Neurobiology Final Exam

True or False: Slow-adapting neurons fire much more at the beginning of a stimulus and are relatively silent during sustained stimulation.

False

True or False: Small synaptic vesicles containing acetylcholine need to be transported from the cell body to the axon terminal.

False

True or False: Somatosensory neurons in the fingertips in general have larger receptive fields than somatosensory neurons that innervate the back.

False

Place the following events in the order they occur to cause and carry out a skeletal muscle contraction: - ACh binds receptors on the motor end plate - Voltage-sensing ryanodine receptors allow an influx of calcium ions - ACh is released from a motor neuron - Calcium is released from intracellular storage in the - Myosin heads bind actin and muscle contraction (cross-bridge cycling) ensues if ATP levels are adequate - Sodium and other cations flow into the cell - High intracellular calcium levels allow tropomyosin to move out of the way of myosin binding sites sarcoplasmic reticulum

1. ACh is released from a motor neuron 2. ACh binds receptors on the motor end plate 3. Sodium and other cations flow into the cell 4. Voltage-sensing ryanodine receptors allow an influx of calcium ions 5. Calcium is released from intracellular storage in the sarcoplasmic reticulum 6. High intracellular calcium levels allow tropomyosin to move out of the way of myosin binding sites 7. Myosin heads bind actin and muscle contraction (cross-bridge cycling) ensues if ATP levels are adequate

STRUCTURE: White matter that connects the cerebellum to the brain stem

Cerebellar peduncles

STRUCTURE: white matter that connects the cerebrum to the brainstem

Cerebral peduncles

True or False: Only neurons can conduct action potentials, which is their defining feature.

False

Place the following events in the baroreflex response in the correct order by numbering from 1-5: - Blood pressure increases (too high) causing baroreceptor activation in the aortic arch - Postganglionic cardiac neurons next to the heart are activated - Heart rate is decreased following ACh release onto pacemaker cells - Preganglionic parasympathetic neurons of the nucleus ambiguous are activated, sympathetic pathways are inhibited - Two populations of neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) are activated

1. Blood pressure increases (too high) causing baroreceptor activation in the aortic arch 2. Two populations of neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) are activated 3. Preganglionic parasympathetic neurons of the nucleus ambiguous are activated, sympathetic pathways are inhibited 4. Postganglionic cardiac neurons next to the heart are activated 5. Heart rate is decreased following ACh release onto pacemaker cells

Place the following regions and their projections (axons) in the order which information (action potentials) would flow through the classic tri-synaptic hippocampal circuit (there are a lot of other branches and patterns, but the longest route). - Entorhinal cortex layer V - Perforant pathway - CA3 (which has recurrent collaterals) - Dentate gyrus - Mossy fibers - CA1 - Entorhinal Cortex- Layer 2 - Shaffer collaterals

1. Entorhinal Cortex- Layer 2 2. Perforant pathway 3. Dentate gyrus 4. Mossy fibers 5. CA3 (which has recurrent collaterals) 6. Shaffer collaterals 7. CA1 8. Entorhinal cortex layer V

Place the following events in the order they occur in the phototransduction cascade: - An opsin G-protein is activated - The photoreceptor hyper polarizes - Light interacts with a molecule of retinal causing isomerization - Phosphodiesterases are activated - cGMP is degraded - Transducin is activated - The amount of neurotransmitter released by a rod or cone decreases - Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels close

1. Light interacts with a molecule of retinal causing isomerization 2. An opsin G-protein is activated 3. Transducin is activated 4. Phosphodiesterases are activated 5. cGMP is degraded 6. Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels close 7. The photoreceptor hyper polarizes 8. The amount of neurotransmitter released by a rod or cone decreases

Place the following events in the order that they occur during long term sensitization of the gill-withdrawal reflex: - Adenylate cyclase activity increases - Serotonin binds to a G-Protein coupled receptor (GPCR; 5-HTR2/ 5-HTR4,6,7 - like) - PKA becomes activated - CREB binds binds to DNA containing CRE sequences and immediate early genes are transcribed - cAMP levels begin to increase - CREB becomes phosphorylated

1. Serotonin binds to a G-Protein coupled receptor (GPCR; 5-HTR2/ 5-HTR4,6,7 - like) 2. Adenylate cyclase activity increases 3. cAMP levels begin to increase 4. PKA becomes activated 5. CREB becomes phosphorylated 6. CREB binds binds to DNA containing CRE sequences and immediate early genes are transcribed

Neocortex has _______ layers

6

You would like to determine whether the consumption of a high-fat diet reduces the amount of dendritic branching in neurons of the prefrontal cortex (in rats). Which technique would allow you to visualize whole neurons (including dendritic arborization)? A) A Golgi stain B) A Nissl stain C) Simple light microscopy without counterstain D) B and C

A) A Golgi stain

Compare and contrast skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. Which of the following does NOT accurately describe these tissues? A) Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that leads to depolarization of skeletal muscle fibers and cardiac muscle fibers B) Cardiac muscle has an intrinsic ability to contract, whereas skeletal muscle requires neural input C) Cardiac muscle fibers attach to each other, whereas skeletal muscle fibers attach to tendons, bone, or skin D) Cardiac muscle fibers generally contain metabotropic acetylcholine receptors, whereas skeletal muscle fibers generally contain ionotropic (nicotinic) acetylcholine receptors

A) Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that leads to depolarization of skeletal muscle fibers and cardiac muscle fibers ACh doesn't act on cardiac muscle cells, it acts on the pacemaker cells

Examine the organization of the prefrontal cortex and its connections with the frontostriatal system as presented in section 15.7. If these principles are correct, you could say that there is functional and anatomical evidence that ________________________. A) Anterior regions of the prefrontal cortex are most associated with the "big picture" goals of an organism B) The ventral striatum works largely independently from the prefrontal cortex in selecting behavioral goals C) The striatum is predominately responsible for decisions regarding motor control while the prefrontal cortex tends to be involved in high-level decision making processes D) Both the prefrontal cortex and the striatum communicate widely with other brain regions, thus they likely operative relatively independently of one another

A) Anterior regions of the prefrontal cortex are most associated with the "big picture" goals of an organism

Which of the following structures is not derived from the mammalian telencephalon? A) Cerebellum B) Hippocampus C) Amygdala D) Neocortex

A) Cerebellum

Where does dopamine likely cause LTP that leads to instrumental conditioning? A) Dendritic spines of medium spiny neurons in the direct pathway B) Dendritic spines of medium spiny neurons in the indirect pathway C) Dendritic spines of medium spiny neurons in the hyperdirect pathway D) In the dorsal pallidum only

A) Dendritic spines of medium spiny neurons in the direct pathway

Why is it that a specific feature of an organism (such as an eye) may be well-suited to its environment but not an "optimal" adaptation? A) Evolution is constrained by the traits passed along by previous generations B) Evolution can only act on the parts of an organism that come into direct contact with the environment C) Evolution is not capable of producing structures that have clear design principles D) All of the above

A) Evolution is constrained by the traits passed along by previous generations

In a tract-tracing experiment, you apply special substances (like horseradish peroxidase) to different brain regions A and B. These substances are taken up via endocytosis at presynaptic terminals and are transported back to the cell bodies in vesicles on microtubules (this is called retrograde labeling). By locating the substance in the cell bodies, you can tell that this neuron had a connection to the area where the tracer was originally injected. You find that a neural pathway seems to involve many neuronal projections in both directions. When the tracer injected in region A, cell bodies in region B are labeled. When the tracer is injected in region B, cell bodies in region A are labelled. This is best described as evidence of_______________. A) Feedback loops B) Functional independence C) Divergence D) Convergence

A) Feedback loops

According to Ohm's law, current (I) through an ion channel will increase if I... A) Increase the voltage difference across the membrane for that ion B) Decrease the conductance of the ion channels C) Increase the resistance of the ion channels D) Decrease the voltage difference across the membrane for that ion

A) Increase the voltage difference across the membrane for that ion Voltage is the electromotive force, and increasing it will increase current. V= IR an be rewritten as I = V/R.

How would neocortex in a motor region compare to neocortex in a sensory region? A) Inputs from thalamic relay nuclei are received in layer 4, so sensory cortex would be expected to have more layer 4 cells than motor cortex B) Inputs from thalamic relay nuclei are received in layer 4, so motor cortex would be expected to have more layer 4 cells than sensory cortex C) Inputs from thalamic relay nuclei are received in layer 2/3 and layer 5, so sensory cortex would be expected to have more layer 2/3 and layer 5 cells than motor cortex D) Inputs from thalamic relay nuclei are received in layer 2/3 and layer 5, so motor cortex would be expected to have more layer 2/3 and layer 5 cells sensory motor cortex.

