1st Semester Final Exam AP Psychology
Which is most likely to be the longest structure in a neuron? a. axon terminal b. soma c. dendrite d. axon
D
Which part of the brain might be most active in a person planning an opening strategy in a chess game? a. hippocampus b. longitudinal fissure c. brainstem d. frontal lobe
D
If a neuron cannot receive neurotransmitters from an adjacent cell, which of the following structures is most likely malfunctioning? a. axon terminal b. soma c. axon d. dendrite
D
If a neuron fires once, rests during a refractory period, and then fires again, the second impulse is likely to be: a. more powerful than the first impulse. b. slower than the first impulse. c. less powerful than the first impulse. d. equally powerful as the first impulse.
D
If a poison was developed that blocked dopamine from being used by the brain, which of the following neural structures would most likely be affected by the poison? a. cell body b. synapse c. axon d. receptor site
D
If you stubbed your toe, the pain message would speed up your leg through a neuron with a particularly long: a. axon terminal. b. dendrite. c. cell body. d. axon.
D
The brain research technique that involves monitoring the brain's usage of glucose is called (in abbreviated form) the: a. CT scan. b. EEG. c. MRI. d. PET scan.
D
The current popular idea that some people are right-brained and some are left-brained: a. has no basis in real psychology research. b. is completely accurate according to psychological research. c. makes no sense because the brain is one thing, not divided into two left and right parts. d. is an exaggeration of research on hemispheric differences.
D
The effect of a drug that is an agonist is to: a. disrupt a neuron's all-or-none firing pattern. b. block a particular neurotransmitter. c. cause the brain to stop producing certain neurotransmitters. d. mimic a particular neurotransmitter.
D
The main functions of axon terminals are: a. to receive neurotransmitters from another neuron. b. to receive electrical impulses. c. to transmit neurotransmitters to the next cell. d. to store neurotransmitters and release them into the synapse.
D
The part of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing is called the: a. cerebellum. b. thalamus. c. reticular formation. d. medulla.
D
The reticular formation is located in the: a. limbic system. b. motor cortex. c. somatosensory cortex. d. brainstem.
D
The split-brain operation described in the text (in which the corpus callosum is severed) was developed to treat: a. schizophrenia. b. insomnia. c. depression. d. epilepsy.
D
The two language regions in the left hemisphere are called: a. the hippocampus and the amygdala. b. Gazzaniga's and Sperry's areas. c. the medulla and the thalamus. d. Broca's and Wernicke's areas.
D
Waving to a friend involves the _____ nervous system. Jumping after hearing a loud noise involves the _____ nervous system. a. neural, non-neural b. sympathetic; parasympathetic c. central; peripheral d. somatic; autonomic
D
What does it mean when a neuron "fires"? a. Its cell body opens to release sodium into the synapse. b. It decides to communicate with the next nerve cell through electrical impulses. c. It creates an electrical spark that travels to the next neuron. d. It sends an impulse down the length of the neuron.
D
Which of the following glands and hormones is responsible for the physical changes that happen to women during puberty? a. adrenals; adrenalin b. thyroid; thyroxin c. pituitary; neurotransmitters d. ovaries; estrogen
D
Which of the following is the best metaphor for a neuron? a. a small child, who can speak only a few words b. a computer that can process information very quickly c. a swinging door, letting only some information through d. an electronic switch that can be "on" or "off"
D
Which of the following tasks would have been difficult for Phineas Gage after the explosion injured his brain? a. solving simple math problems without a calculator b. running 50 yards in a straight line c. singing the national anthem d. controlling his anger after a disappointment
D
With regard to the process of neural transmission, a refractory period refers to a time interval in which: a. chemical messengers go across the synaptic gaps between neurons. b. an individual reflexively withdraws from a pain stimulus. c. a brief electrical charge travels down an axon. d. a neuron recharges before it can fire again.
D
Auditory stimulation is first processed in the ________ lobes. a. temporal b. frontal c. parietal d. occipital
A
The part of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech is known as: a. Broca's area. b. the amygdala. c. the reticular formation. d. Wernicke's area.
A
The split-brain patients studied by Gazzaniga and Sperry were unable to identify the names of objects: a. projected in their left visual field. b. projected in their right visual field. c. described to them in writing. d. described to them verbally.
