Neuroscience and Behavior Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What primary function does acetylcholine serve?

Controlling motor function and learning

Regulating mood and sleep cycles

Influencing pleasure and reinforcement

Enabling communication between nerve cells and muscles (correct)

What is the primary focus of studying the interaction of heredity and environment?

Analyzing drug effects on behavior

Explaining the influence on behavior and mental processes (correct)

Determining genetic predispositions only

Understanding the nervous system functions

What condition is associated with low levels of acetylcholine?

Depression

Alzheimer's disease (correct)

Schizophrenia

Parkinson's disease

Which subsystem is NOT part of the human nervous system?

Endocrine system Signup and view all the answers

Which substances can cause paralysis by blocking acetylcholine receptors?

Botulin and curare Signup and view all the answers

How do the structures of typical neurons affect behavior?

They facilitate communication between different brain areas Signup and view all the answers

What symptoms are associated with low levels of dopamine?

Tremors and difficulty with movement Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of high levels of dopamine?

Symptoms of schizophrenia Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during neural firing?

Neurons transmit electrical impulses along their axons Signup and view all the answers

What role does serotonin play in the body?

Helps regulate mood and appetite Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant effect of psychoactive drugs on behavior?

They can alter mood and perception Signup and view all the answers

What disorder is associated with low levels of serotonin?

Depression Signup and view all the answers

Which structure in the brain is primarily responsible for regulating the sleep/wake cycle?

Hypothalamus Signup and view all the answers

How does sensation relate to behavior and mental processes?

Sensation provides input that informs behavioral responses Signup and view all the answers

What can excessive serotonin levels lead to?

Serotonin syndrome Signup and view all the answers

What best describes neuroplasticity?

The capacity of the brain to change and adapt over time Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for severing the corpus callosum in individuals with severe epilepsy?

To reduce seizure frequency and severity Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for language and logical reasoning?

Left hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

What is agnosia?

The inability to recognize sensory information despite intact senses Signup and view all the answers

What is contralateral hemispheric organization?

Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes consciousness?

Awareness of thoughts and surroundings Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes sleep?

Reduced consciousness and activity Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere is associated with creativity and spatial awareness?

Right hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

During wakefulness, which of the following is true?

The brain processes information actively Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of glutamate in the brain?

It enhances the transmission of signals between neurons. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of psychoactive drugs?

They alter mood, perception, and behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is an antagonist's effect on neural receptors?

It binds and blocks the receptor without activation. Signup and view all the answers

How can an agonist enhance neurotransmitter effects?

By mimicking the neurotransmitter or increasing its release. Signup and view all the answers

What potential consequence can result from excessive glutamate in the brain?

Neurotoxicity and cell damage. Signup and view all the answers

Low levels of glutamate are associated with which of the following?

Cognitive impairments and learning difficulties. Signup and view all the answers

How does substance P influence mood disorders?

By contributing to anxiety and mood disorders. Signup and view all the answers

Which drug is utilized after a traumatic brain injury to prevent memory loss?

Namenda®. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average duration of a human's circadian rhythm without external cues?

25 hours Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is primarily responsible for signaling the time to sleep?

Melatonin Signup and view all the answers

What is jet lag primarily associated with?

Long-distance travel Signup and view all the answers

What tool is used to measure different stages of sleep?

Polysomnograph Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of NREM Stage 1 sleep?

Decreased heart rate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes shift work?

Can disrupt the natural circadian rhythm Signup and view all the answers

What condition causes weakness in communication between nerves and muscles?

Myasthenia gravis Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is known to increase the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential?

Glutamate Signup and view all the answers

How does a polysomnograph determine what sleep stage someone is in?

By analyzing brain waves, eye movements, and muscle activity Signup and view all the answers

What symptoms may occur during jet lag adjustment?

Fatigue and difficulty sleeping Signup and view all the answers

What type of neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential?

Inhibitory neurotransmitters Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the primary function of neurotransmitters?

To transmit signals across synapses Signup and view all the answers

Hormones differ from neurotransmitters in that they:

Travel through the bloodstream to reach various organs Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation and impacts the brain's emotional state?

Dopamine Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily an inhibitory signal in the central nervous system?

GABA Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of excessive glutamate activity in the brain?