A) Inputs from thalamic relay nuclei are received in layer 4, so sensory cortex would be expected to have more layer 4 cells than motor cortex

Habituation of the gill withdrawal reflex... A) Is a decrease in the expression of the reflex over time caused by repetitive non-noxious stimuli B) Is a decrease in the expression of the reflex over time caused by repetitive noxious stimuli C) Is an increase in the expression of the reflex over time caused by repetitive non-noxious stimuli D) Is an increase in the expression of the reflex over time caused by repetitive noxious stimuli

A) Is a decrease in the expression of the reflex over time caused by repetitive non-noxious stimuli

You are interested in measuring dopamine levels in the striatum, but your experiment requires fast temporal resolution (100ms). Select which technique would be best suited A) Microdialysis probes B) Fast-scan cyclic voltammeter C) Lobotomy D) Stroop task

B) Fast-scan cyclic voltammeter

Which of the following is NOT true of long-term depression (LTD) A) It relies on the insertion of additional AMPA receptors in the neuronal membrane B) It is a feature of spike-timing dependent plasticity C) It is mediated by increases in intracellular calcium D) It involves the weakening of synaptic connections

A) It relies on the insertion of additional AMPA receptors in the neuronal membrane

Most synapses in the mammalian central nervous system use __________________ as the neurotransmitter (Section 2.4 of Striedter). A) L-glutamate B) Acetylcholine C) D-glutamate D) GABA

A) L-glutamate

The direct Frontostriatal loop produces a positive feedback. Which neurons in this loop are disinhibited? A) Neurons in the thalamus that project back to the original region of neocortex B) Neurons in the pallidum that receive connections from the striatum C) Neurons in the neocortex that become active originally D) Neurons in the striatum that receive connections from the cortex

A) Neurons in the thalamus that project back to the original region of neocortex

Which would you expect to be located within a neuron immediately outside of its nucleus? A) Nissl substance B) The Golgi apparatus C) The nucleolus D) The presynaptic membrane E) The postsynaptic membrane

A) Nissl substance

In a synapse that has undergone changes associated with late LTP, return of intracellular calcium levels to their baseline level will... A) Not change late-phase LTP B) Change the synapse to late-phase LTD C) Enhance late-phase LTP D) Reverse late-phase LTP

A) Not change late-phase LTP

Before the 1700's, theories about the brain's function were largely based on... A) Observations that fluids needed to flow throughout the body in order to sustain life B) Observations that bioelectricity was responsible for muscular contraction C) Systematic efforts to lesion different brain regions in experimental organisms D) The idea that neurons in the brain were important but were all connected together

A) Observations that fluids needed to flow throughout the body in order to sustain life

We have learned that most sensory receptor cells (be they neurons or modified epithelial cells) are exquisitely sensitive to a single modality. What was an exception to this rule? A) Pain sensing neurons B) Light pressure sensing neurons C) Olfactory receptor neurons D) Cones E) None of the above, they all respond to only a single modality

A) Pain sensing neurons There are several types of stimuli that could indicate that tissue damage is taking place, so evolution has put multiple receptors in pain neurons to ensure that it is detected (i.e. osmolality sensors, various damage signal sensors, inflammation sensors, pH sensors, etc.)

Cells that have "wired together" in a cell assembly (refer to figure 14.12) can spread an input from a subset of neurons to the entire assembly. This process is called_____________. A) Pattern completion B) Long term potentiation C)Hebbian synapse D) Sequence learning

A) Pattern completion

Drugs that block voltage-gated calcium channels in the axon terminal of a neuron would likely also cause that neuron to... A) Release less neurotransmitter into the synapse B) Have larger amplitude action potentials C) Have slower axonal conduction velocity D) Have action potentials with decreased amplitude

A) Release less neurotransmitter into the synapse

Which choice accurately describes the sliding filament model of muscle contraction? A) Sarcomeres shorten as myosin thick filaments bind and release thin actin filaments B) Muscle cells contain networks of microtubules that slide past one another using kinesin and dynein C) Actin filaments slide past one another as they polymerize and depolymerize rapidly in response to calcium D) Myocytes fuse to make long filamentous fibers that run the entire length of the muscle and separate in order to shorten it

A) Sarcomeres shorten as myosin thick filaments bind and release thin actin filaments

What popular belief was refined by Descartes, but superseded by the discovery that bioelectricity was the basis of communication in the nervous system? A) That nerves worked by pumping fluid, which was influenced by the soul through the pineal gland B) That the heart controlled behavior and the brain just cooled blood C) That bumps in the head could be used to read one's personalities D) That learning entailed a modification of hardwired reflexes E) That neural communication was based on tiny magnetic gnomes

A) That nerves worked by pumping fluid, which was influenced by the soul through the pineal gland

What two regions of the "basal ganglia" are part of the indirect pathway BUT NOT the direct pathway? A) The Globus Pallidus Externus (GPe) B) The Globus Pallidus Internus/ Substantia Nigra pars C) Reticulata (SNpr/GPi; dorsal pallidum) D) The Subthalamic Nucleus E) The Thalamus F) The Neocortex G) The Ventral Tegmental Area/ Substantia Nigra pars Compacta (VTA/SNpc)

A) The Globus Pallidus Externus (GPe) D) The Subthalamic Nucleus

Grid cells and head-directed cells have been found in the highest density in A) The entorhinal cortex B) The neocortex C) CA3 D) CA1

A) The entorhinal cortex

Which one of the statements most accurately describes the different influences of the direct and indirect pathways on neurons in the dorsal palladium? A) The indirect pathway excites more neurons in the pallidum than the direct pathway inhibits, because the indirect pathway has more divergence B) The direct pathway excites more neurons in the pallidum than the indirect pathway inhibits, because the direct pathway has more divergence C) The direct pathway inhibits more neurons in the pallidum than the indirect pathway excites, because the direct pathway has more divergence D) The indirect pathway inhibits more neurons in the pallidum than the direct pathway excites, because the indirect pathway has more divergence

A) The indirect pathway excites more neurons in the pallidum than the direct pathway inhibits, because the indirect pathway has more divergence

What is true of rats that are trained to expect water in response to a given tone frequency? A) The number of cortical neurons devoted to the detection of that frequency increases B) The number of neurons in the auditory cortex increases C) The rats experience a loss of ability to detect other frequencies D) All of the above

A) The number of cortical neurons devoted to the detection of that frequency increases

Which of the following is NOT a reason that Aplysia made a good model organism for Eric Kandel's studies of learning and memory in the early 1960's? A) Their genomes had been sequenced and their behaviors had been studied extensively in the past B) As invertebrates, their nervous systems were relatively simple and consisted of very large neurons C) They exhibited a number of behaviors which can be modified by experience. D) None of the above

A) Their genomes had been sequenced and their behaviors had been studied extensively in the past

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding muscle spindles? A) They are a contractile sensory structure that contains mechano-sensory neurons B) They are only innervated by alpha motor neurons C) They are found embedded in smooth muscle D) All of the above

A) They are a contractile sensory structure that contains mechano-sensory neurons

Which of the following correctly describes cells in the the palladium? A) They use GABA as their neurotranmitter, are tonically active, and are inhibited in the direct pathway during volitional behavior B) They use GABA as their neurotranmitter, are phasically active, and are excited in the direct pathway during volitional behavior C) They use Glutamate as their neurotranmitter, are phasically active, and are inhibited in the direct pathway during volitional behavior D) They use Glutamate as their neurotranmitter, are tonically active, and are inhibited in the direct pathway during volitional behavior E) They use GABA as their neurotranmitter, are phasically active, and are excited in the direct pathway during volitional behavior

A) They use GABA as their neurotranmitter, are tonically active, and are inhibited in the direct pathway during volitional behavior

The process of converting an external signal to a neural signal is called _______________________. A) Transduction B) Transfection C) Transaction D) Translation

A) Transduction

Which is true of the winner-take-all competition exhibited in striatal neural networks? A) When active, medium spiny neurons inhibit other medium spiny neurons B) The most active medium spiny neurons excite adjacent medium spiny neurons, creating a positive feedback loop C) The most active medium spiny neurons secrete signals that lead to apoptosis in adjacent neurons D) All of the choices are true

A) When active, medium spiny neurons inhibit other medium spiny neurons

Which of the following descriptions of the connections and functions of the hyper-direct pathway (mentioned in lecture) is FALSE? A) When the hyperdirect pathway becomes active GPi neurons become more inhibited B) The hyper direct pathway has fewer synapses and might become active before the direct and indirect pathways C) The hyperdirect pathway is a direct cortical connection to the subthalamic nucleus D) The hyperdirect pathway bypasses the striatum, unlike the direct and indirect pathways

A) When the hyperdirect pathway becomes active GPi neurons become more inhibited

Which of the following is false? A) White matter and grey matter contain entirely different types of neurons B) Grey matter contains the parts of neurons specialized for computations, white matter contains the parts of neurons that are specialized for sending signals long distances C) The presence of myelin causes tissue to absorb less light D) Grey matter contains more neuronal cell bodies than white matter

A) White matter and grey matter contain entirely different types of neurons

Match the Dopamine Receptor type to its downstream effects: D1 and D2 receptors together

Activate the enzyme PLC

Multiple hydrophobic amino acid containing segments...

