Self Test for The Brain’s Building Blocks 

1. If you drew a graph to accurately represent the number of Alzheimer's patients 
projected in the future, the graph would: 

 have a level line 
 have a rising slope 
 have a decreasing slope 
 be difficult to draw since researchers are unsure of its future 

2. Consider this: You are a full-grown neuron in a brain that is damaged. 
What happens to you? 

 I can repair only if the damage is limited to the brainstem. 
 I don't repair since healing glial cells release an enzyme that destroys me. 
 I can repair because brain cells have a great capacity to recover from damage. 
 I have a limited capacity to repair since my genetic program turns off regrowth. 

3. Consider this: A tired, listless brain walks into a restaurant and looks on the 
menu for something that could provide fuel for it. 
What “entree” does the brain order? 

 Calorie soup 
 Glucose platter 
 Hormone deluxe 
 Neurotransmitter buffet 

4. You’re directing actors in a movie on the human brain. The actor portraying 
the role of glial cell is giving you a hard time. What can you say to the 
actor to improve his performance? 

 “Acting? You call that acting? A glial cell transmits electrical messages!” 
 “You are a glial cell. You need to be more supportive of the actors playing 
   neurons, so think support!” 
 “Look, there are many other actors who could do your job. Keep in mind that you, as 
   a glial cell, cross the synapse. Listen for your cue!” 
 “Do you remember your lines? Do you remember how glial cells help to connect 
   the two hemispheres together to allow information back and forth? 
   You better read the script better!” 

5. The question of the relationship between our mental capacities and the 
physical aspects of the nervous system is typically termed: 

 nature versus nurture 
 idealism versus realism 
 reciprocal determinism 
 the mind-body question 

6. The mind is to brain as: 

 right is to left 
 running is to walking 
 glial cells is to neurons 
 mental activities is to physical structure 




7. 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 

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" 

9. A psychology instructor is lecturing on the processes and mechanisms of messages
in the nervous system. She has come to the part on the action potential. 
Which example should she use to illustrate the idea of a nerve impulse? 

 a merry go-round 
 a bright flash of light 
 how a washer cleans clothes 
 "The Wave” at a sports stadium where sections of fans stand up and then sit down 

10. What accounts for the action potential moving down the axon at a constant speed? 

 snowball effect 
 all-or-none law 
 neuronal push rule 
 paced resistance principle 

11. 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 

12. Endorphins are secreted when we are: 

 under great stress 
 falling asleep 
 depressed 
 studying 

13. Alcohol is to GABA as marijuana is to: 

 dopamine 
 serotonin 
 endorphins 
 anandamide 

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

 spinal 
 motor 
 afferent 
 efferent 

15. Afferent is to efferent as ________ is to _______. 

 motor; sensory 
 sensory; spinal 
 sensory; motor 
 spinal; neuron 

16. Reuptake is a process that: 

 - causes the neurotransmitter to continue its effects 
 - prevents neurotransmitters from entering the receptor 
 - causes neural plasticity 
 - removes the neurotransmitter from the synapse and is returned to the 
   vesicles of the end bulb 

17. Cocaine causes its effects of physiological arousal & feelings of euphoria by: 

 preventing reuptake from occurring 
 its similar chemical makeup to norepinephrine 
 increasing the amount of dopamine released into the synapse 
 blocking receptors thereby preventing neurotransmitters from affecting the neuron 

18. Curare is to mescaline as _______ is to _________. 

 block; mimic 
 CNS; PNS 
 reuptake; action potential 
 norepinephrine; dopamine 

19. To function properly, the basal ganglia need a sufficient supply of: 

 acetylcholine 
 anandamide 
 dopamine 
 mescaline 

20. A mad scientist is designing “a new and improved” nervous system. Which of 
the following structures should he design first - that is, which 
should be the building block of the new nervous system? 

 neuron 
 hindbrain 
 motor cortex 
 central nervous system 
  
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                            Topics in Psychology
                               Robert C. Gates