PSYC 1001

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is in is resting potential state is about:

-70 millivolts

On average, each neuron in the brain communicates directly with _____ other neurons.

1,000

There are roughly ____ neurons in the human brain.

100 billion

The drawing shows the typical structures found in a neuron. Pick the alternative that correctly labels the structures in the drawing.

1= dendrites, 2= cell body, 3= axon, 4= myelin sheath

The graph shows the changing electrical charge of a neuron when it activates. Pick the alternative that correctly labels the different phases depicted in the graph.

1= resting period, 2= ion cross membrane, 3= action potential, 4= refractory period

______ is to Alzheimer's disease as ______ is to Parkinson's Disease.

Acetylchoine; dopamine

Some native peoples of South America use the drug curare to posion the tips of their hunting arrows. When an animal is struck by the arrow it goes limp and quickly suffocates. Why?

Acetylcholine receptor sites are blocked.

How are action potentials different in a myelinated axon and an unmyelinated axon?

Action potentials "jump" from node to node in myelinated axons rather than progressing down the entire length of the axon.

_____ are involved in brain development and the communication of information among neurons.

Astrocytes

_____ provide connections between neurons and blood vessels and are involved in brain development and the communication of information among neurons.

Astrocytes

_____ provide connections between neurons and blood vessels.

Astrocytes

What keeps an action potential continuing down an axon?

At each successive segment of the axon, the action potential is regenerated by depolarization and the movement of ions across the axon's membrane.

Which of the following is TRUE about axons?

Axons often have branches near their tips called axon terminals

Prozac and cocaine are very different drugs, but they achieve their effects through the same mechanism of action. What is that mechanism?

Both drugs interfere with the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters.

Kadeem has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which of the following neurotransmitters is associated with these anxiety disorders?

GABA

Which of the following statements about glial cells is FALSE?

Glial cell glue neurons together.

What happens to the neurotransmitters that fail to attach to a receptor site?

In a process called ruptake, they are reabsorbed by the sending neuron and recycled.

How does cocaine achieve its effects?

It interferes with the reuptake of dopamine.

What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?

It protects the central nervous system from being jarred.

Former heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali suffers from symptoms that are very similar to Parkinson's disease. He sometimes experiences muscle tremors and has difficulty initiating movements or speech. To help reduce these symptoms, Ali takes a drug called:

L-dopa

__________ represent bundles of axons that are _______ to see with the unaided eye.

Nerves; mostly large enough

Which of the following is TRUE regarding action potentials?

Once an action potential is started, it is self-sustaining and continues to the end of the axon

Too little dopamine in the brain is associated with symptoms of:

Parkinson's disease

Like other people afflicted with ______, actor Michael J. Fox takes a medication that increases ______ levels to help control symptoms of the disease.

Parkinson's disease; dopamine

Which of the following represents the sequence of ion movements that causes an action potential?

Sodium ions move into the axon and then potassium ions move out of the axon

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Synaptic vesicles are released into the synaptic gap, then "dock" with adjoining neurons.

What is the result of sodium ions moving across the axon's membrane during an action potential?

The inside of the axon moves to a positive electrical charge.

When a neuron is polarized:

The interior of the neuron's axon is more negatively charged than the exterior fluid surrounding the axon

Which statement most accurately describes the length of the axons?

The length of the axons can range from a few thousandths of an inch to 3 or 4 feet.

What occurs during the refractory period?

The neuron reestablishes negative-inside/positive-outside condition

What happens during the refractory period?

The neuron reestablishes the negative-inside/positive-outside condition.

When neurotransmitters communicate an inhibitory message to the postsynaptic neuron:

The postsynaptic neuron is less likely to activate.

Which of the following statements about the properties of neurons is TRUE?

The size and shape of neurons vary a great deal, reflecting their specialized function.

Which of the following statements is TRUE of glial cells?

They assist neurons by providing structural support and by removing waste products.

Psychologists are greatly interested in the biological basis of behavior. Which of the following questions reflects this interest?

Why do you get hungry?

The action potential is best defined as:

a brief electrical impulse that transmits information along the axon of a neuron.