Anchor the channel within the lipid bilayer

WHO SAID IT: The heart controls behavior, the brain is involved in cooling the body

Aristotle

What is the relationship between filopodia and dendritic spines A) Filopodia contain more AMPA receptors than mushroom spines B) Filopodia are not dendritic spines and lack synaptic proteins, but can become dendritic spines in response to signals C) Filopodia are formed from thin spines that undergo LTP induction D) Filopodia are the most stable form of dendritic spine

B) Filopodia are not dendritic spines and lack synaptic proteins, but can become dendritic spines in response to signals

Match the lobe of the brain that is most associated with each function: Temporal

Audition

The equilibrium potential for any ion when [ion]in = [ion]out in a mammalian neuron at 37 C will be ... A) 58 mV B) 0 mV C) -61 mV D) It depends on the valence of the ion E) This cannot be determined from the information given

B) 0 mV If there's an equal concentration of charge carriers, there's no difference in the electric field, and no voltage. Remember voltage is the potential for charge to flow, with respect to equilibrium potential this only exists when the ion is unevenly distributed.

(Question 1) A sensory neuron diverges to multiple different relay nuclei in the CNS, it would most likely have... A) A single long axon B) A highly branched axon with multiple axon terminals C) A sophisticated network of dendrites with dendritic spines D) A sophisticated network of dendrites without dendritic spines

B) A highly branched axon with multiple axon terminals

The chief cytoskeletal protein found in dendritic spines is ___________. A) Tubulin B) Actin C) CaMKII D) Myosin II E) Intermediate filaments

B) Actin

Which of the following statements about regions of the neocortex that project to the striatum is most accurate? A) All regions of the neocortex send axons to the striatum, in roughly equal proportions B) All regions of the neocortex send axons to the striatum, but the frontal lobe is the most highly connected C) Only the frontal lobe sends its axons to the striatum D) Only the temporal lobe sends its axons to the striatum

B) All regions of the neocortex send axons to the striatum, but the frontal lobe is the most highly connected

Regarding dopamine's role in reward and behavior, it is most plausible that dopamine's role is to A) Provide a "reward signal" for the behavior B) Although we interpret it as rewarding, dopamine provides a teaching cue to reinforce behaviors that lead to reward C) Signal directly to alpha motoneurons muscle movements that enable an animal to obtain a reward. D) Transmit messages from the striatum to other brain regions involved in reward. E) None of the above are accurate statements

B) Although we interpret it as rewarding, dopamine provides a teaching cue to reinforce behaviors that lead to reward

How could one block long-term sensitization of the gill-withdrawal response (as opposed to short-term sensitization?) A) Block CREB activation in the serotonin interneuron B) Block CREB activation in the sensory neuron C) Block PKA activation in the motor neuron D) Block PKA activation in the sensory neuron

B) Block CREB activation in the sensory neuron

In many organisms, the superior colliculus is involved in determining the location of objects. Multiple pathways carry information from visual and auditory areas to the superior colliculus. This example illustrates the general principle known as _____________. A) Divergence B) Convergence C) Feedback loops D) None of the above

B) Convergence

Neurons contain two types of processes that extend out from their cell bodies: Axons and dendrites. What is a major difference between the two? A) Dendrites commonly branch, but axons do not B) Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons while axons carry the output of the neuron C) A cell body gives rise to a single dendrite and multiple axons D) Dendrites travel long distances while axons are generally much shorter E) Dendrites are ensheathed in myelin produced by glial cells called oligodendrocytes

B) Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons while axons carry the output of the neuron

Neurons contain two types of processes: axons and dendrites. Which of the following statements best describes a difference between the two? A) Dendrites are of uniform diameter while axons vary widely in diameter B) Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons while axons carry the output of the neurons C) A cell body gives rise to a single dendrite and multiple axons D) Dendrites travel long distances while axons are generally much shorter E) All of the above are true

B) Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons while axons carry the output of the neurons

Retinal ganglion cells are the output neurons of the retina. They transmit visual information to several places within the brain for further processing, sending axons to the hypothalamus, superior colliculus, lateral geniculate nucleus, and the Edinger-Westphal nucleus (to name a few). This example illustrates the general principle known as ____________, and likely occurs because ___________. A) Convergence; all visual information must be processed in a similar manner B) Divergence; different aspects of visual information must be processed by different specialized circuits C) Feedback loops; stable images are needed in order to extract features D) All of the above

B) Divergence; different aspects of visual information must be processed by different specialized circuits

Compare and contrast the terminology used to describe muscle fibers with other terms used to describe other cell types. Which of the following statements is NOT accurate? A) In muscle cells, the cell membrane is known as the sarcolemma, whereas in most cells it is known as the plasmalemma B) In both muscles and neurons, the term "motor end plate" describes the post-synaptic side of the synapse C) In muscle cells, a depolarization in response to a stimulus is known as an "end plate potential" whereas in neurons it is known as an "excitatory post-synaptic potential" D) Muscle fibers (muscle cells) often contain many nuclei, whereas most cells only contain a single nucleus

B) In both muscles and neurons, the term "motor end plate" describes the post-synaptic side of the synapse

What function does the narrow spine neck have, specifically? A) It prevents AMPA receptors from diffusing out of the post synaptic density B) It allows for biochemical isolation of the signals at a synapse, so that synapses can grow independently without influencing their neighbors C) It prevents the ER from accumulating in dendritic spine D) It contains most of the enzymes involved in the earliest stages of LTP

B) It allows for biochemical isolation of the signals at a synapse, so that synapses can grow independently

Receptive fields tend to become _______ as sensory pathways progress to higher-order neurons because of ________. A) Larger and more complex; divergence B) Larger and more complex; convergence C) Smaller and simpler ; divergence D) Smaller and simpler; convergence

B) Larger and more complex; convergence

The capacitance of a Golgi type II neuron would be ________ than the capacitance of a Golgi type I neuron. A) Greater than B) Lesser than C) About equal to D) How the heck am I supposed to know?

B) Lesser than That's right! Golgi type I neurons are big and project their axons long distances. Golgi type II neurons are smaller and project their axons short distances. The capacitance of a neuron, or its the ability to store charge on its membrane, depends on how much membrane it has... bigger neurons have more membrane, and more capacitance. Therefore, smaller Golgi type II neurons will have less.

Which of the following is accurate regarding humans and mice? A) Higher levels of anatomical organization (e.g. CNS and PNS) would be different B) Many genes important for neuronal function would be similar in both species and expressed in tissues other than the brain C) The most similarities would exist at smaller levels of anatomical organization (e.g. brain nuclei) D) All of the above

B) Many genes important for neuronal function would be similar in both species and expressed in tissues other than the brain

Most of the neurons whose cell bodies lie within the striatum are _____________. A) Pyramidal neurons B) Medium spiny neurons C) Cholinergic interneurons D) Glutamatergic neurons

B) Medium spiny neurons

Which of the following is necessary for skeletal muscle contraction but NOT smooth muscle contraction? A) Phosphorylation of the myosin light-chain B) Movement of tropomyosin by the troponin complex C) Activation of calmodulin by calcium D) The muscle must be able to shorten

B) Movement of tropomyosin by the troponin complex

Which of the following is NOT an example of smooth muscle tissue? A) Muscles that control pupil diameter B) Muscle that enables you to move your index finger C) Muscle that surrounds blood vessels D) Muscle that causes your body hairs to stand up

B) Muscle that enables you to move your index finger

You are studying electrical currents in cortical neurons. In a particular experiment, you notice that current doesn't flow into the cell until the cell has been depolarized. Current flows normally when the solution that bathes the cell is free of magnesium. The current is likely passing through A) AMPA receptors B) NMDA receptors C) Metabotropic glutamate receptors D) All of the above

B) NMDA receptors

In scientific studies, to demonstrate a causal relationship between two events, it must be established that event one is both _______________ and _______________ in producing event two. A) Necessary; effective B) Necessary; sufficient C) Related to; associated with D) Sufficient; effective

B) Necessary; sufficient

Which of the below statements best describes hippocampal vs. neocortical assembly speed and detail? (Str. p. 456 or O'Rielly and Rudy 2000. Computational Principals of Learning in the Neocortex and Hippocampus) A) Neocortical assemblies form more quickly, are less detailed but better integrated than hippocampal assemblies B) Neocortical assemblies form more slowly, are less detailed but better integrated than hippocampal assemblies C) Neocortical assemblies form more slowly, are better detailed and less integrated than hippocampal assemblies D) Neocortical assemblies form more quickly, are less detailed but better integrated than hippocampal assemblies

B) Neocortical assemblies form more slowly, are less detailed but better integrated than hippocampal assemblies

