Chapter 2 The Biological Perspective: Questions

Parts of a Neuron

Dendrites, Soma, and Axon

________ receive messages from other neurons and ________ send messages to other neurons.

Dendrites; axons

Insertion into the brain of a thin insulated wire through which is sent an electrical current that stimulates the brain cells at the tip of the wire is called ________.

ESB

"All or none" is the principle stating that ________.

a neuron either fires or does not fire

When the electric potential in a cell is in action versus a resting state, this electrical charge reversal is known as the ________.

action potential

The ________, located on the top of the kidneys, secrete(s) hormones that regulate salt intake, control stress reactions, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence.

adrenal glands

Which is not a specific function of the right hemisphere of the brain?

analysis of detail

The peripheral nervous system consists of the ________ and the ________ nervous systems.

autonomic; somatic

The swellings or knobs at the end of the axon are called ________.

axon terminals

Which part of the nervous system takes the information received from the senses, makes sense out of it, makes decisions, and sends commands out to the muscles and the rest of the body?

brain

If your ________ was damaged, you might walk oddly and have trouble standing normally.

cerebellum

Which of the following is the upper part of the brain consisting of two cerebral hemispheres and the structures that connect them?

cerebrum

The outermost part of the brain that is made up of tightly packed neurons and is only a tenth of an inch thick is called the ________.

cortex

Which of the following best represents the order in which a neuron receives and transmits information?

dendrites, cell body, axon, axon terminals

Your teacher asks you to describe the sequence of parts of a neuron that the impulse travels during neural conduction. Which of the following sequences will you offer?

dendrites, soma, axon, synaptic knob

Because they have similar chemical structures, morphine and heroin are able to lock into receptor sites for ________.

endorphins

Pain-controlling chemicals in the body are called ________.

endorphins

A researcher wants to obtain a "movie" of changes in the activity of the brain using images from different time periods. Which of these would be the best choice for this researcher?

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

If you have a problem remembering things that happened a year ago, doctors might check for damage to the ________ area of the brain.

hippocampus

The ________ is located within the temporal lobe on each side of the brain and if electrically stimulated it may produce dream-like or memory-like experiences.

hippocampus

Traditionally, many have made the analogy that the lefts brain is to the right brain as ________.

logical is to artistic

A brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain is called ________.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

LaKeisha stepped on a piece of glass and quickly pulled her foot away from that sharp object. Which of the following are responsible for sending a message to the muscles in LaKeisha's foot, resulting in her pulling her foot away from the piece of glass?

motor neurons

Dendrite is to axon as:

receive is to send.

Which structure is like a locked door that only certain neurotransmitter keys can unlock?

receptor sites

Endocrine glands ________.

secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

Mary put her hand on a hot stove. Which neuron is responsible for sending a pain message up her spinal column, where it would then enter into the main area of the cord?

sensory neuron

Since Norma is a split-brain patient, we can infer that she likely has a history of ________.

severe epilepsy

Which part of the neuron is responsible for maintaining the life of the cell?

soma

Phineas Gage tragically had a tamping iron propelled through his head. Both left and right sides of the prefrontal cortex were severely damaged. As a result of the accident, Phineas Gage

suffered a change in personality

Ito was driving through a rough part of town late at night when a stray bullet hit the front side of his head. Both the left and right sides of his prefrontal cortex were severely damaged. As a result of the accident, Ito most likely

suffered a change in personality.

The part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal is called the ________ nervous system.

sympathetic

The autonomic nervous system has two divisions called the ________ and the ________.

sympathetic; parasympathetic

The fluid-filled space between the synaptic knob of one cell and the dendrites of the next cell is called the ________.

synapse

Hormones are chemicals that are secreted and go directly into ______.

the bloodstream

The central nervous system consists of ________.

the brain and spinal cord

Cameron touches a hot iron and immediately pulls his hand away. His quick response occurs because_______.

the pain message goes up the spinal column to the central area of the spinal cord instead of going all the way to the brain

Tim is overweight. His physician has decided to test him to see if there is a problem with the regulation of his metabolism. Which endocrine gland will be the focus of diagnostic testing?

thyroid

What is the main function of the reticular formation?

to control levels of alertness

Neuroplasticity is most evident in which of the following circumstances?

when we learn something new or store new information

Endorphins are ________.

pain-controlling chemicals

Darla was in an automobile accident that resulted in an injury to her brain. Her sense of touch has been affected. Which part of the brain is the most likely site of the damage?

parietal lobes

Which of the following is a function of the right hemisphere?

perception, expression of emotion, and recognition of patterns