Neuronal damage Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Bases of Behavior

This unit explores the connection between biological systems and mental processes.
It examines how understanding biology can lead to healthier lives.
The unit considers nature vs nurture, the interaction of heredity and environment in shaping behavior and mental processes.

Interaction of Heredity and Environment

Genetics play a crucial role in predisposing individuals to certain traits or conditions.
Environmental factors also influence outcomes.
Evolutionary perspectives highlight how traits that enhance survival and reproduction are passed down.
Natural selection is the process by which advantageous traits are more likely to be passed down.
Examples of evolutionary perspectives include mate selection and fear responses to certain threats.
The study of eugenics explores improving the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding.
Research methods like twin studies, family studies, and adoption studies are used to examine the influence of genetics and environment on traits and behaviors.

Overview of the Nervous System

The nervous system is composed of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The CNS comprises the brain and spinal cord.
The PNS comprises the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

The Neuron and Neural Firing

Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system.
Glial cells provide support, nourishment, and protection to neurons.
Neurons communicate with each other and other cells electrochemically.
The resting potential is the electrical charge difference across a neuron's membrane when it is not actively sending a signal.
Reaching a threshold triggers an action potential, a rapid change in the neuron's electrical charge.
The all-or-nothing principle states an action potential occurs with the same intensity regardless of stimulus strength.
The refractory period follows an action potential, preventing immediate repeated firing.

Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive drugs affect brain activity, altering mood, perception, and behavior.
Agonists mimic neurotransmitters or increase their release, enhancing their effects.
Antagonists block receptors, reducing neurotransmitter effects.
Reuptake inhibitors increase the amount of neurotransmitter available.
Examples include caffeine, cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and opiates.
These drugs influence various neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and endorphins.

The Brain

The brain comprises different structures and lobes, each with specialized functions.
The brainstem controls essential life functions.
The cerebellum coordinates motor control and balance.
The thalamus acts as a sensory relay station.
The hypothalamus regulates vital bodily functions.
The pituitary gland regulates hormone release.
The hippocampus aids in memory formation.
The amygdala processes emotions, especially fear and aggression.
The corpus callosum connects the hemispheres of the brain allowing both sides to communicate.
Other structures include the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe.
Neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to reorganize and adapt, is crucial for learning and recovery.

Sleep

Sleep is a state of rest for the body and mind, characterized by reduced consciousness and lowered responsiveness.
The circadian rhythm is the body's internal 24-hour cycle that affects sleep-wake patterns.
Sleep stages include REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM stages.
REM sleep is associated with dreaming.
Sleep deprivation can affect cognitive function and physical health.
Disordered sleep patterns (insomnia, narcolepsy) can be problematic.

Sensation

Sensation converts sensory stimuli into neural impulses.
Sensory receptors detect various stimuli like light, sound, touch, taste, and smell.
Transduction converts physical stimuli into electrical signals within the sensory receptor.
Thresholds involve the minimum intensity needed for detection or the difference perceptible between stimuli.
Certain stimuli are amplified or attenuated by sensory adaptation.
Vision, hearing, taste, and smell are examples of specialized sensory systems.

Vision

Rods and cones are photoreceptor cells, converting light into electrical signals in the retina.
The fovea is the central area of the retina with the highest visual acuity (sharpness).
Color perception is based on the trichromatic and opponent-process theories.

Hearing

Sound waves are vibrations that stimulate the hair cells in the cochlea.
The place theory relates pitch to the region of the basilar membrane stimulated.
The volley theory relates frequency to the firing rate of auditory neurons.

Chemical and Bodily Sensations

Chemical senses, such as taste and smell (olfaction), detect chemicals in the environment.
Taste receptors are located on the tongue identifying chemicals as sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or savory.
Olfaction, the sense of smell, has a direct connection to memory and emotion.
Somatosensation (touch) and kinesthesia, the sense of body movement, help in our understanding of the environment.
Pain is detected by nociceptors and the gate-control theory explains how non-painful touch can reduce pain.
Vestibular sense (balance) is a sense that relays whether the body is moving or stationary, detecting gravity and movement.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the functions of neurotransmitters, the relationship between heredity and environment, and their effects on behavior. This quiz covers key concepts in neuroscience including acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, and neuroplasticity. Perfect for students studying psychology or neuroscience.