Which cell bodies might be found within the brain? A) Sympathetic preganglionic B) Parasympathetic preganglionic C) Sympathetic postganglionic D) Parasympathetic postganglionic

B) Parasympathetic preganglionic

An early case study in the function of the ____________________ involved a man named Phineas Gage. The damage done to this brain region showed that in part, its function is to ____________________. A) Dorsal striatum; inhibit responses that an individual performs habitually B) Prefrontal cortex; inhibit responses that an individual performs habitually C) Ventral striatum; initiate goal-oriented behaviors such as food-seeking D) Thalamus; serve as part of the positive feedback loop associated with the frontostriatal system

B) Prefrontal cortex; inhibit responses that an individual performs habitually

A patient is in a severe car accident and suffers damage to the spinal cord. They no longer experience pain in their left leg, but their ability to feel touch and vibration in the left leg remains normal. Which side of the spinal cord was affected by injury? A) Left B) Right C) Both

B) Right

Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement regarding skeletal muscle? A) Skeletal muscle cells develop from the fusion of precursor cells and may contain multiple nuclei B) A single muscle fiber (myocyte) contains multiple myofibrils C) Each myofibril is an independent muscle fiber (myocyte) and is enclosed by the sarcolemma D) The extracellular solution fills the lumen of the T-tubules which penetrate the muscle fiber

C) Each myofibril is an independent muscle fiber (myocyte) and is enclosed by the sarcolemma

Ohm's Law...

Can determine the magnitude of current through an ion channel or patch of membrane

What statement about the behavior of motor units during muscle contraction is TRUE? A) All of the motor units in a given muscle respond to weak contraction and increase their firing rate as the strength of the contraction increases B) Some of the motor units in a given muscle respond to weak contraction by quickly achieving their maximum firing rate and more are added ad the strength of the contraction increases C) Only fast twitch motor units are found in skeletal muscle, slow twitch motor units are found in smooth muscle D) Motor units respond in a passive fashion and do not fire action potentials

B) Some of the motor units in a given muscle respond to weak contraction by quickly achieving their maximum firing rate and more are added ad the strength of the contraction increases

What debate near the beginning of the 1900s led to the "Neuron Doctrine"? A) Some scientists believed the brain was controlled by hydraulics, while others believed it was some form of electricity B) Some scientists believed all neurons were continuous and connected, while others believed they were independent cells separated by small gaps C) Some scientists believed functions were localized to particular regions of the brain, while others belied all part os the brain always worked together D) Some scientists belied neurons contained a unique set of DNA, whereas others believed they had the same genome as all of the other somatic cells E) None of the above, the Neuron Doctrine was established by Aristotle millennia prior to this

B) Some scientists believed all neurons were continuous and connected, while others believed they were independent cells separated by small gaps

If a cell is NOT an excitable cell, it will... A) Still be able to conduct action potentials B) Still have a resting membrane potential C) Always have a membrane voltage of 0 mV D) None of the above

B) Still have a resting membrane potential Non-excitable cells will stil have a resting membrane potential that ranges from -30 to -90 mV, but unlike excitable cells, this will not change over time

In an experiment to understand LTP, you stimulate neurons in the hippocampus by applying a tetanus. You then apply a drug that potently inhibits phosphorylation (kinase activity) while also activating NMDA receptors. How would this affect your results? A) Synapses would be strengthened even more than expected B) Synapses would be strengthen less than expected C) Calcium levels would decrease substantially in the cell D) No calcium entry would occur through NMDA receptors

B) Synapses would be strengthen less than expected

Which of the following best describes the length constant in neurons? A) The length constant (λ) describes the average length of a neurons dendrites B) The length constant (λ) describes the distance a passive signal can travel inside a cell before it attenuates C) The length constant (λ) describes the distance across the plasma membrane, which can differ greatly between cells, affecting the time course of neuronal signals D) The length constant (λ) describes the length of time it takes to register a voltage change in a cell after it receives a stimulus

B) The length constant (λ) describes the distance a passive signal can travel inside a cell before it attenuates It describes the distance a change in voltage will spread passively before reaching 63% of its original amplitude. Although conductivity of the cytoplasm affects this they are not the same thing.

Which of the following is true of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system? A) Unlike postganglionic parasympathetic neurons, the cell bodies of postganglionic sympathetic neurons are located near their target structures B) The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is used by postganglionic sympathetic neurons, whereas postganglionic parasympathetic neurons use acetylcholine C) Its activation results in physiological changes consistent with "rest and digest" D) Its activation can lead to decreases in heart rate

B) The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is used by postganglionic sympathetic neurons, whereas postganglionic parasympathetic neurons use acetylcholine

Which of the following is NOT true regarding neurons in the dorsal root ganglia? A) They convey tactile stimuli to the spinal cord and brainstem B) They have two axons that project from either side of the cell body and are bipolar C) Their axons can be meters long in some animals. D) They convey pain and temperature stimuli to the spinal cord and brainstem

B) They have two axons that project from either side of the cell body and are bipolar

The tonotopic map in the auditory cortex is similar to the somatotopic map in the somatosensory cortex in that A) They are both represented in the same cortical area B) They tend to over-represent stimuli that are experienced often in the context of being rewarded C) They are both organized by the physical location where the sound or touch is felt or heard D) They are the only known examples of topographic organization in the nervous system

B) They tend to over-represent stimuli that are experienced often in the context of being rewarded

Compare and contrast smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle. Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement? A) action potentials can lead to contraction in smooth muscle and skeletal muscle B) Voltage-gated sodium channels are primarily responsible for the initial depolarization in both smooth muscle and cardiomyocytes C) Contraction in smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle is mediated by actin and myosin sliding relative to one another D) Smooth muscle contracts 100s of times more slowly than skeletal muscle

B) Voltage-gated sodium channels are primarily responsible for the initial depolarization in both smooth muscle and cardiomyocytes

Which of the following would increase the magnitude of the funny current in cardiac pacemaker cells? A) Making the cell more hyperpolarized B) Increasing the amount of cAMP in the cells C) Increasing the concentration of calcium outside of the cell D) Both A and B

Both A and B

Increasing the magnitude of the funny current in cardiac pacemaker cells would cause pacemaker cells to... A) Release more neurotransmitter B) Release less neurotransmitter C) Fire at a higher frequency D) Fire at a low frequency E) Both A and B

C) Fire at a higher frequency

Caged neurotransmitters allowed A) For the structure of proteins and vesicles within a single spine to be resolved at great detail B) For measurements of voltage in objects like dendritic spines that are too small to record from using electrodes C) For physiologically relevant application of glutamate to a specific synapse D) For high resolution imaging over time in living brains

C) For physiologically relevant application of glutamate to a specific synapse

The width of a mammalian neuron's cell soma can range from: A) 40-1000 nm B) 0.4-10 μm C) 4-100 μm D) 4-100 mm

C) 4-100 μm

If a neuron is resting at -70 mV, and the voltage threshold for voltage-gated sodium channels is -40 mV, which of the following would result in an IPSP? A) Opening ligand-gated Sodium channels (ENA = 55 mV) B) Closing ligand-gated Chloride channels (ECl = -60 mV) C) Activating a second messenger that leads to the Opening of Potassium channels (Ek = -85 mV) D) Phosphorylating ligand-gated Sodium channels so that they open for a shorter amount of time

C) Activating a second messenger that leads to the Opening of Potassium channels (Ek = -85 mV)

Animal cells maintain a voltage across their cell membranes, which act as chemical and electrical insulators. These voltages are closest too... A) Around 5 volts B) Around 1/2 volts C) Around 1/20 volts D) Around 1/200 volts

C) Around 1/20 volts

Assume ions A and B are both positively charged. Extracellular [A] is 10X intracellular [A]. The neuronal membrane is permeable only to ion B. After B is added to the extracellular solution, which of the following would you expect to be true? A) B would not enter the cell B) B would flow into the cell until it is found in equal concentrations on both sides of the membrane C) B would flow into the cell until its equilibrium potential is reached D) B would flow into the cell and A would flow out of the cell

C) B would flow into the cell until its equilibrium potential is reached

Imagine this- There are two big rooms full of hundreds of people. They are separated by a thin glass barrier that runs between their rooms. The barrier cannot be broken and there are no holes large enough to pass through, but its clear and thin and has little holes in it so that people can interact with each other through it, but they cannot physically touch. The two rooms are filled with people who do not know each other. These people will tend to interact more with each other and less with people across the wall. But then imagine that Dr. J's evil twin-brother with a goatee, Dr. L (or whatever the opposite of a J is), adds into these crowds of strangers some couples who are very much in love. But he's evil, so one member is placed in one room and the other member is placed in the other. After watching these groups Dr. L find that the couples tend to stand on opposite sites of the wall and don't really move around. They just sit there discussing serialized television dramas and making kissy faces at each other. In fact, all of the couples seem to line up along the wall. Surprise! This was actually just an analogy for... A) Sodium potassium pumps B) Current fowing through ion channels C) Capacitance of cell membranes D) The length constant

