PSY 121 Exam 2- Chapter 2-
Neuroscience and the Biology of
Behavior, Chapter 3- Sensation and
Perception, Chapter 12- Stress and
Health
Which part of the neuron improves the speed of the neural impulse? - Answer-Myelin sheath
What is the brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon called? - Answer-Action potential
At its resting state, the outside of a neuron is more ______________ than the inside of the neuron. -
Answer-positively charged
An action potential occurs when the inside of a cell becomes more __________ charged and the
___________ charge moves down the axon. - Answer-positively; electrical
In the process of neurotransmission, the action potential causes neurotransmitters to be released from
the ______________ into the _______________. - Answer-synaptic vesicles; synapse
,Danny has terrible migraines that interfere with his ability to complete his work. He just learned from his
psychology class that the migraines could be caused by an overabundance of which neurotransmitter? -
Answer-Glutamate
A drug like nicotine that produces a biological response in the brain is called a(n) ______________. -
Answer-agonist
Clayton incurred a spinal cord injury, and the doctors wanted to enroll him in a clinical trial that used
stem cells in the treatment. Stem cells are special because they can
______________________________. - Answer-turn into other specialized cells in the body
When you touch a hot stove and immediately withdraw your hand, it is called a ________ and is the
result of interneurons within the __________. - Answer-reflex; spinal cord
Chemical substances in the body that regulate bodily activities such as growth, metabolism, and sexual
reproduction are called ____________. - Answer-hormones
The endocrine system consists of many glands that release hormones for different functions. Which
gland is considered the master gland that communicates with all the other glands? - Answer-Pituitary
gland
Javier has been complaining of being fatigued, cold, and depressed lately. His doctor decides to run
some tests on his endocrine system. What condition might the doctor test for given his symptoms? -
Answer-Hypothyroidism
Tomas has been playing the piano since age 5. Throughout his adolescence, he also taught himself to
play guitar, bass, and the drums. Due to his practice with musical instruments, Tomas's brain would
show improved ________. - Answer-synaptic plasticity
,A doctor wants detailed pictures of the structures in a patient's brain but doesn't want to expose the
patient to any radiation. What would be the best method of assessment for the doctor to use? -
Answer-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Samson is a client in a sleep lab and is going to have his brain wave activity measured while sleeping. He
will have electrodes placed all over his skull so that the test can measure his brain activity. This type of
test is called ______. - Answer-electroencephalogram (EEG)
What part of the brain allows us to detect danger even below the level of conscious awareness? -
Answer-Amygdala
The cerebral cortex is divided into ___________ lobes with the ____________ lobe at the back of the
head. - Answer-four; occipital
Sophie has entered her first spelling bee. In addition to studying from a long list of words, she spends
time planning how to psyche out her competitors on the big day. Which lobe of her brain would she
primarily be using during these activities? - Answer-Frontal
Which structure in the limbic system is responsible for voluntary movement and coordination? -
Answer-Basal ganglia
Andre suffered brain damage from an accident at work. Since his accident, he seems to be unaware of
his own body parts and at times unable to feel pain. Which lobe of his brain is likely to have incurred
damage? - Answer-Parietal
Yuna loves to play soccer and is an aggressive player who will head the ball as often as she can. Her
parents have noticed that she has been forgetting to turn in assignments and forgetting when she is
supposed to hang out with friends. They are concerned because ________________. - Answer-recent
research has suggested that heading the ball can lead to memory problems.
, What is the name for the band of axons that connects the right hemisphere of the brain to the left
hemisphere? - Answer-Corpus callosum
For most people, language is processed in which hemisphere of the brain? - Answer-left
Jaselyn has a pair of heterozygous genes for a "widow's peak" hairline. What kind of hairline will she
inherit? - Answer-A widow's peak hairline
The complete set of instructions for our physical and psychological characteristics is called our
_______________. - Answer-genome
Twin sisters Leah and Lily know they have the genetics for heart disease. Both sisters like to exercise, but
Lily also has a high-stress job and only sleeps four hours a night. Leah is a yoga instructor and eats a
mostly vegetarian diet. The field of epigenetics would suggest - Answer-the environment has the ability
to change gene expression, so both women can change their risk of developing heart disease.
A person's genetic makeup is referred to as ___________, whereas the observable traits that are
expressed from genes is referred to as ___________. - Answer-genotype; phenotype
Grady was adopted shortly after birth into a loving home. Neither of his adopted parents drank alcohol
or did any drugs. Throughout his adolescence and into adulthood, Grady struggled with substance
abuse. He eventually found out that his biological mother was an alcoholic for her entire life. What does
this scenario suggest? - Answer-There is likely a strong genetic explanation for Grady's substance abuse.
The cell body that contains the nucleus, which includes DNA and other structures that support the
neuron, is called the ___________. - Answer-soma
The structures that extend out from the axon and release chemicals into the space between neurons are
called ___________. - Answer-terminal buttons
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