Which of the following BEST describes a neurotransmitter?

a chemical messenger that crosses the synaptic gap between neurons

The most common type of brain injury is _______.

a concussion

Professor Romero discovered that the overhead projector in her classroom had a short in the wiring system. When she touched the metal edge of the projector, she got an electric shock and instantly jerked her hand back. This instantaneous reaction is an example of:

a spinal reflex

All motor neurons have:

acetylcholine

Rachel had injections of Botox in an attempt to eliminate facial wrinkles. Botox contains minute amounts of botulin, an extremely lethal substance produced by bacteria. Botox works because botulin blocks the release of a specific neurotransmitter from motor neurons, causing muscle paralysis. This neurotransmitter, found in all motor neurons, is called:

acetylcholine

The venom of the black widow spider causes _______ to be released continuously by motor neurons causing severe muscle spasms.

acetylcholine

Which of the following neurotransmitters is implicated with Alzheimer's disease?

acetylcholine

An _____ is a drug or other chemical that binds to a receptor site and triggers a response in the cell.

agonist

Nicotine binds to acetylcholine receptor sites, stimulating skeletal muscles and causing the heart to beat more rapidly. Thus, nicotine is a(n):

agonist

The _____ is the part of the limbic system that is involved in emotional responses and memories with a strong emotional component.

amygdala

An ____ is a drug or other chemical that blocks a receptor site and inhibits or prevents a response in the receiving cell.

antagonist

Because it is an opioid ______, naloxone prevents or reverses the effects of opioid drugs and can be used to treat an overdose of heroin or similar drugs.

antagonist

The drug naloxone acts as an ______ at opioid receptor sites and eliminates the effects of both endorphins and opiates.

antagonist

Neurotransmitters:

are present in small quantities in the brain.

Neurons have all of the following parts, EXCEPT:

association areas.

As you are walking on a beach, you pick up the odd-looking seashell that has a very rough texture. As you rub your fingers over the shell, the sensory messages are communicated via the _____ nervous system to the central nervous system.

autonomic

The two main divisions of the nervous system are the _____ and the _______.

autonomic nervous system; somatic nervous system

The part of the neuron that carries messages to the other cells in the body is the:

axon

An agonist is a drug or chemical that:

binds to a receptor site and triggers a response in the cell.

The branch of psychology that is focused on understanding the internal events and processes that correspond with our mental processes and behavior is called:

biological psychology

An antagonist is a drug or other chemical that:

blocks a receptor site and inhibits or prevents a response in a receiving cell.

A neuroscientist would MOST likely study which of the following topics?

brain development during adolescence

Nerves are made up of:

bundles of axons.

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways discussed in the text that drugs can interfere with synaptic transmission?

by bonding with the neurotransmitter and changing its molecular weight and shape

Compared to neurons whose axons are not wrapped in myelin, neurons with myelin:

can communicate up to 50 times faster.

A particular neurotransmitter:

can have different effects, depending upon the receptor site to which it attaches.

During a rest stop while hiking, Phil was bitten by a black widow spider. Shortly after being bitten he started having breathing difficulties and then experienced muscle spasms. The symptoms he experienced occured because the black widow spider's venom:

caused acetylcholine to be continuously released by the motor neurons.

Neurons are:

cells that are highly specialized to receive and transmit information from one part of the body to the other

In combination, the brain and spinal cord make up the _______ nervous system:

central

The most common form of communication between neurons is:

chemical

The analogy used in the book referred to the axon membrane as a gatekeeper. This means the membrane:

controls the balance of positive and negative ions on the interior and exterior of the axon

The drug called L-dopa:

converts to dopamine in the brain

The amount of information that a neuron can receive increases with the number of _____ that the neuron has.

dendrite and dendrite branches

The multiple short fibers that extend from the neuron's cell body and receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells are called:

dendrites

As a general rule, communication from within a neuron progresses from the:

dendrites to the cell body to the axon.