C) Capacitance of cell membranes

Which of the following statements DOES NOT accurately describe cardiac muscle? A) Cardiac myocytes attach primarily to other myocytes B) Cardiac myocytes are electrically coupled to each other C) Cardiac muscle requires neural input to contract D) Cardiac muscle does not contain sarcomeres

C) Cardiac muscle requires neural input to contract

Which choice does NOT correctly describe a difference between electrical vs. chemical synapses? (Which is FALSE) A) Electrical synapses cause voltage changes in the postsynaptic cell more rapidly than chemical synapses and can transmit small molecules too B) Electrical synapses and chemical synapses are subject to regulation by intracellular signaling C) Chemical synapses can act to amplify a signal, electrical synapses cannot D) Electrical synapses

C) Chemical synapses can act to amplify a signal, electrical synapses cannot

Neurobiology is least closely linked to the field of... A) Neuroanatomy B) Neurophysiology C) Cognitive psychology D) Molecular genetics

C) Cognitive psychology

The gill withdrawal reflex of Aplysia... A) Can only be studied in intact animals B) Involves the quick escape of Aplysia due to a water jet from its gills C) Describes the withdrawal of the gill after the animals siphon is touched D) Is less pronounced after sensitization

C) Describes the withdrawal of the gill after the animals siphon is touched

NG2 cells...

Can divide to make new oligodendrocytes

Labeled-lines refers to the idea that... A) Information from different sensory modalities is segregated at all stages of processing, and multimodal receptive fields are not observed in the nervous system B) Information from different sensory modalities is combined at early and middle stages of processing, such that artificial stimulation of these pathways produces multiple modalities of sensory experience simultaneously C) Information from different sensory modalities is segregated at early and middle stages of processing, with parallel axonal pathways conveying signals to the brain D) Artificial stimulation of these pathways produces an experience of a single modality E) nformation from different sensory modalities is combined at early and middle stages of processing, but in a way such that artificial stimulation of these pathways only produces experience of a single modality

C) Information from different sensory modalities is segregated at early and middle stages of processing, with parallel axonal pathways conveying signals to the brain

On spiny neurons... A) Inhibitory synapses usually occur on spines themselves, as do excitatory synapses B) Inhibitory synapses are rarely, if ever, observed C) Inhibitory synapses usually occur on the dendritic shaft or the soma, excitatory synapses usually occur on the spines themselves D) Excitatory synapses usually occur on the dendritic shaft or the soma, inhibitory synapses usually occur on the spines themselves

C) Inhibitory synapses usually occur on the dendritic shaft or the soma, excitatory synapses usually occur on the spines themselves

The process of trying out various behaviors to learn which ones result in positive reinforcement (and few negative consequences) is known as ______________________________. A) Pavlovian conditioning B) Reverse conditioning C) Instrumental conditioning D) Classical conditioning

C) Instrumental conditioning

Which is true about the cells that make up the hippocampus? A) Most of the cells are interneurons B) There are two layers of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus C) Interneurons are much more morphologically and functionally diverse than pyramidal neurons both in the Hippocampus and the neocortex D) Pyramidal neurons use GABA as their neurotransmitter in the hippocampus

C) Interneurons are much more morphologically and functionally diverse than pyramidal neurons both in the Hippocampus and the neocortex

Which of the following is FALSE about BDNF? A) It is an IEG B) It is important for both development and adult plasticity C) It is a receptor that is typically expressed within the postsynaptic density D) It can be released from cells in an activity-dependent fashion

C) It is a receptor that is typically expressed within the postsynaptic density

Which of the following were important discoveries regarding learning and memory that patient H.M. contributed to? A) Neuronal activity in the medial temporal lobes is necessary for recalling long-term memories B) Neuronal activity in the medial temporal lobes is necessary for procedural learning C) Neuronal activity in the medial temporal lobes is necessary for the formation of new episodic memories D) Neuronal activity in the medial temporal lobes is necessary for performing cognitive tasks

C) Neuronal activity in the medial temporal lobes is necessary for the formation of new episodic memories

Experimental application of the delayed non-match to sample tasks (DNMTS)was important for using non-human primate models to mimic what type of learning dysfunction in humans? A) Object reward memory B) Classical conditioning C) Object recognition memory D) Motor memory

C) Object recognition memory

All of the sensory cells employ mechanoreceptors except... A) Merkel cells B) Muscle spindle receptors C) Olfactory receptor neurons D) Pain sensitive (nociceptive) neurons

C) Olfactory receptor neurons

Which of the following employs metabotropic receptors to achieve signal transduction? (select all that apply) A) Hair cells in the semicircular canals B) Hair cells in the cochlea C) Olfactory receptor neurons D) Muscle spindle stretch receptors E) Cones F) Rods G) Merkel cells

C) Olfactory receptor neurons E) Cones F) Rods

Which of the following would block late-stage LTP but not early or intermediate stage LTP? A) Preventing vesicles bearing AMPA receptors from fusing with the plasma membrane B) Inhibiting the activity of a phosphatase that acts on P-CREB C) Physically separating the cell body from the dendrites D) Inhibiting mRNA from binding to ribosomes

C) Physically separating the cell body from the dendrites

An experiment that examines the speed of neural activity would most accurate described as an experiment in __________________. A) Neuroanatomy B) Molecular biology C) Physiology D) All of the above

C) Physiology

Neurons may vary in all of the following ways EXCEPT A) Neurotranmitter type B) Branching patterns of the dendrites C) Presence of endoplasmic reticulum D) Nerve conduction velocity

C) Presence of endoplasmic reticulum

Which of the following is true regarding muscle relaxation? A) Skeletal muscle is relaxed when the pressure increases inside fluid-filled cavities B) Skeletal muscle relaxes when myosin heads push backward in an ATP-driven movement C) Skeletal muscle is relaxed when antagonizing muscles pull it back to its relaxed state D) Smooth muscle relaxes when myosin heads push backward in an ATP-driven movement

C) Skeletal muscle is relaxed when antagonizing muscles pull it back to its relaxed state

You observe the structure and function of a muscle fiber in the lab. You find that membrane depolarization is not always necessary in order to cause contraction, and that actin filaments are not arranged longitudinally along the length of the fiber. Most likely you are observing a _______________________ cell. A) Skeletal muscle B) Cardiac muscle C) Smooth muscle D) Neuronal

C) Smooth muscle

Which of the following observations would seem to CONTRADICT Santiago Ramon y Cajal's Law of Functional Polarity? A) Some glial cells are involve din the phagocytosis of synapses B) EPSPs and IPSPs spread passively in the dendrites of most neurons, and action potentials tend to be initiated in the initial segment of the axon, traveling to the axon terminals C) Some cells have action potentials that travel from the soma to the dendrites D) Some neurons in invertebrates express two or three different small molecule neurotransmitters E) Leak channels are not voltage-gated but are important to the resting membrane potential

C) Some cells have action potentials that travel from the soma to the dendrites

S4 segments containing positively-charged amino acids, specifically...

Cause the channel to open in response to depolarization

Given what we discussed regarding the evolution of neural circuits, what assumption about the neurons in the different relay nuclei that receive their input from the neuron in Question 1 would be most valid? A) They likely all perform similar operations on the output of the neuron in Question 1 in very similar ways and will have similar circuitry B) They likely are specialized to preform non-redundant non-overlapping operations on the output of the neuron in Question 1 and have different patterns of connectivity C) Speed of processing is no important in this neural circuit D) They pass on the signal without changing it so that it can reach different areas of the brain

C) Speed of processing is no important in this neural circuit

Which of the following is an accurate statement? A) Striatal dopamine increases greatly following a food reward in mice that have learned to associate a stimulus with a food reward B) Striatal dopamine increases greatly following a stimulus in mice that have not yet learned to associate a stimulus with a food reward C) Striatal dopamine increases greatly following a stimulus in mice that have learned to associate a stimulus with a food reward D) Striatal dopamine decreases greatly following a food reward in mice that have learned to associate a stimulus with a food reward

C) Striatal dopamine increases greatly following a stimulus in mice that have learned to associate a stimulus with a food reward

Cardiac glycosides are poisonous compounds that have been used by tribes to make poison-tipped arrows for hunting big game. These compounds specifically inhibit the sodium potassium pump present in cardiac tissue. What choice most accurately describes how this would affect the membrane potential in these cells? A) The cells will rapidly depolarize because Na will rapidly rush into the cell as soon as the pump is turned off B) The cells will rapidly hyperpolarize because K will rapidly rush into the cell as soon as the pump is turned off C) The cells would slowly depolarize as Na leaks into the cell because the pump is more important in the long term D) The cells would slowly hyperpolarize as K leaks into the cell because the pump is more important in the long term E) Nothing will happen to the membrane potential when F) Na/K-ATPase is inhibited

C) The cells would slowly depolarize as Na leaks into the cell because the pump is more important in the long term Sodium potassium ATP mostly works in the long term to set up the sodium and potassium gradients and maintain them. When it turns off potassium and sodium are allowed to flow down their concentration gradients. This happens through leak channels in the membrane and it take a few hours for enough ions to flow down their concentration gradients to depolarize the cells and paralyze the heart. Hunters have to track their prey for several hours after shooting it with a poison arrow for this reason.

