chapter 2 quiz ps 135

Which of the following best describes a synapse? a. A neuronal junction where one neuron relays its message to another b. A branch of the autonomous nervous system that is most active during digestion c. A fatty substance that encases and insulates axons d. A neurotransmitter that controls muscle contractions

a. A neuronal junction where one neuron relays its message to another

_____ is composed of bundles of long, myelinated axons that carry messages to and from the brain. a. White matter b. The amygdala c. Gray matter d. The corpus callosum

a. White matter

Dilation of the pupils is controlled by the _____. a. autonomic nervous system b. central nervous system c. circulatory system d. somatic nervous system

a. autonomic nervous system

Being left-handed appears to provide a somewhat greater-than-average probability of _____. a. having language problems b. developing multiple sclerosis c. developing botulism d. having vision problems

a. having language problems

_____ extend like roots from the cell body to receive incoming messages from thousands of adjoining neurons. a. Axons b. Dendrites c. Neurotransmitter vesicles d. Synaptic clefts

b. Dendrites

Peter has occasional episodes of seizures. Dr. Lovell has affixed electrodes to Peter's scalp, which will record the electrical activity within Peter's brain and identify the neurological problem for the seizures. Which of the following techniques is Dr. Lovell using to assess Peter? a. Positron emission tomography b. Electroencephalography c. Electrocardiography d. Functional magnetic resonance imaging

b. Electroencephalography

Melvin is playing a game of chess. As part of an experiment, Sandy, an intern at a hospital, wants to use a technique to identify which parts of Melvin's brain are active when he is playing chess. Which of the following techniques should Sandy use? a. Electroencephalography b. Functional magnetic resonance imaging c. Computerized axial tomography d. Positron emission tomography

b. Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Sarah has been affected by botulism, a rare disease that stems from food poisoning. Doctors say that the hippocampus in the brain has been affected as a result, and this has caused partial paralysis to the left side of her body. Eventually, as the muscles used for breathing stops functioning, Sarah will die of suffocation. Which of the following neurotransmitters is deficient in Sarah's case? a. Serotonin b. Endorphin c. Acetylcholine d. Dopamine

c. Acetylcholine

Alex volunteers for an experiment being conducted by a group of neurosurgeons. As part of the experiment, he is taken to a dark room and a part of his brain is activated with electricity. For a moment, Alex sees flashes of light even though the room is pretty dark. Which of the following best explains Alex's experience? a. The amygdala in Alex's brain is damaged. b. Alex's brain has unstable dopamine levels. c. Alex's occipital lobe is artificially stimulated. d. Alex's Wernicke's area is artificially stimulated.

c. Alex's occipital lobe is artificially stimulated.

Which of the following is true of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system? a. It is most active during processes that replenish reserves of energy. b. It is concerned with the genetic transmission of traits that give rise to patterns of behavior. c. It is most active during processes that involve spending body energy from stored reserves. d. It is involved in memory and emotion and in the drives of hunger, sex, and aggression.

c. It is most active during processes that involve spending body energy from stored reserves.

Which of the following best describes the term heredity? a. It refers to a stereotyped pattern of behavior that is triggered in a specific situation. b. It refers to one's actual development and appearance, as based on one's environmental influences. c. It refers to the biological transmission of traits that have evolved from generation to generation. d. It refers to the sum total of the environmental factors that affect an organism from conception onward.

c. It refers to the biological transmission of traits that have evolved from generation to generation.

Which of the following hormones is secreted by the pineal gland? a. Cortisol b. Thyroxin c. Melatonin d. Oxytocin

c. Melatonin

Which of the following brain imaging techniques forms a computer-generated image of the activity of parts of the brain by tracing the amount of glucose used by these parts? a. Magnetic resonance imaging b. Computerized axial tomography c. Positron emission tomography d. Functional magnetic resonance imaging

c. Positron emission tomography

Which of the following structures is convoluted with ridges and valleys that is apparently connected with cognitive ability? a. The medulla b. The pituitary gland c. The cerebral cortex d. The amygdala

c. The cerebral cortex

Tommy is a 12-year-old boy who is abnormally small for his age. His growth is extremely slow, and this worries his mother. She decides to take him to a pediatrician. It appears that Tommy has a deficiency of growth hormone. What should the doctor do to help Tommy? a. The doctor should prescribe calcium tablets to compensate for the deficiency of growth hormone. b. The doctor should perform a split-brain operation to improve the circulation of growth hormone. c. The doctor should prescribe growth hormone to stimulate the pituitary gland. d. The doctor should advise Tommy to participate in more outdoor activities.

c. The doctor should prescribe growth hormone to stimulate the pituitary gland.

Morrison was in a bike accident and was hospitalized three months ago. His helmet had not been properly fastened and did not protect his head from the force of the fall. Morrison fractured his hip, broke a leg, and severely injured his head. Since the accident, he has failed to respond to any treatment and has been in a coma. What is likely to have led to Morrison's condition? a. The hypothalamus is not regulating body temperature. b. The hippocampus is not storing new information. c. The fall has injured the reticular formation in his brain. d. The cerebrum is injured and is hampering thinking and language.

c. The fall has injured the reticular formation in his brain.

The electrical potential across the neural membrane when it is not responding to other neurons is called _____. a. its threshold potential b. its action potential c. its resting potential d. a subthreshold stimulus

c. its resting potential

Rehan had been suffering from severe epileptic seizures from a very young age. After undergoing an operation in which much of his corpus callosum was severed, the frequency of his seizures have reduced. Rehan had most likely undergone a(n) _____ operation. a. multiple subpial b. temporal lobectomy c. split-brain d. osseous resective

c. split-brain

Briana was born with an extra chromosome on the 21st pair. She has peculiar features with a round face, downward-sloping folds of skin at the inner corners of her eyes, and a protruding tongue. Briana also has several physical problems along with cognitive impairment. Which of the following conditions does Briana exhibit? a. Cretinism b. Parkinson's disease c. Multiple sclerosis d. Down syndrome

d. Down syndrome

Which of the following is a function of epinephrine and norepinephrine? a. They stimulate the process of aging. b. They stimulate labor in pregnant women and are connected with maternal behavior. c. They regulate the rate at which the body uses oxygen and produces energy. d. They help arouse the body to cope with threats and stress.

d. They help arouse the body to cope with threats and stress.