58 Questions
What is the primary function of neurotransmitters in the nervous system?
To transmit information from one cell to another
Which type of neurotransmitters increases the polarization of the postsynaptic membrane?
Inhibitory
What is a possible consequence of having excessive levels of glutamate?
Tingling and numbness
What is a possible consequence of having excessive levels of dopamine?
Schizophrenia
What is a possible consequence of having insufficient serotonin in the brain?
Depression
What do inhibitory neurotransmitters do to the membrane?
Increase its polarization
What is the role of neurotransmitters in the nervous system?
To transmit information from one cell to another
What is the effect of glutamate on neurons?
It excites most neurons in the nervous system
What neurotransmitter is involved in learning and memory?
Acetylcholine
What is the effect of MSG on the brain?
Activates glutamate receptors
What is the primary neurotransmitter involved in the experience of pleasure?
Dopamine
What do narcotics mimic in the brain?
Endorphins
What is the characteristic of an action potential?
'All-or-none'
What is the primary symptom of a panic attack?
Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
What is the major subdivision of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord?
Central nervous system
What is the effect of a drug that boosts memory and learning capacity?
Increases acetylcholine
What is the primary characteristic of a graded potential?
Cumulative
What is the primary function of the autonomic nervous system?
Regulation of internal organs
What part of the brain is involved in heartbeat, circulation, and respiration?
medulla oblongata
What is the primary function of the limbic system?
sound localization
Which condition is associated with damage to the basal ganglia?
Parkinson's disease
What is the primary function of the cerebral cortex?
all of the above
What is the term for the areas of the cerebral cortex that process raw sensory stimuli?
Primary areas
Which hemisphere is primarily involved in non-speech based information processing?
Right hemisphere
What is the role of the amygdala?
Approach behavior
What is the function of the hindbrain?
Controlling heartbeat and respiration
Which of the following is NOT a function of the limbic system?
Sound localization
Which of the following is a characteristic of emotions and lateralization?
Positive feelings are associated with the right temporal regions
Which nervous system is responsible for conveying sensory information to the central nervous system and sending motor messages?
Somatic nervous system
What is the primary function of the sympathetic nervous system?
Preparing the body in response to threat
Which of the following is NOT a part of the autonomic nervous system?
Somatic nervous system
What is the primary function of the autonomic nervous system?
Basic life processes
How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system operate?
They operate in reciprocal fashion to ready the body for flight or fight and then return the body to an even state
What is the primary function of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?
Maintaining the body's store of energy
What is the function of each segment of the spinal cord?
Relaying information to and from different parts of the body
What is the function of the tectum?
Orienting towards sound or visual events
Which nervous system is responsible for controlling involuntary actions such as reflexes?
Autonomic nervous system
What is the primary function of the central nervous system?
Processing and integrating sensory information
What is the primary difference in the brain structure of rats raised in enriched versus impoverished environments?
The enriched environment increased the weight of a rat's forebrain
What is the primary function of the amygdala?
Emotional processes
What is the most likely cause of difficulty recognizing sarcastic or ironic comments?
Damage to the basal ganglia
What brain region is primarily responsible for controlling movements once we learn a piano piece well?
Basal ganglia
What is a characteristic of Wernicke's aphasia?
Word salad: words are tossed together so they make little sense
Which two brain regions are primarily used when two individuals are having a conversation?
Broca's area and Wernicke's area
What is the significance of the case of Phineas Gage?
His extreme personality changes provide evidence for a connection between the frontal lobes and personality
What is the primary difference between Broca's area and Wernicke's area?
Broca's area is responsible for speech production, while Wernicke's area is responsible for language comprehension
What is a characteristic of basal ganglia damage?
Difficulty in making rapid, automatic judgments about how to classify or understand the meaning of things
What is the primary function of Wernicke's area?
Language comprehension
What is the outcome of a split-brain operation on the brain's hemispheres?
The two hemispheres act independently, with no communication.
What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?
Homoeostasis, keeping vital processes within a narrow range.
What was the result of experiments with rats in enriched or impoverished environments?
Environment can affect the brain structurally, with enriched environments leading to heavier forebrains.
Which of the following traits is influenced by genetic factors?
All of the options listed, including vocational interests, job satisfaction, and likelihood of divorce.
What does a heritability coefficient of 50 percent mean?
50 percent of the variability is due to heredity.
What is the result of cutting the corpus callosum in a split-brain operation?
The two hemispheres act independently, without communication.
What is the role of the hypothalamus in maintaining vital processes?
Keeping vital processes such as body temperature and blood sugar within a narrow range.
What is the outcome of raising rats in enriched environments?
Rats have heavier forebrains and are more intelligent.
What is the role of genetic factors in influencing behavior?
Genetic factors influence vocational interests, level of job satisfaction, and likelihood of divorce.
What does a heritability coefficient measure?
The extent to which variation in a trait is due to genetic variation.
Study Notes
Neurotransmitters
- Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit information from one cell to another
- They are responsible for communication between neurons
Types of Neurotransmitters
- Inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g. GABA) hyperpolarize the membrane, reducing the likelihood of an action potential
- Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g. glutamate) increase the polarization of the postsynaptic membrane
- Glutamate can produce feelings of tingling and numbness
- Dopamine is involved in emotional arousal, pleasure, and reward learning
- Serotonin is involved in regulation of mood, and low levels are associated with depression
- Acetylcholine is involved in learning and memory
Action Potential
- Occurs when the membrane is depolarized from its resting state of -70mV to about -50mV
- Has an all-or-none quality, unlike graded potentials
Nervous System
- The autonomic nervous system is involved in basic life processes such as digestion and respiration
- The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for response to threat (e.g. fight-or-flight response)
- The parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to a calm state after a threat has passed
- The somatic nervous system is involved in conveying sensory information to the central nervous system and sending motor messages
Brain Structures and Functions
- The medulla oblongata is involved in controlling essential functions such as heartbeat, circulation, and respiration
- The tectum is involved in orienting towards sound or visual events
- The limbic system is involved in emotion, motivation, learning, and memory
- The basal ganglia are involved in movement and judgment
- The amygdala is involved in emotional processes, especially fear responses
- The cerebral cortex is involved in creating sequences of voluntary movements, making subtle discriminations among complex sensory patterns, and symbolic thinking
- The right hemisphere is involved in non-speech based information processing, such as forming visual maps, recognizing faces, and recognizing music
Emotions and Lateralization
- The left hemisphere is involved in processing positive emotions
- The right hemisphere is involved in processing negative emotions
Brain Development and Plasticity
- The brain can change in response to experience and environment
- Enriched environments can lead to increased growth and complexity of the brain
- Damage to certain brain structures can lead to specific cognitive and emotional impairments
Language and Cognition
-
Broca's area and Wernicke's area are involved in language processing
-
Damage to these areas can lead to aphasias, or language processing impairments
-
The case of Phineas Gage highlights the importance of the frontal lobes in personality and impulse control### Heritability Studies
-
Heritability studies show that identical twins have similar:
- Vocational interests
- Levels of job satisfaction
- Religious attitudes
- Level of divorce (influenced by personality factors)
-
These similarities point to the role of genetic factors in influencing behavior
Heritability Coefficient
- A heritability coefficient measures the extent to which variation in a trait across individuals is accountable for by genetic variation
- The coefficient ranges from 0 (no heritability) to 1.0 (the trait is completely heritable)
- A coefficient of 50% means that 50% of the variability in a trait is due to heredity
This quiz tests your understanding of neurotransmitters and their role in neural communication. It covers the function of neurotransmitters and their importance in transmitting information between neurons.
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