Which of the following would NOT be considered an accessory structure for sensation? A) The pinna of the ear B) The lens of the eye C) The hair cells of the vestibular organ D) The epithelial layers of a Pacinian corpusle

C) The hair cells of the vestibular organ

What was the role of the serotoninergic interneuronneuron in the gill withdrawal reflex? A) The interneuron had to be present for the reflex to occur but was not necessary for sensitization B) The interneuron received information from the siphon sensory neuron (and NOT the nociceptive neuron on the tail) and transmitted this directly to the motor neuron via a chemical synapse C) The interneuron was necessary for sensitization to occur but was not necessary for the reflex itself D) The interneuron was inhibited by tail shocks E) The interneuron was not involved with the reflex nor its sensitization

C) The interneuron was necessary for sensitization to occur but was not necessary for the reflex itself

Which of the following is NOT necessary for cross-bridge cycling to take place? A) Intracellular calcium must be appropriately high B) ATP must be present C) The muscle fiber must be able to shorten D) ATP hydrolysis must be able to occur

C) The muscle fiber must be able to shorten Muscles can contract generating tension, even if they are unable to change length by causing movement at the joint- "isometric contraction"

Which of the following best describes the time constant in neurons? A) The time constant (τ) indicates how the distance a change in voltage will spread passively before attenuating B) The time constant (τ) is not affected by changing the capacitance of a neuron C) The time constant (τ) indicates how quickly the membrane voltage will change when a current is applied to a neuron D) The time constant (τ) indicates the amount of time it takes for a neuron to open membrane channels E) The time constant (τ) indicates the average amount of time a neuron takes before firing action potentials

C) The time constant (τ) indicates how quickly the membrane voltage will change when a current is applied to a neuron The time constant is the amount of time it takes a neuron experiencing an applied current to undergo 63% of the ultimate change in voltage (delta V)

What has been observed in skilled musicians such as pianists and violinists? A) They have increased total brain volume B) They have increased total brain mass C) They have increased area of the motor cortex that corresponds to hand control D) All of the above

C) They have increased area of the motor cortex that corresponds to hand control

The ________ contains dopaminergic neurons that project to the ventral striatum, prefrontal cortex (orbitofrontal cortex) and limibic areas involved in goal selection. The ___________ contains dopaminergic neurons that project to the dorsal striatum and are involved in motor planning. A) Ventral pallidum; dorsal pallidum B) Ventral Tegmental Area; Substantia Nigra pars Reticulata C) Ventral Tegmental Area; Substantia Nigra pars Compacta D) Substantia Nigra pars Compacta; Ventral Tegmental Area

C) Ventral Tegmental Area; Substantia Nigra pars Compacta

Which of these general principals of nervous system organization is FALSE? A) In the CNS, cell bodies that are involved in motor function tend to be anterior to the parts of the CNS that are involved in sensory function B) The spinal nerves of the PNS are lateral to the CNS, and components of the ventricular system, with the exception of the lateral ventricles tend to be most medial C) With respect to the CNS, regions that contain the neurons needed for reflexes and movements are generally superior to regions that integrate information from multiple senses to influence these reflexes and movements D) CNS regions involved in the fast transmission of information from one region to the other tend to be lighter in color than areas rich in synapses

C) With respect to the CNS, regions that contain the neurons needed for reflexes and movements are generally superior to regions that integrate information from multiple senses to influence these reflexes and movements

"Ball and Chain" intracellular domains...

Cause the sodium channel to close and inactivate when in occludes the pore

P- domains between segments 5 and 6...

Confers ion selectivity to Na+ by forming the pore segment

Doing which of the following would increase the length constant of a neuron? A) Increasing the size of the neuron B) Decreasing the size of the neuron C) Putting more channels in the membrane to make it more leaky D) "Plugging up" channels in the membrane by covering them with myelin E) None of the above

D) "Plugging up" channels in the membrane by covering them with myelin Plugging up the channels by covering them in myelin is one way (there are others) that myelin helps speed action potential propagation. It's the "plugging up a leaky hose" -analogy. It allows charge to move further down the axon before it decreases

You are experimenting on 3 neurons in a brain slice that obey Hebbian principles of synaptic plasticity. Neurons 1 and 2 form separate synapses onto Neuron 3. Which neuron(s) must fire to increase synaptic strength at the Neuron 1-Neuron 3 synapse? A) 1 and 2 B) 3 only C) 1 only D) 1 and 3

D) 1 and 3

Though phrenology is now a discredited idea, in that the shape of the skull has little to no bearing on an individual's mental abilities, what underlying idea remains at least partially correct? A) Specific regions of the brain are involved in specific functions B) Subtle variations in the shape of the skull can accurately predict neuroanatomy and personality C) The more area of neocortex devoted to a function (e.g. smell), the better that animal will perform that function D) A and C but not B

D) A and C but not B

Which of the following would block homosynaptic non associative LTP from occuring at the perforant-path/ dentate gyrus synapse? A) a mutation in the pore-forming region of the AMPA receptor that makes it impermeable to calcium B) A mutation in the pore-forming region of the NMDA receptor that makes it impermeable to sodium C) A mutation in the pore-forming region of the serotonin receptor that makes it impermeable to calcium D) A mutation in the pore-forming region of the NMDA receptor that makes it impermeable to calcium

D) A mutation in the pore-forming region of the NMDA receptor that makes it impermeable to calcium

During cross-bridge cycling, the molecule ______ binds to myosin heads, allowing the myosin heads to extend and bind to ______ filaments. A) Tropomyosin; thick B) Tropomyosin; actin C) Troponin; thick D) ATP; actin

D) ATP; actin

Which of the following is true of dendritic spines in the brain? A) Their sizes do not change B) They are not involved in learning and memory C) Infants have a lower rate of spine turnover than adults D) Adults have more stable dendritic spines than infants E) Stimulation with BDNF leads to the removal of spines

D) Adults have more stable dendritic spines than infants

A muscle cell experiences enough stimulation that intracellular calcium cannot be restored to resting levels after the arrival of action potentials at the neuromuscular junction. This will result in which of the following? A) Tetanus B) Myosin heads having access to actin binding sites because of the movement of tropomyosin C) Sustained muscle contraction D) All of the above

D) All of the above

Evolution... A) Selects for traits that are advantageous to a species B) Can only act on traits that are heritable C) Produces species that function well within their ecological niche D) All of the above

D) All of the above

How are neurotransmitters removed from a synapse? A) Diffusion B) Degredation by enzymes C) Reuptake into the same or nearby cells D) All of the above

D) All of the above

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) exerts its effect because ____________________. A) the activity of mechanosensory neurons has an inhibitory effect on the activity of nociceptors that innervate the same region. B) It serves to close the "gate" described in the gate theory of pain C) It selectively can act on large diameter neurons rather than small diameter neurons D) All of the above

D) All of the above

The movement of ions across a cell membrane that is permeable to those ions depends on A) The concentration of the ions on either side of the membrane B) the charges of the ions and the voltage difference between the extracellular solution and intracellular solution C) The charges of the ions, the electrical potential of the cell, and the concentration of ions D) All of the above

D) All of the above

The neocortex... A) Contains 2-6 layers B) Differs in thickness depending on the location C) Contains a high density of cell bodies and is therefore grey matter D) All of the above

D) All of the above

True or False: Muscle relaxation is caused by the action of inhibitory neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction.

