Chapter 3- Biopyschology Review
Humans have ________ pairs of chromosomes.
23
Cocaine has two effects on synaptic transmission: it impairs reuptake of dopamine and it causes more dopamine to be released into the synapse. would cocaine be classified as an agonist or antagonist?
As a reuptake inhibitor, cocaine blocks the normal activity of dopamine at the receptor. As a result, more dopamine is released into the synapse. This makes it angonist because it mimics and strengthens the effect of the neurotransmitter, dopamine. Cocaine would be considered an agonist because by preventing the enzymatic degradation of the neurotransmitters, it increases the potential time that these neurotransmitters might be active in the synapse.
Chemical messengers are used in both the nervous system and the endocrine system. What properties do these two systems share? What properties are different? Which one would be faster? Which one would result in long-lasting changes?
Both systems involve chemical messengers that must interact with receptors in order to have an effect. The relative proximity of the release site and target tissue varies dramatically between the two systems. In neurotransmission, reuptake and enzymatic breakdown immediately clear the synapse. Metabolism of hormones must occur in the liver. Therefore, while neurotransmission is much more rapid in signaling information, hormonal signaling can persist for quite some time as the concentrations of the hormone in the bloodstream vary gradually over time.
A technique that records the electrical activity produced by the brain's neurons through the use of electrodes placed on the surface of the head is called ________.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
________ refers to a person's genetic makeup, while ________ refers to a person's physical characteristics.
Genotype, phenotype
A(n) ________ uses magnetic fields to create pictures of a given tissue.
MRI
An invasive imaging technique that provides color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the brain's use of a radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug, is called ________.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
What are Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors?
SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. SSRI antidepressants are a type of antidepressant that work by increasing levels of serotonin within the brain.
Drugs such as lidocaine and novocaine act as Na+ channel blockers. In other words, they prevent sodium from moving across the neuronal membrane. Why would this particular effect make these drugs such effective local anesthetics?
The action potential is initiated by an influx of Na+ into the neuron. If this is prevented, then no action potentials in neurons in a given area will occur. Any painful stimuli would not result in action potentials carrying that information to the brain.
Hormone secretion is often regulated through a negative feedback mechanism, which means that once a hormone is secreted it will cause the hypothalamus and pituitary to shut down the production of signals necessary to secrete the hormone in the first place. Most oral contraceptives are made of small doses of estrogen and/or progesterone. Why would this be an effective means of contraception?
The introduction of relatively low, yet constant, levels of gonadal hormones places the hypothalamus and pituitary under inhibition via negative feedback mechanisms. This prevents the alterations in both estrogen and progesterone concentrations that are necessary for successful ovulation and implantation.
Which of the techniques discussed would be viable options for you to determine how activity in the reticular formation is related to sleep and wakefulness? Why?
The most viable techniques are fMRI and PET because of their ability to provide information about brain activity and structure simultaneously.
Before the advent of modern imaging techniques, scientists and clinicians relied on autopsies of people who suffered brain injury with resultant change in behavior to determine how different areas of the brain were affected. What are some of the limitations associated with this kind of approach?
The same limitations associated with any case study would apply here. In addition, it is possible that the damage caused changes in other areas of the brain, which might contribute to the behavioral deficits. Such changes would not necessarily be obvious to someone performing an autopsy, as they may be functional in nature, rather than structural.
The theory of evolution by natural selection requires variability of a given trait. Why is variability necessary and where does it come from?
Variability is essential for natural selection to work. If all individuals are the same on a given trait, there will be no relative difference in their reproductive success because everyone will be equally adapted to their environments on that trait. Mutations are one source of variability, but sexual reproduction is another important source of variation given that individuals inherit half of their genetic makeup from each of their parents.
The ________ gland secretes epinephrine.
adrenal
A(n) ________ facilitates or mimics the activity of a given neurotransmitter system.
agonist
The experience and regulation of emotions is strongly connected to the ________ within the limbic system.
amygdala
Which is primarily responsible for regulating our perceptions of and reactions to aggression and fear?
amygdala
Which example supports the argument that genetics largely influence our behavior?
an adopted child's personality more closely resembles his biological parents than his adoptive parents
If the signal exceeds threshold, it is pushed out of the cell body and down the _____ toward the _______ between this neuron and the next one.
axon, synapse
If the signal exceeds threshold, it is pushed out of the cell body and down the __________toward the _________between this neuron and the next one.
axon, synapse
The central nervous system consists of the
brain and spinal cord
The central nervous system is comprised of the ________.
brain and spinal cord
When a neuron receives a signal, it travels down the dendrite to the ________where it is processed.
cell body
The wrinkly surface of the brain is called the ________.
cerebral cortex
What are the implications of compromised immune function as a result of exposure to chronic stress?
chronic stress can lead to increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections, and potentially an increased risk of cancer. Ultimately, this could be a vicious cycle with stress leading to increased risk of disease, disease states leading to increased stress and so on
The ________ receive(s) incoming signals from other neurons.
dendrites
The input sites of neurons where signals are received from other neurons are known as
dendrites
________ is the field of study that focuses on genes and their expression.
epigenetic
A noninvasive neuroimaging technique that produces very clear and detailed images of the structures and activities in the brain in response to magnetic fields is called ________.
fMRI
As Susan enters the classroom and prepares to take the math exam, her bodily changes represent ________.
flight or fight response
Stephen has a tumor in his brain and doctors want to assess what areas are impacted. They want a clear picture of the brain, but also want to see changes in the brain's blood flow. What imaging technique will they use?