A neuron may have thousands of ____, but can only have one ____.

dendrites; axon

In general, neural messages are received by the ______ and transmitted by the_______

dendrites; axon

Evidence suggests that the addictiveness of some drugs, including cocaine and nicotine, is related to increases in activity of which the following transmitters:

dopamine

Michael takes medication that increases ________ levels to help control symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

dopamine

Parkinson's disease is caused by the degeneration of neurons that produce:

dopamine

The all-or-none law refers to the fact:

either the neuron is sufficiently stimulated an action potential occurs or it is not sufficiently stimulated and the action potential does not occur.

In the ____ system, information is communicated along nerves.

endocrine

The drug curare blocks acetylcholine receptor sites, causing virtually instantaneous paralysis. Thus, curare is a(n):

endorphin.

After surgery, physicians may prescribe a medication to relieve pain. Such a medication would most likely mimic the effects of:

endorphins

Researchers using PET scans to study the opioid system in long-distance runners are likely to find increased brain levels of ______ following a long run.

endorphins

Broca is to Wernicke as _________ is to _________.

expressive aphasia; receptive aphasia

The _____ is the largest region of the brain.

forebrain

Along with neurons, the human nervous system is made up of _____ cells which greatly outnumber neurons by about 10 to 1.

glial

The neurotransmitter _____ is responsible for sending excitatory messages and is related to seizures and Alzheimer's disease.

glutamate

Samuel suffered damage to his temporal lobes during an operation to remove tumors from his brain. He is likely to have problems with his:

hearing

The _________ is the main link between the nervous system and the endocrine system.

hypothalamus

Information is transmitted along the axon:

in the form of a brief electrical impulse.

Miguel jogs about five miles a day. At roughly the three-mile point, Miguel usually experiences a rush of positive feelings due to _____ levels of _____.

increased; endorphins

Over the course of several months and for no apparent reason, Jennifer became progressively more despondent, withdrawn, and listless. Her doctor accurately diagnosed the problem as major depressive disorder and Jennifer started on an antidepressent drug called Prozac. Three weeks later, Jennifer showed much improvement. Like some other antidepressent drugs, Prozac works by _______ the availability of ______ in the brain.

increasing; serotonin

The primary function of the myelin sheath is to:

insulate the axon and increase the speed at which neurons convey their message.

The type of specialized cell whose main function is to communicate between neurons is a(n):

interneuron

Most nerves in the human nervous system are:

interneurons

Acetylcholine is:

involved in movement and memory

A neurotransmitter called acetylcholine:

is found in muscle contractions and memory.

Most left handed people are:

left hemisphere dominant for language; like most right-handed people

Randy exercises more than most people and continues to train even when he has a cold or an injury. His friends joke that Randy seems addicted to exercise. Randy's compulsive exercising:

may be due to involvement of his brain's opioid system and the production of endorphins

The brainstem is made up of several structures, which include the:

medulla, pons, cerebellum, reticular formation, and midbrain, including the substantia nigra

According to the box Critical Thinking: "His" and "Her" brains research indicates that:

men and women are much more different than they are similar

Presynaptic neuron is to postsynaptic neuron as:

message-sending neuron is to message-receiving neuron.

____ remove waste products from the nervous system, including dead and damaged neurons

microglia

The stimulus threshold of the neuron refers to the:

minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron

Which of the following drugs is chemically similar to endorphins?

morphine

Which of the following signal muscles to relax or contract?

motor neurons

The action potential is produced by:

movement of ions across the membrane of the axon.

Oligdendrocytes and Schwann cells form the ____, which is/are a fatty covering that is/are wrapped around the axons of some neurons.

myelin sheath

Surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord are three layers of membranous tissues called the:

neural stem cells

According to research presented in your text, stress, exercise, and environmental complexity can affect the rate of _____ in the brain of monkeys, rodents and birds.

neurogenesis

The development of new neurons in the brain is called:

neurogenesis

The branch of science that is concerned with the study of the nervous system, especially the brain is called:

neuroscience

Like a key in a lock, the shape of the _____ must fit the _____ to affect the postsynaptic neuron.

neurotransmitter; receptor site

Synaptic vesicles contain:

neurotransmitters

In synaptic transmission, the action potential stimulates the release of:

neurotransmitters by the synaptic vesicles.