False

Which of the following is a true statement? A) White matter is mostly composed of myelin, a fatty substance that insulates neuronal connections B) Gray matter contains the parts of a neuron that connect them with other neurons C) Both grey and white matter contain axons D) All of the above

D) All of the above

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the muscle fibers innervated by a single motor neuron? A) The motor neuron, along with the muscle fibers, are known as a motor unit B) The muscle fibers generally each express the same isoform of myosin C) The muscle fibers are generally all of the same type (fast, fatigable; fast, fatigue-resistant, etc.) D) All of the above

D) All of the above

Which of the following tissues are controlled by neurons in most mammals? A) Mammillary glands B) Sweat glands C) Glands that secrete hormones D) All of the above

D) All of the above

Compare and contrast the direct and indirect pathways as parts of complete frontostriatal circuits (from the cortex and back). Which of the following is a true statement? A) The complete direct pathway and indirect pathway circuits involve both excitatory and inhibitory synapses B) When D1-like receptor expressing neurons are active, this inhibits neurons in the palladium C) When D2-like receptor expressing neurons are active, this excites neurons in the palladium D) All of the above are true

D) All of the above are true

Which brain regions have been observed to display experience-dependent plasticity? A) The cerebellum B) The hippocampus C) The neocortex D) All of these and many others

D) All of these and many others

Which of the following statements about glial cells is FALSE? A) Myelin is formed by glial cells in the CNS but by neurons in the PNS B) Glia act as an inert glue that does not influence neuronal function C) New data suggests that glial cells are far more abundant in the brain than previous estimates, outnumbering neurons 1/10 D) All of these statements are false E) Two of these statements are false F) None of these statements are false

D) All of these statements are false

EPSPs and IPSPs... A) Stand for excitatory post-synaptic potentials and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials B) Would occur in a neurons dendrites C) Are changes in voltage resulting from opening ion channels D) All the above are correct

D) All the above are correct

What's the difference between "associative" and "non-associative" LTP? A) Only associative LTP involves calcium B) Changes that establish non-associative LTP are always postsynaptic C) AMPA receptors are not involved in non-associative LTP D) Associative LTP obeys Hebbs postulate

D) Associative LTP obeys Hebbs postulate

An example of a non-associative type of learning is ___________. A) Babituation ONLY B) Sensitization ONLY C) Pavlovian conditioning ONLY D) Both habituation and sensitization but not Pavlovian conditioning

D) Both habituation and sensitization but not Pavlovian conditioning

Which term indicates a position that is towards an animals tail? A) Dorsal B) Ventral C) Rostral D) Caudal

D) Caudal

The region that is thought to be most important is pattern separation, the non-overlap of different cell assemblies, in the hippocampus is the _________. A) CA1 region B) Mossy fiber pathway C) CA3 region D) Dentate gyrus

D) Dentate gyrus

The region that is thought to generate new glutamatergic projection neurons throughout life is the ______. A) CA1 region B) Mossy fiber pathway C) CA3 region D) Dentate gyrus

D) Dentate gyrus

You are studying the impact of a disease that destroys myelin in peripheral nerves. Which of the following would you expect to be the LEAST affected? A) Muscle function B) Fine touch and pressure sensation C) Sharp pain sensation D) Dull/burning pain sensation

D) Dull/burning pain sensation

Primates with lesions in the _____________show severe delay in delayed delayed non-match to sample tasks (DNMTS) learning task sample tasks (DNMTS) however lesions to the ____________are the same as unlesioned controls at these tasks. A) Entorhinal and postrhinal cortices, amygdala and hippocampus B) Amygdala and hippocampus, entorhinal and perirhinal cortices C) Amygdala and hippocampus, entorhinal and postrhinal cortices D) Entorhinal and perirhinal cortices, amygdala and hippocampus

D) Entorhinal and perirhinal cortices, amygdala and hippocampus

The movement of substances from the axon terminal to the cell body on microtubules is known as ___________________ axonal transport. A) Slow anterograde B) Slow retrograde C) Fast anterograde D) Fast retrograde

D) Fast retrograde

Which of the following is not true about growth factors? A) They are essential for development and are heavily implicated in adult synaptogenesis B) One family of growth factors are the neurotrophins, which includes BDNF C) Growth factors can be released in an activity-dependent manner D) Growth factors like BDNF are packaged into small neurotransmitter vesicles and not dense core vesciles

D) Growth factors like BDNF are packaged into small neurotransmitter vesicles and not dense core vesciles

Which of the following observations helps explain why we can recall memories for years even if we don't recall them frequently? A) It only takes one stiulation episode of hippocampal cells to form a strong neocortical pathway of memory consolidation B) Neocortical cell assembly activity can be strengthened by similar stimuli that reinstates several distinct but partially overlapping memories C) Hippocampal cell assemblies strengthen neocortical activity subconsciously throughout the day when we day dream, but are silent at night to rest D) Hippocampal cell assemblies can strengthen neocortical activity patters when we are asleep as well as subconsciously when we are awake

D) Hippocampal cell assemblies can strengthen neocortical activity patters when we are asleep as well as subconsciously when we are awake

Which of the following is FALSE about the Sodium/Potassium Pump (Na/K-ATPase)? A) It requires an input of energy from the cell to function B) It is represented by the letter F in the diagram (IT IS, JUST TRUST ME) C) In the long term, turning it off would cause the cell to depolarize D) In the short term, it is required to achieve reprobation after each action potential

D) In the short term, it is required to achieve reprobation after each action potential

True or False: Nervous system tend to evolutionarily diverge rapidly, and can have radically different large-scale organizations, even in closely related species.

False

In comparison to first oder neurons, receptive fields of second order neuron are generally... A) Smaller but of equal complexity B) More complex but the same size C) Smaller and simpler D) Larger and more complex

D) Larger and more complex

Which of the following does NOT play a role in the development of synapses? A) Neurotransmission between the presynaptic and postsynaptic cell B) Complementary expression of cell-adhesion molecules by the presynaptic and postsynaptic cells C) Complementary exchange of inductive factors such as neurotrophins D) None of the above

D) None of the above

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding effectors? A) Examples of exocrine glands include the pituitary and adrenal glands B) The actions of glands are generally much faster than skeletal muscle C) Exocrine glands secrete a variety of hormones into the blood D) None of the above are accurate statements

D) None of the above are accurate statements

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the organization of motor neurons and muscle fibers? A) In adults, multiple motor neurons synapse with each muscle fiber B) A motor unit is the set of motor neurons that innervate a single muscle fiber C) Each motor neuron synapses with only a single muscle fiber D) None of the above are accurate statements

D) None of the above are accurate statements

Contrast sensory transduction in hair cells with sensory transduction in olfaction. Which of the following is a true statement? A) The ion responsible for depolarization in both systems is sodium B) The protein responsible for transduction is ionotropic in both systems C) Epithelial cells, and not neurons, are responsible for transduction in both systems D) None of these are accurate statements

D) None of these are accurate statements

Which of the following is NOT a function of relay nuclei in the spinal cord or brainstem of mammals? A) Lateral inhibition to enhance contrast B) Filtering out stimuli that are weak, noisy, or not relevant (e.g. adaptation) C) Enhancing the transmission of stimuli that are salient (e.g. sensitization) D) Passing the signal to the next neuron faithfully without altering it in any way

D) Passing the signal to the next neuron faithfully without altering it in any way

One of the ways Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is identified is by observation that a person suddenly gets lost when navigating familiar routes such as how to get home from the grocery store they frequently visit. What is the best explanation for this? A) Amyloid plaques and neuronal death is often located in the cerebellum of AD patients B) Amyloid plaques and neuronal death often affect the optic nerve of AD patients C) Amyloid plaques and neuronal death is often located in the neocortex of AD patients D)Amyloid plaques and neuronal death is often located in the hippocampus of AD patients

D)Amyloid plaques and neuronal death is often located in the hippocampus of AD patients

WHO SAID IT: The brain is a hydraulic pump, influenced by the soul via the pineal gland

Descartes

Is influenced directly or indirectly by the autonomic nervous system, describes what?

Describes both cardia and smooth muscle

Increasing the intracellular concentration of calcium will ultimately lead to increased tension, describes what?

Describes both skeletal and smooth muscle

Does not receive chemical synapses from neurons, describes what?

Describes cardiac muscle only

Receives connections from nerves on a special structure called the motor end plate, describes what?

Describes skeletal muscle only

Does not contain parallel myofibril bundles, describes what?

Describes smooth muscle only

The Nerst Equation...

Describes the membrane potential if the cell were only permeable to one ion

The Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation...

Describes the steady-state potential using concentrations and permeabilities to major ions

A typical ligand-gated neurotransmitter receptor A) Is composed of multiple subunits B) Spans the membrane C) Allows passage of ions through the membrane when bound to its ligand, either directly for ionotropic receptors or indirectly for metabotropic receptors D) May have different functions or susceptibility to toxins/drugs based on its subunit composition E) All of the above

E) All of the above

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the dorsal and ventral striatum? A) The ventral striatum is involved in selecting goals and driving goal-oriented behaviors B) The dorsal striatum is involved in learned habitual actions C) The ventral striatum can direct goal-oriented behaviors via the dorsal striatum D) The ventral striatum can direct goal-oriented behaviors via the hypothalamus E) All of the above F) None of the above

E) All of the above

Which of the following is/are thought to play a role in LTP? A) Glutamate receptors B) CaMKII C) Calcium D) Changes to gene expression because of chemical modifications to DNA or histones E) All of the above

E) All of the above

_________ maintain the ion concentrations on the outside of the cell, _________ maintains proper ion concentrations on the inside. A) Na/K-ATPase; astrocytes and Schwann cells B) Oligodendrocytes; Na/K-ATPase C) Na/K-ATPase; Na/K-ATPase D) Oligodendrocytes; non-gated potassium channels E) Astrocytes and Schwann cells; Na/K-ATPase