functional MRI (fMRI)
The two major hormones secreted from the pancreas are
glucagon and insulin
The temporal lobe specializes in
hearing
Susan, a college freshman, is taking college algebra. She never liked math and fears she will probably not do well in this first math course. She stays up all night studying for the first exam, and the next morning, she enters the classroom to take the test. As she sits down and takes out her pencils, she feels nervous; she begins to sweat, her stomach is upset, and her heart begins to race. What is happening to Susan?
her body is preparing to respond to stress
The medulla, pons, and cerebellum are collectively called the
hindbrain
David was hospitalized after a car accident, and due to injury to his ________, he has trouble with newer memories but still retains older memories.
hippocampus
The state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels is known as
homeostasis
An impairment of eating, drinking, temperature regulation, or sexual behavior suggests possible damage to the ________.
hypothalamus
The pituitary gland, sometimes called the "master gland," carries out instructions from the ________.
hypothalamus
What is the brain structure that performs a variety of functions, including the regulation of hunger and sexual behavior?
hypothalamus
Mother rats who licked and groomed their pups during the first week of life showed which of the following physical changes?
increased expression of the glucocorticoid receptor in the hippocampus
An action potential involves Sodium moving ______ the cell and Potassium moving _____ the cell
inside, outside
Which of the following statements is true regarding lateralization?
language ability has different roles in each hemisphere
________ can be used to simulate the effects of nurturing maternal care during early life and cause lower hormonal responses to stress.
medication
A(n) ________ is a sudden, permanent change in a sequence of DNA.
mutation
Multiple sclerosis involves a breakdown of the ________.
myelin sheath
During resting potential, before the electric charge is sent, the inside of a neuron has a ________ charge.
negative
When resting, the inside of a cell has a ______ charge. During action potential, the cell briefly has a ______ charge.
negative, positive
As the exam is passed out, Susan takes several deep breaths and closes her eyes. She visualizes herself confidently taking the exam and focuses on her breathing and heart rate. She feels her heart and breathing slow down, and she feels calm and able to focus on answering the questions on the exam. Based on these new physiological responses, what part of Susan's nervous system is now being activated?
parasympathetic nervous system
If your ________ is activated, you will feel relatively at ease.
parasympathetic nervous system
As Larry and Claire begin to run, they hear the man calling them. He yells, "Wait! I didn't mean to scare you. I am a forest ranger, trying the clear part of this trail. Please don't run away." Larry and Claire stop running and turn around to look at the man. They notice that he is dressed in a typical forest ranger uniform and see his identification badge. Not feeling threatened any longer, both Larry and Claire begin to feel "calmed down" and walk back toward the forest ranger to resume their hike on the trail. Their heart rate and breathing began to return to a natural balance in their bodies. These new feelings were triggered by the ________ division of the ________ nervous system, which communicated with the activated ________ gland to stop secreting the energy-producing hormones.
parasympathetic, autonomic, adrenal
The ________ secretes hormones that regulate the body's fluid levels
pituitary
The ________ secretes messenger hormones that direct the function of the rest of the endocrine glands.
pituitary
Most traits are controlled by more than just one gene, meaning that they are
polygenic
Sympathetic activation is associated with ________.
pupil dilation and increased heart rate
The scientific discipline in which similarities among individuals are analyzed based on how biologically related they is called
quantitative genetics
Conscious and voluntary movements are associated with the ________ nervous system.
somatic
Our ability to make our legs move as we walk across the room is controlled by the ________ nervous system.
somatic
Which of the following is not a structure of the forebrain?
substantia nigra
Based on Susan's nervousness and on her physiological responses, what part of Susan's nervous system is being activated?
sympathetic nervous system
Larry and Claire are hiking on a trail in the Rocky Mountains. As they walk, the trail becomes less distinguishable and is overgrown with brush. Suddenly, a man holding an axe jumps in front of them. This scares both of them; their hearts begin to pump faster and their breathing increases. They begin running in the opposite direction to get away from the man. Larry and Claire's response to run away was triggered by the ________ division of the ________ nervous system, which stimulated the ________ gland to produce the hormones ________.
sympathetic, autonomic, adrenal, epinephrine and norepinephrine
The part of the nervous system that prepares the body to respond to threatening events is the ________ division, and the part that helps the body to maintain a normal state of balance is the ________ division.
sympathetic, parasympathetic
The space between a sending and receiving neuron is called a
synapse
Dendrites receive signals from other neurons via ____________ This information is then processed in the ____________ and if the signal is strong enough, the message is pushed through and travels down the ____________ The signal travels to the end of the axon to the _____________ where another signal triggers neurotransmitters to be released, passing through the synaptic cleft onto the ____________of another neuron.
synapses, cellbody/soma, axon, terminal buttons, dendrites
The signal travels to the end of the axon, called the ___________where the signal travels across the synapse to the next neuron.
terminal button
The ________ is a sensory relay station where all sensory information, except for smell, goes before being sent to other areas of the brain for further processing.
thalamus
Raul is having a discussion with his mother about his father, Tomas, and his brother, Hector. Tomas, the father, is an alcoholic and Raul expresses to his mother that he is concerned about his brother, Hector, who is also beginning to drink a lot. Raul does not want his brother to turn out like his father. Raul's mother tells him that there have been several men in the family who are alcoholics such as his grandfather and two uncles. She says that it runs in the family and that his brother, Hector, can't help himself and he will also be an alcoholic. Raul responds that he thinks they could stop drinking if they wanted too, despite the history of alcoholism in the family. "After all, look at me. I don't drink and my friends don't either. I don't think I will become an alcoholic because I have friends who know how to control themselves." Raul's opinion best supports
the idea that nurture can influence nature
The left hemisphere of the brain controls
the right side of the body