A
The eyes communicate most directly with which lobe of the cerebral cortex? a. temporal b. occipital c. frontal d. parietal
B
The motor cortex is located in the ________ lobes. a. occipital b. parietal c. frontal d. temporal
C
Which brain scan would a researcher use to discover which parts of the brain are active during a schizophrenic's visual hallucinations? a. EKG b. CAT c. PET d. MRI
C
Which brain structure receives information from all the senses except smell? a. hippocampus b. amygdala c. thalamus d. medulla
C
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is most responsible for advanced critical thinking, such as judgment and planning tasks? a. parietal b. occipital c. frontal d. temporal
C
Which of the following statements best describes the endocrine system? a. the set of nerves that slow the body down after a fight-or-flight response b. the motor nerves connected to our sensory apparatus c. a system that transports important hormones produced by several glands d. the system that connects the brain with the spinal cord and the rest of the peripheral nervous system
C
Hormones are produced by: a. the spinal cord. b. the brain. c. axons. d. glands.
D
A brain surgeon who wanted to make sure that neurons in the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex could not communicate with neurons in the right hemisphere would have to sever which of the following brain structures? a. corpus callosum b. cerebellum c. cerebral cortex d. amygdala
A
A researcher studying sleep disorders and how brain waves change during sleep cycles would most likely use the ________ scan. a. EEG b. MRI c. PET d. CAT
A
A young girl starts to have severe trouble paying attention in school, and her teachers notice that she seems either extremely, overwhelmingly happy, or she is crying uncontrollably, for no reason. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most likely to be involved in this problem? a. dopamine b. antagonist c. acetylcholine d. serotonin
A
Broca's area is responsible for: a. muscle movements involved in speech. b. spatial reasoning tasks. c. communications between the right and left hemisphere. d. understanding what someone else says.
A
If a doctor finds that a patient's entire endocrine system is not being controlled correctly, the doctor might start by examining the ______ gland very carefully. a. pituitary gland b. central controller gland c. thyroid gland d. adrenal gland
A
Information is carried from the central nervous system to the tissues by: a. motor neurons. b. sensory neurons. c. interneurons. d. the limbic system.
A
Messages are transmitted from your spinal cord to muscles in your hands by the ________ nervous system. a. peripheral b. parasympathetic c. central d. autonomic
A
Most tasks we perform use: a. both the right and left hemispheres of the cerebral cortex. b. primarily the left brain, unless the task is difficult enough to require both hemispheres. c. either the left or right hemisphere, depending on the task. d. the right hemisphere in our conscious mind, and our left hemisphere in the unconscious mind.
A
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that directly affects a certain part of the neuron. The disease causes a nerve signals to slow down, leading to problems with coordination and balance. Because the disease slows down neural transmission, the part of the neuron that must be affected is the: a. myelin sheath. b. terminal branches. c. dendrite. d. soma.
A
Narcolepsy, a disorder that involves uncontrollable periods of sleep onset, may be related to which of the following brain structures? a. reticular formation b. hippocampus c. thalamus d. medulla
A
Neurons are responsible for which of the following responses in the body? a. all communication within the nervous system b. cell growth and regeneration c. our primary immune system responses d. the absorption of nutrients from everything we consume
A
Physical changes during puberty, such as secreting sex hormones, are most directly affected by which of the following glands? a. ovaries and testes b. thyroid and pituitary c. adrenal and hypothalamus d. adrenals and thyroid
A
Schizophrenia is most closely linked with excess activity at receptor sites for the neurotransmitter: a. dopamine. b. epinephrine. c. acetylcholine. d. serotonin.
A
The "master gland" in the body (the gland which, along with the brain, controls the other glands) is the: a. pituitary gland. b. thyroid gland. c. adrenal gland. d. central controller gland.
A
The corpus callosum is a band of neural fibers that: a. transmits information between the cerebral hemispheres. b. controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs. c. directs the muscle movements involved in speech. d. enables the left hemisphere to control the right side of the body.
A
The technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer images of structures within the brain is called: a. MRI. b. a CT scan. c. the EEG. d. a PET scan.
A
Wernicke's area is responsible for: a. understanding what someone else says. b. communications between the right and left hemisphere. c. muscle movements involved in speech. d. spatial reasoning tasks.
A
Which of the following brain scans involves magnetic fields and radio waves that provide information about different structures in the brain? a. MRI b. EEG c. PET d. CAT
A
Which of the following is the best metaphor for a firing neuron? a. a toilet flushing b. a battery slowly draining a charge c. information traveling along the Internet d. two people communicating effectively
A
Which of the following statements is the most correct summary of the functions of the left and right hemisphere? a. The right and left hemispheres generally perform similar functions and communicate directly. b. The right hemisphere controls tasks on the right side of the body, and the left hemisphere controls tasks on the left side. c. The right hemisphere controls motor coordination functions, and the left hemisphere controls abstract reasoning. d. The right hemisphere is more creative, and the left hemisphere is more logical.
A
A nerve disorder that interferes with neural impulses traveling in the arms and legs is a disorder of the _____ nervous system. a. autonomic b. peripheral c. somatic d. central
B
Action potentials are: a. how long it takes for a neuron to reset itself. b. neural impulses produced by neurons. c. the amount to neurotransmitters a neuron can release. d. the potential energy a neuron holds.
