division

D. somatosensory cortex This division is responsible for monitoring both the external and internal environment. It would send information to the brain about the qualities of substances you taste and smell.

The developing embryonic brain is shaped by __________. A. variations in the levels of nutrients received across the placenta B. pressures exerted by the growing skull C. an oxygen gradient that promotes growth where oxygen is most concentrated D. the selective elimination in neurons and synapses E. differences in the rates of blood vessel growth

D. the selective elimination in neurons and synapses

Which of the following statements is an accurate description of the evolution of the vertebrate brain? A. Except for humans, vertebrates have maintained a relatively constant ratio of brain-to-body mass. B. Only mammals possess a forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. C. Regional specialization of the brain is apparent only in vertebrate groups that have proportionally smaller brains. D. In humans, the midbrain occupies a larger proportion of the brain than it does in any other vertebrate group. E. Birds and mammals have evolved a proportionally larger forebrain than have other vertebrate groups.

E. Birds and mammals have evolved a proportionally larger forebrain than have other vertebrate groups.

Which of the following statements is an accurate description of sleep? A. The brain is largely inactive during sleep. B. The brain does not receive external stimuli during sleep. C. Sleep occurs only in terrestrial animals. D. Scientists currently lack any tools with which to investigate sleep. E. Humans cannot live without sleep.

E. Humans cannot live without sleep.

The amygdala serves what role in the brain of vertebrates? A. Controlling arousal and sleep B. Maintaining balance C. Controlling skeletal muscles D. Forming speech E. Processing emotional memories

E. Processing emotional memories

The glia cells present throughout the vertebrate central nervous system include __________. A. Schwann cells B. microglia C. oligodendrocytes D. astrocytes E. all of the listed responses

E. all of the listed responses

The cerebral cortex plays a major role in all of the following except A. breath holding. B. long-term memory. C. foot-tapping rhythm. D. short-term memory. E. circadian rhythm.

E. circadian rhythm.

In humans, the frontal lobe of the brain handles functions associated with ____________. A. hearing B. language comprehension C. coordination of movement D. homeostasis E. decision making

E. decision making

After a stroke, Bill can feel his left leg but is unable to move it. His neurologists suspect damage to the __________. A. parietal lobe B. cerebellum C. occipital lobe D. temporal lobe E. frontal lobe

E. frontal lobe Voluntary motor control originates in the frontal lobe.

The gray matter of the cerebral cortex, where most higher-level thinking occurs, is composed mostly of __________. A. sensory neuron cell bodies B. myelinated axons of neurons C. cranial nerves D. glia E. neuron cell bodies

E. neuron cell bodies The gray matter of the cerebral cortex is involved in processing sensory information and developing an appropriate response, an activity sometimes called thinking.

Wakefulness is regulated by the reticular formation, which is present in the A. limbic system. B. brainstem. C. cerebral cortex. D. basal nuclei. E. spinal cord.

E. spinal cord.

The auditory (hearing) centers are located in the __________. A. occipital lobes of the cerebral cortex B. cerebellum C. frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex D. parietal lobes of the cerebral cortex E. temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex

E. temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex Hearing centers are located in the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex.

As a child you stepped on a wasp's nest and were stung numerous times. Many years later, you see a wasp's nest and immediately your heart begins racing and you break out in a cold sweat. This "emotional memory" is stored in what part of your brain? A. the pineal gland B. the reticular formation C. the hypothalamus D. the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) E. the amygdala

E. the amygdala This small part of the limbic system is thought to hold emotional memories, such as fear.

An important concept in biology is that evolution is a process that remodels ancestral body plans. Developmental sequences in embryos often display evidence of evolutionary relationships. Using this evidence, which part of the brain was most prominent in early vertebrates? A. the diencephalon B. the telencephalon C. the pituitary gland D. the corpus callosum E. the hindbrain

E. the hindbrain The hindbrain maintains homeostasis, is well developed in all vertebrates, and makes up a significant portion of the brain of a one-month-old embryo.

After suffering a stroke, a patient can see objects anywhere in front of him but pays attention only to objects in his right field of vision. When asked to describe these objects, he has difficulty judging their size and distance. What part of the brain was likely damaged by the stroke? A. the corpus callosum B. the left frontal lobe C. the left parietal lobe D. the right frontal lobe E. the right parietal lobe

E. the right parietal lobe

Patients with damage to Wernicke's area have difficulty A. coordinating limb movement. B. generating speech. C. experiencing emotion. D. recognizing faces. E. understanding language.

E. understanding language.