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Note: These questions are part of a larger data base of questions & are selected to represent the type of question you should expect on unit exams .  Exam questions, however, may deal with topics not covered in the practice tests or in lectures but are discussed in your textbook. You are responsible for the content of your text book plus the content of lectures, interactive activities, & material on the web site.

    Use these sample questions to test yourself & to practice for the test. Click on your choice to see if you are right.

1. In the structure of the neuron, the __________ receives messages from other cells.

•  axon
 •  dendrite
  •  soma
   •  myelin

2. Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells generate a fatty substance known as

•  glial.
 •  soma.
  •  myelin
   •  neurilemma.

3. Which of the following insulates and protects a neuron's axon as well as helps to speed along electrical impulses?

•  synaptic knobs
 •  receptor sites
  •  myelin sheath
   •  neuromuodulators

4.  The chemical that moves from the axon of one neuron across a gap to the dendrite of another is a(n)

•  gray matter.
 •  theshold stimulant.
  •  sodium.
   •  neurotransmitter.

5. Which neurotransmitter stimulates muscle cells to contract but slows contractions of the heart?

•  acetylcholine
 •  GABA
  •  serotonin
   •  endorphin

6. If a neuron lacked dendrites, theoretically it could _______, but not _________ .

•  send messages; receive messages
 •  process messages; send messages
  •  grow new extensions; have myelin sheaths
   •  open sodium channels; produce negative charged ions

7. Heroin mimics the actions of endorphins, inhibiting pain signals and creating a "high" feeling. Heroin is an example of a(an)

•  protagonist.
 •  antagonist.
  •  agonist.
   •  glial cell.

8. Linda is writing a paper on the function of the myelin sheath. Which of the following is the best title for her paper?

•  "Myelin Sheath: Receiving Signals"
 •  "Myelin Sheath: Insulating the Axon"
  •  "Myelin Sheath: Storing Neurotransmitters"
   •  "Myelin Sheath: Releasing Neurotransmitters into the Synapse"

10. As you take notes, your heart beats at a normal rate. Your breathing is normal and your stomach slowly digests your earlier meal. What division of the nervous system is currently in action?

•  sympathetic
 •  parasympathetic
  •  somatic
   •  autonomic

11. Robert has had difficulty sleeping for the past 6 months and his body seemingly no longer differentiates between night and day. His doctor believes the problem lies with Robert's endocrine system. What gland will Robert's physician focus on?

•  pituitary
 •  adrenal
  •  thyroid
   •  pineal

12. Which gland(s) is/are known to influence all the other glands within the endocrine system?

•  pineal gland
 •  pituitary gland
  •  thyroid gland
   •  adrenal gland

13. The effect of a neurotransmitter on an adjacent neuron, muscle, or organ is:

•  excitatory
 •  inhibitory
  •  either excitatory or inhibitory
   •  determined by the all-or-none law

14. Endorphins are secreted when we are

•  under great stress.
 •  falling asleep.
  •  depressed.
   •  studying.

15. Neurons that carry information from the senses to the spinal cord are called __________ neurons.

•  spinal
 •  motor
  •  afferent
   •  efferent

16. Sympathetic is to arouse as parasympathetic is to ______.

•  calm
 •  fight
  •  flight
   •  homeostasis

17. Which one of the following is not included in the peripheral nervous system?

•  central nervous system
 •  somatic nervous system
  •  autonomic nervous system
   •  sympathetic nervous system

18. Baily is in a study on memory and problem solving. The researcher is applying magnetic pulses to her brain through copper wire coils positioned directly above her scalp. Bailey's study would best be described as a(an)

•  invasive stimulation technique.
 •  noninvasive stimulation technique.
  •  EEG technique.
   •  PET technique.

19. Which technique of studying the brain involves injecting radioactive glucose.

•  EEG
 •  CT
  •  MRI
   •  PET

20. Maria often sleeps soundly and rarely awakens to any outside noise. However, the cries of Maria's baby can awaken her immediately. What part of the brain is responsible for this reaction?

•  medulla
 •  pons
  •  reticular formation
   •  cerebellum

21. You’re looking at a book entitled Your Autonomic Nervous System. One of the chapter titles is really confusing based upon your knowledge of the autonomic nervous system. Which chapter seems to not fit your knowledge?

•  The Sympathetic Division: Activating in Times of Stress
 •  The Autonomic Nervous System: Part of The Peripheral Nervous System
  •  The Autonomic Nervous System: You CAN Control It All!
   •  Relaxing with the Parasympathetic Division

22. Alexis and Theresa are synchronized swimmers for their college swim team. They often work long hours to ensure the movements in their routines are perfectly timed. What part of their brains must Alexis and Theresa rely on?

•  medulla
 •  pons
  •  reticular formation
   •  cerebellum

23. MRI scan is to PET scan as ________ is to ________.

•  radio frequencies; function
 •  function; structure
  •  structure; function
   •  CNS; PNS

24. The somatic nervous system

•  is in a constant state of homeostasis.
 •  controls the fight or flight response.
  •  regulates heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, & digestion.
   •  consists of nerves connected to either sensory receptors or to muscles.

25. Your psychology professor refers to this as the great relay station of the brain. What part is she referring to?

•  thalamus
 •  hypothalamus
  •  hippocampus
   •  amygdala

26. Which part of the brain is involved in the creation of memories and is often linked with Alzheimer's disease?

•  hippocampus
 •  thalamus
  •  hypothalamus
   •  amygdala

27. Jessica has suffered a severe blow to the back of her head when she was thrown from her horse. Subsequently, her occipital lobe has been injured. Which of her senses has the highest chance of being affected?

•  hearing
 •  touch
  •  taste and smell
   •  vision

28. During the game show "Jeopardy," the host says the answer, “the temporal lobe.” Which of the following is the best question?

•  “Which lobe is critical to vision?”
 •  “Which lobe is critical to hearing & speech?”
  •  "What is the lobe that does not have an association cortex?”
   •  “What is the name of the lobe that sends motor messages to the body?”

29. Jaime's grandfather recently suffered a stroke and has had difficulty with language production ever since. Most likely, he has experienced damage to the ____________ area of his brain.

•  right rear
 •  left frontal
  •  left rear
   •  right frontal

30. The strip of the cortex in the frontal lobe that is involved in the initiation of all voluntary movements is called

•  the somatosensory cortex.
 •  the sensory homunculus.
  •  the motor cortex.
   •  Broca's area

31. Felicia is recovering from a brain injury. She is able to speak fluently but often uses incorrect words in a sentence. In one instance at a friend's birthday party, she said "I would like something to drink. Can iI have some battery?" Felicia's problem is known as

•  spatial neglect.
 •  visual agnosia.
  •  Broca's aphasia.
   •  Wernicke's aphasia.

32. Although the brain works largely as a whole, which of the following is not a correct pairing of hemisphere and function?

•  left; control of right-handed motor functions
 • right; control of right-handed motor functions
  •  right; recognition of faces
   •  left; reading

33. What part of the brain can sometimes be referred to as the "rind" or outer covering?

•  thalamus
 •  medulla
  •  corpus callosum
   •  cortex

34. The ability to detect changes in temperature, pressure, and body position is due in part to the functions of the ________ lobe.

•  frontal
 •  parietal
  •  temporal
   •  corpus

35. Yvonne's ability to reach for and pick up her book is largely due to the __________ pathway of the _________ nervous system.

•  sensory; somatic
 •  motor; somatic
  •  autonomic; peripheral
   •  parasympathetic; autonomic

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General Psychology Robert C. Gates