B
After Greg's serious motorcycle accident, doctors detected damage to his cerebellum. Greg is most likely to have difficulty: a. reading a book. b. playing his guitar. c. experiencing intense emotions. d. understanding what others are saying.
B
After a shooting accident, a doctor might use a(n) ________ scan to determine if the bullet damaged tissues of the brain. a. EEG b. CAT c. MAP d. PET
B
Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands are called: a. neurotransmitters. b. hormones. c. agonists. d. enzymes.
B
For you to experience the pain of a sprained ankle, ________ must first relay messages from your ankle to your central nervous system. a. hormones b. sensory nerves c. the limbic system d. motor neurons
B
If a patient's hippocampus is damaged by a stroke, the patient may have difficulty: a. staying awake. b. remembering recent events. c. controlling emotional responses. d. seeing out of the right side of each eye.
B
In terms of brain evolution, the sequence of brain regions from oldest to newest is: a. limbic system; cerebral cortex; brainstem. b. brainstem; limbic system; cerebral cortex. c. cerebral cortex; brainstem; limbic system. d. limbic system; brainstem; cerebral cortex.
B
The all-or-none principle refers to: a. the process of a neuron firing in response to excitatory neurotransmitters. b. a neuron firing completely with the same intensity each time. c. the difference between weak impulses and strong impulses traveling down the axon. d. the absorption of all neurotransmitters by the axon terminals.
B
The medulla controls: a. hunger and thirst. b. heartbeat, breathing, and circulation. c. emotions, hearing, and touch sensations. d. the brain's sensory switchboard.
B
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls glandular activity and the muscles of internal organs is called the: a. pituitary system. b. autonomic nervous system. c. somatic nervous system. d. endocrine system.
B
The surgical removal of a large tumor from Allen's occipital lobe resulted in extensive loss of brain tissue. Allen is most likely to suffer some loss of: a. language comprehension. b. vision. c. muscular coordination. d. speaking ability.
B
The two major divisions of the nervous system are the central and the ________ nervous systems. a. parasympathetic b. peripheral c. autonomic d. sympathetic
B
The wrinkled outer surface of the brain covering the lower level structures is called the: a. cerebellum. b. cerebral cortex. c. corpus callosum. d. amygdala.
B
Transferring messages from a motor neuron to a leg muscle requires the neurotransmitter known as: a. dopamine. b. acetylcholine. c. insulin. d. serotonin.
B
When a neuron is recharged and capable of generating another impulse, a(n) _______ exists. a. synaptic gap b. resting potential c. action potential d. refractory period
B
Which of the following body parts probably has the most brain tissue allocated to it on the somatosensory cortex? a. elbow b. lips c. shoulder d. knee
B
Which of the following brain scans is a series of x-rays combined into computerized pictures of the brain? a. EEG b. CAT c. MRI d. PET
B
Which of the following brain structures connects the right and left hemisphere? a. cerebellum b. corpus callosum c. cerebral cortex d. amygdala
B
Which of the following hormones is most involved in our experience of hunger? a. epinephrine b. insulin c. noradrenaline d. thyroxin
B
Which of the following is the most correct list of the parts of the cerebral cortex? a. left hemisphere, right hemisphere, longitudinal fissure, corpus callosum b. frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes c. thalamus, hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala d. longitudinal fissure, brainstem, cranial nerves, limbic system
B
Which of the following neural structures is most like the plastic insulation that surrounds an electrical wire? a. soma b. myelin sheath c. axon d. dendrite
B
A synapse is a(n): a. junction between a sending neuron and a receiving neuron. b. chemical messenger that triggers muscle contractions. c. automatic response to sensory input. d. neural cable containing many axons.
A
The oldest part and central core of the brain is the: a. brainstem. b. cerebellum. c. medulla. d. thalamus.
A
The primary function of the amygdala is to control: a. emotions. b. breathing. c. hunger. d. memory.
A
Which brain structure relays information from the eyes to the visual cortex? a. thalamus b. amygdala c. cerebellum d. hippocampus
A
A drug that prevented high levels of dopamine from building up in the brain might be effective in controlling the effects of: a. Alzheimer's disease. b. depression. c. schizophrenia. d. acetylcholine.
C
A friend jumps out from around the corner and grabs you. You shriek and your heart begins to race. Which division of the nervous system was most responsible for this response? a. parasympathetic nervous system b. somatic nervous system c. sympathetic nervous system d. central nervous system
C
A researcher studying brain activity might be most likely to use the ________ scan first, since it is the least intrusive scan that provides information about brain activity. a. fMRI b. PET c. EEG d. MRI
C
A study in which one person is studied in depth, such as a person who suffers a rare brain injury like Phineas Gage, is called a: a. lobotomy. b. injury study. c. case study. d. correlation.