Which of the following drugs mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine?

nicotine

For the past year, 30-year-old Kendra has experienced difficulty falling and staying asleep, and she frequently complains that she has difficulty remembering certain things, such as where she put her keys or an upcoming dentist or doctor's appointment. Kendra says she's stressed and was recently diagnosed with depression. Kendra probably has a deficiency in the neurotransmitter:

norepinephrine

Which of the following neurotransmitters is involved in physical arousal, learning, memory, and regulation of sleep?

norepinephrine

When Elisa goes to the doctor for her annual physical, the doctor taps below her kneecap, which causes her leg to jerk forward. Elisa's doctor is testing her:

overall central nervous system.

The _______ is involved in regulating blood sugar levels and in hunger.

pancreas

As you are taking a test, you inadvertently drop your pencil, reach down, pick it up, and put it back on the desk. This voluntary action involved motor signals that were communicated out to your muscles via the _____ nervous system.

parasympathetic

Processing somatosensory information is to the _____ lobe as seeing is to the _____ lobe

parietal; occipital

According to the In Focus box: Traumatic injury: From concussions to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, professional athletes, particularly football and hockey players, are at risk for:

permanent amnesia

Although _____ has been shown to be a pseudoscience, it helped introduce the idea that functions were _____ in the brain.

phrenology; localized

When neurotransmitter communicates an inhibitory message to a postsynaptic neuron, the _____ is likely to have an action potential.

postsynaptic neuron is less

The cell body of a neuron:

provides the energy needed for the neuron to function

Information from specialized cells in the sense organs is conveyed by the brain by:

sensory neurons

_____ convey information about the environment from the sense organs to the brain, and _____ communicate information to the muscles and glands.

sensory neurons; motor neurons

The three types of neurons are

sensory, motor, interneurons

The nodes of Ranvier are:

small gaps in the myelin sheaths that cover some axons

The action potential occurs when:

sodium ions enter the axons interior; causing a brief positive electrical impulse.

The fastest neurons in the human body communicate their messages at:

speeds up to 270 miles per hour

Janeen and Marty were strolling down a wooded path in a city park when a man holding a knife suddenly jumped out of the shrubbery. Rather than fight, Janeen and Marty decided to flee and took off, running in the opposite direction. This quick reaction reflects the fight or flight response, which is triggered by the _________ nervous system, which stimulates the __________ to produce ______.

sympathetic; adrenal medulla; epinephrine and norepinephrine

The two main subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system are the _____ nervous system and the _____ nervous system.

sympathetic; parasympathetic

Communication between two neurons occurs at the:

synapse

The rush of euphoria that many people experience after sustained exercise, especially cardio-based activity, is called:

the "runner's" high

The peripheral nervous system is made up of:

the brain and the spinal cord.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that involves:

the degeneration of the myelin sheath that causes the transmission of neural messages to be slowed or interrupted.

Which part of the neuron receives messages from other neurons?

the dendrite

Which two factors affect the speed at which the action potential is conducted along a neuron's axon?

the diameter of an axon and whether the axon is wrapped with a myelin sheath

When a neuron is in its resting potential state:

the fluid within the axon has a larger concentration of potassium ions than the fluid surrounding the axon.

According to your textbook, _________ is associated with increased endorphin levels.

the pain relieving effect on the acupuncture

Which of the following is one of the phenomena mentioned in the text that is associated with increased endorphin levels?

the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture

When neurotransmitters communicate and excitatory message to the postsynaptic neuron:

the postsynaptic neuron is more likely to generate an action potential.

There are four hallow cavities in the brain called _____, which are filled with cerebrospinal fluid and whose inner surfaces are lined with ______, specialized cells that generate neurons in the developing brain.

ventricles, neural stem cells

Thomas was distracted as he was cooking, and he inadvertently touched a very hot dish. Instantaneously, he jerked his hand back, a reflexive action that was processed:

with no involvement of the central nervous system.