E) Astrocytes and Schwann cells; Na/K-ATPase Remember- all cells have resting membrane potentials, so the entire body is very interested in maintaining proper ionic homeostasis (the kidneys are especially important for accomplishing this), but in the vicinity of neurons ion regulation is the responsibility of astrocytes (CNS) and Schwann cells (PNS). Each neuron runs the Na/K-ATPase in order to pump sodium out, maintaining the concentration on the inside. Na/K-ATPase is really only important for the concentration inside of neurons, like bailing water out of a boat with a leaky hull... it doesn't significantly change the amount of water in the ocean

How did Hodgkin and Huxley use the voltage-clamp to deduce the individual identities of the ionic currents underlying the action potential? A) They held a squid axon's current steady and recorded voltage B) They held a squid's axon's voltage steady and recorded current C) They altered the extracellular concentrations of ions D) A and C E) B and C

E) B and C

What is a half-center oscillator? A) A series (horizontal decomposition) of neurons that forms a reflex chain B) Reciprocally connected inhibitory neurons that generate alternating rhythmic output C) A network of neurons that will generate stereotyped spontaneous activity without sensory input D) A,B, and C E) B and C only

E) B and C only

NMDAR are ... A) Ionotropic and gated by a ligand B) Ionotropic and gated by membrane voltage C) Metabotropic and increase cAMP D) Metabotropic and decrease cAMP E) Both A and B

E) Both A and B

Brain nuclei... A) Are clusters of neurons that process similar information B) Are lamina of a single type of neuron that process different information C) Are grey matter D) Both A and B E) Both A and C F) None of the above

E) Both A and C

A motor unit consists of... A) Several skeletal muscle fibers that are connected by gap junctions B) Muscle fibers of a single type (fast/slow twitch) C) A motor neuron that synapses on multiple muscle fibers D) All of the myofibrils in a given myocyte E) Both B and C

E) Both B and C

What statement about the evolution of nervous systems in life forms on Earth is TRUE? A) All multicellular life forms have nervous systems B) Animals with nervous systems always have brains C) Evolution of the nervous system in not constrained by the traits of previous generations D) Knowing how closely related species are evolutionarily does not at all indicated the degree to which they nervous systems can be expected to be similar E) Most animals have nervous systems of some form, but some that are very small or stationary do not have nervous systems

E) Most animals have nervous systems of some form, but some that are very small or stationary do not have nervous systems

Doing which of the following would increase the time constant of a neurons membrane? A) Increasing the size of the neuron B) Decreasing the size of the neuron C) Putting more channels in the membrane to make it more leaky D) Plugging up channels in the membrane with myelin E) Plugging up channels in the membrane with myelin AND increasing the size of the neuron

E) Plugging up channels in the membrane with myelin AND increasing the size of the neuron Recall that the time constant equals a product of capacitance and the membrane resistance. A tightly sealed membrane on a large cell will take a long time to change voltage, as most of the current will be forced to charge its large capacitance before flowing through the high membrane resistance (Rm).

True or False: A receptor potential is similar to an action potential, in that it is an all-or-nothing response to a stimulus.

False

True or False: According to Hebb's Postulate, a synapse (say, a hippocampal synapse) should be strengthened when a post-synaptic action potential comes before a pre-synaptic action potential (vs. when it comes after a presynaptic action potential... see Fig 3.14).

False

True or False: Axon terminals contain microtubules and RER for making membrane bound proteins.

False

True or False: EPSPs cause the postsynaptic cell to become hyperpolarized.

False

True or False: Glutamate and GABA are released from post-ganglionic neurons in the autonomic nervous system to influence the degree of smooth muscle contraction.

False

True or False: IPSPs summate to initiate action potentials.

False

True or False: Inotropic and metabotropic receptors are both transmembrane proteins that form ion channels.

False

True or False: The further away a synapse is fro the region of a neuron where the action potentials are initiated, the more influence, activity at that synapse will have over whether or not the postsynaptic neuron will fire.

False

True or False: The identity of the neurotranmitter molecule determines if a synapse will be inhibitory or excitatory.

False

True or False: Topographic arrangements of neurons in relay nuclei increase the total axon length needed to provide for lateral inhibition.

False

True or False; Classifying mammalian neurons by small neurotransmitter type is difficult, as neurons will generally express 3 - 10 different types.

False This is false. Mammalian neurons will typically express only one type of small-molecule neurotransmitter. For instance, we call a neuron that expresses GABA as its singular small-molecule transmitter "GABAergic", a neuron that uses acetylcholine will be "acetylcholinergic." This property is called "Dale's Law."

Brain structures with their role in memory: Entorhinal cortex

Fundamental in long-term memory formation and orienting a memory in space and time; gateway to the hippocampus

STRUCTURE: The bumps of the neocortex

Gyri

WHO SAID IT: Brain is the organ of consciousness

Hippocrates

Brain structures with their role in memory: Basolateral amygdala

Important in behaviorally aroused memory formation mediated by norepinephrine

Match the Dopamine Receptor type to its downstream effects: D1-like receptors

Increase cAMP

STRUCTURE: Bumps on the dorsal side of the midbrain that are important in auditory reflexes

Inferior colliculi

Match the Dopamine Receptor type to its downstream effects: D2-like receptors

Inhibit adenylyl cyclase

True or False: EPSPs often involve passive transport (flow through a channel) of sodium ions.

True

Ependymal cells...

Line the ventricles

WHO SAID IT: Experiences modify brain connectivity and function

Meynart & James

Match the lobe of the brain that is most associated with each function: FRONTAL

Motor control

Oligodendrocytes...

Myelinate multiple axons in the CNS

Schwann cells...

Myelinated nerves in the PNS

Cells in the hippocampus proper (CA regions and DG) that respond when an animal occupies a specific location in space (for example one corner of a maze), no matter how that animal is oriented are called ___________cells. (see section 11.5)

Place

Brain structures with their role in memory: CA3

Plays a central role in pattern completion in the hippocampus

Brain structures with their role in memory: Dentate gyrus

Plays a central role in pattern separation in the hippocampus

Contains a high density of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Post synaptic density

WHO SAID IT: Techniques to visualize individual neurons

Ramon y Cajal

Astrocytes...

Regulate ion homeostasis, extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations, synaptic plasticity, and have other functions in the CNS

Contains a high density of voltage-gated sodium channels that cause muscle action potentials.

Sarcolemma/Muscle fiber plasma membrane

Contains a high density of the proteins actin and myosin.

Sarcomere

Contains a high density of voltage-gated calcium channels that trigger intracellular Ca2+ release.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

WHO SAID IT: Electrical signals underlie brain activity and muscle movement

Sherington

Match the lobe of the brain that is most associated with each function: Parietal

Somatosensation

STRUCTURE: The grooves between the bumps of neocortex

Sulci

STRUCTURE: Bumps on the dorsal side of the midbrain important for visual reflexes

Superior coliculi

Contains a high density of calcium-gated calcium channels and ATP-driven calcium transporters.

T-tubules

Microglia...

The immune cells of the central nervous system

Select all of the structures below that lie within the CNS: The retina The basal ganglia The autonomic ganglia The medulla The enteric nervous system The cochlea The spinal cord Zygomatic branch of the facial nerve

The retina The basal ganglia The medulla The spinal cord

True or False: Areas of skin that are better at determine small difference in pressure (e.g. better at the finger tips vs. the back), have smaller the receptive fields of the mechano-sensory neurons at that location, and signal to a larger number of comical neurons.

True

True or False: Blocking voltage-gated calcium channels would prevent vesicle fusion from taking place at chemical synapses.

True

True or False: Fiber tracts (collections of axons) connecting the two hemispheres of the telencphalon are said to project contralaterally, fiber tracts connecting the right side of the brain to the right side of the spinal cord are said to project ipsilaterally.

True

True or False: Gamma motor neurons prevent muscle spindles from triggering reflexes when you move.

True

True or False: Hearing and balance both involve mechano-receptive hair cells, but have incorporate different accessory structures that tune these cells to different physical forces.

True

True or False: IPSPs often involve the passive transport (flow through a channel) of chloride ions.

True

True or False: In addition to a terrible disease caused by a material toxin, tetanus refers to a state of tonic muscle contraction that occurs during normal physiology.

True

True or False: Neuron A innervates neuron B via a chemical synapse. If neuron A is repeatedly stimulated (using tetanic stimulation), after a brief period of time the response of neuron B to a single stimulation will be increased at that synapse. This would be an example of homosynaptic plasticity.

True

True or False: Spike timing dependent plasticity between neurons involves LTP occuring if a presynaptic neuron fires in a brief window of time BEFORE a postsynaptic neuron fires and LTD occuring when it comes before or after this window.

True

True or False: The identity/physiology of the neurotransmitter receptor determines whether or not a synapse will be excitatory or inhibitory. Norepinephrine can excited or inhibit smooth muscle.

True

True or False: The nucleolus is involved in making ribosomes, and is a prominent feature of most neurons.

True

Match the lobe of the brain that is most associated with each function: Occipital

Vision