psych bay exam #2

If Professor Kosiba surgically removed the amygdala of a laboratory rat, the rat would most likely become

hungry

Olds and Milner found that a rat kept returning to a location where it had been stimulated by an electrode placed within its

hypothalamus

The limbic system structure that regulates hunger is called the

hypothalamus

Although James lost some manual dexterity following brain damage from a stroke, the development of new neural pathways enabled him to regain most of his lost agility. This best illustrates the value of

plasticity

the endocrine system consists of:

glands

The release of ________ to muscle cell receptors triggers muscle contractions.

ACH

Botox injections smooth facial wrinkles because botulin is a(n)

ACH antagonist

Botulin poisoning from improperly canned food causes paralysis by blocking the release of

acetylcholine

Excitatory signals to a neuron must exceed inhibitory signals by a minimum intensity in order to trigger:

action potential

Which neural center in the limbic system plays an important role in emotions such as fear and rage?

amygdala

Which of the following is most clearly characterized by a temporary inflow of positively charged sodium ions through an axon membrane?

an action potential

Any drug molecule that occupies a neurotransmitter receptor site and blocks the neurotransmitter's effect is a(n)

antagonist

After he suffered a stroke, Mr. Santore's physical coordination skills and responsiveness to sensory stimulation quickly returned to normal. Unfortunately, however, he could no longer figure out how to find his way around his neighborhood. It is most likely that Mr. Santore suffered damage to his

association areas

The longest part of a motor neuron is likely to be the:

axon

A neuron is best described as a(n)

cell

After suffering an accidental brain injury, Kira has difficulty walking in a smooth and coordinated manner. She has probably suffered damage to her

cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem is called the

cerebellum

Your conscious awareness of your own name and self-identity depends primarily on the normal functioning of your

cerebral cortex

Mr. Anderson suffers from Parkinson's disease and his shaking arm movements are so severe that he has difficulty feeding or dressing himself without help. His symptoms are most likely to be linked with an undersupply of the neurotransmitter:

dopamine

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in controlling the facial muscle movements necessary for speaking?

frontal

Which portion of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in making plans and formulating moral judgments?

frontal lobes

An action potential is generated by the movement of ________ through an axon membrane.

ions

Neurons generate electricity from a chemical process involving the exchange of:

ions

Following massive damage to his frontal lobes, Phineas Gage was most strikingly debilitated by

irritability

Research with split-brain patients suggests that the ________ typically constructs the theories people offer to explain their own behaviors.

left cerebral hemisphere

When a person speaks, brain waves and bloodflow are especially likely to reveal increased activity in the

left hemisphere

The amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus are part of the

limbic system

Carlos was born with cataracts in both eyes, which were removed when he was 5. However, because Carlos lacked visual experiences during early childhood he

lost neural connections in areas of the brain normally assigned to vision.

The part of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing is called the

medulla

Your life would be most immediately threatened if you suffered destruction of the

medulla

The brain devotes more tissue within the ________ for body areas requiring the most precise movement control such as the fingers.

motor cortex

Direct stimulation of areas within the motor cortex would most likely result in

movement of the mouth and lips

The speed at which a neural impulse travels is increased when the axon is encased by a(n)

myelin sheath

endorphins are:

neurotransmitters

The visual cortex is located in the

occipital lobes

Which hormone enables contractions associated with birthing and milk flow during nursing?

oxytocin

After Clark's hand had been amputated, he gradually began to feel sensations on his nonexistent fingers when his arm was stroked. This best illustrates the consequences of

plasticity

When Stoyka was a child, a brain disease required the surgical removal of her left cerebral hemisphere. Stoyka is now a successful college student who lives a normal life. Her success best illustrates the importance of

plasticity

one function of glial cells is to:

provide nutrients to neurons

The function of dendrites is to:

receive incoming signals from other neurons

Which region of your brainstem plays a role in arousing you to a state of alertness when, for example, you accidentally stumble over another person's misplaced pair of shoes?

reticular information

Research has suggested that a reward deficiency syndrome may contribute to

substance abuse disorders

Compared with environmentally impoverished rats, those rats housed in enriched environments experienced a dramatic increase in the number of their

synapses

To excite or inhibit an action potential in a receiving neuron, a neurotransmitter must cross the

synaptic gap

Which brain structure receives information from all the senses except smell?

thalamus

The activity of the hypothalamus most directly influences

thirst