C
You are able to pull your hand quickly away from hot water before pain is felt because: a. movement of the hand is a reflex that involves intervention of the spinal cord only. b. the autonomic division of the peripheral nervous system intervenes to speed contraction. c. of the muscles of the hand the brain reacts quickly to prevent severe injury. d. movement of the hand does not require intervention by the central nervous system.
A
If the refractory period for neurons was shorter, then: a. impulses traveling within neurons would be more powerful, carrying more information. b. axon terminals would release a greater volume of neurotransmitters, increasing the strength of impulses. c. neurons would be able to fire more quickly, recovering faster after firing. d. neurotransmitters would no longer be necessary, since communication would take place with electrical impulses.
C
Psychologists are interested in the case of Phineas Gage because: a. he was the first patient to go through a frontal lobotomy and he suffered severe motor movement problems. b. Gage was the brain surgeon who perfected the first brain scans. c. doctors at the time carefully researched which part of his brain was destroyed and how his personality changed. d. Gage was born without a corpus callosum, and psychologists were able to track how his hemispheres developed as he aged.
C
Someone experiencing episodes of depression, including trouble with insomnia and lack of appetite, may be experiencing imbalances in levels of which neurotransmitter? a. antagonist b. acetylcholine c. serotonin d. dopamine
C
The chemical messengers released into the spatial junctions between neurons are called: a. genes. b. synapses. c. neurotransmitters. d. hormones.
C
The crevice that divides the left and right hemisphere is called the: a. central crevice. b. brainstem. c. longitudinal fissure. d. corpus callosum.
C
The function of dendrites is to: a. release neurotransmitters into the spatial junctions between neurons. b. control pain through the release of opiate-like chemicals into the brain. c. receive incoming signals from other neurons. d. coordinate the activation of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
C
The somatosensory cortex is most critical for our sense of: a. sight. b. taste. c. touch. d. hearing.
C
The spaces on dendrites designed to receive specific MSCs of neurotransmitters are called: a. synaptic gaps. b. inhibitory sites. c. receptor sites. d. axon terminals.
C
The thyroid gland helps to: a. direct the other glands. b. encourage sleep. c. regulate energy level. d. produce adrenaline.
C
Neurotransmitters are: a. specialized MSCs of neurons. b. chemicals that travel between neurons. c. electrical impulses sent between neurons. d. structures within neurons that help neurons fire.
B
You come home one night to find a burglar in your house. Your heart starts racing and you begin to perspire. These physical reactions are triggered by the: a. somatic nervous system. b. parasympathetic nervous system. c. sympathetic nervous system. d. limbic system.
C
1. Soma/Cell Body 2. Myelin Sheath 3. Receive messages from other cells 4. Action Potential 5. Axon 6. Form junctions with other cells 7. Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands 8. Dendrites 9. Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed the neural impulse 10. Terminal Buttons
C E A D F B F A E B
A brain tumor caused extensive damage to Mr. Thorndike's hypothalamus. It is most likely that he may suffer a loss of: a. muscular coordination. b. language comprehension. c. visual perception. d. sexual motivation.
D
A patient starts to forget names of people she recently met, and is having trouble walking and standing still. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most likely to be involved in this problem? a. serotonin b. antagonist c. dopamine d. acetylcholine
D
After the accident to his frontal lobe, Phineas Gage became: a. depressed and less able to speak and express himself. b. blind in his left eye and deaf in his right ear. c. the first doctor to study serious brain injuries. d. unreliable, irritable, and unable to control his impulses.
D
Someone who is being kept alive with life-support machines that control heartbeat and breathing may have damage to which part of the brain? a. cerebral cortex b. hippocampus c. medulla d. amygdala
C
What is the most visible difference between the lower level brain structures and the parts of the cerebral cortex? a. The lower level brain structures are divided into two hemispheres, but the cerebral cortex is not. b. The cerebral cortex neurons differ in their anatomy and function from the lower level brain neurons. c. The cerebral cortex lobes look similar and differ by location, but the lower level structures are shaped differently. d. The lower level brain structures consist of neurons, and the cerebral cortex structures consist of endocrine materials.
C
Which of the following best describes the function of a neuron? a. to send information to the central nervous system for processing b. to build the nervous system through basic building blocks and hormone levels c. to fire off in response to neurotransmitters, and send neurotransmitters to the next neuron d. to react to situations through classical and operant conditioning
C
Which of the following glands release epinephrine and norepinephrine when needed, as in emergency situations? a. pituitary b. endocrine c. adrenal d. thyroid
C
