1. ____________ are the specialized cells that are the building blocks of the central and the peripheral nervous systems.

c. Neurons

2. When positive ions at the axon hillock raise the internal cell voltage of the first segment of an axon from its resting voltage to its threshold potential, the neuron becomes activated. This spike in electrical energy causes ____________ to occur.

a. an action potential

3. A colleague of yours tells you that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Luckily, the disease was diagnosed early and she is getting state-of-the-art treatment. So far, it does not appear that she has experienced problems with the ____________ covering the axons in her nervous system.

a. myelin sheath

4. Match the neurotransmitter with its primary role(s).

1. acetylcholine: c. enables movement; 2. glutamate: b. learning, memory; 3. endorphins: a. reduction of pain; 4. serotonin: d. mood, aggression, appetite

5. A neuroscientist studying the brain and the spinal cord would describe her general area of interest as the:

a. central nervous system.

6. A serious diving accident can result in damage to the ____________, which is responsible for receiving information from the body and sending it to the brain, and for sending information from the brain throughout the body.

b. spinal cord

7. While sitting at your desk, you hear the tone signaling an incoming e-mail. That sound is received by your auditory system and information is sent via sensory neurons to your brain. Here, we can see how the ____________ provides a communication link between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.

d. peripheral nervous system

8. After facing a frightening situation in a war zone, Brandon’s parasympathetic nervous system reacts with a:

d. “rest-and-digest” process.

9. Lately, your friend has been prone to mood swings and aggressive behavior. The doctor has pinpointed a problem in his ____________, which is a communication system that uses ____________ to convey messages via hormones.

b. endocrine system; glands

10. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the function of the right hemisphere in comparison to the left hemisphere?

b. The right hemisphere is more competent handling visual tasks.

11. Although Gall’s phrenology has been discredited as a true brain “science,” Gall’s major contribution to the field of psychology is the idea that:

a. locations in the brain are responsible for certain activities.

12. Broca’s area is involved in speech production, and is ____________ critical for language comprehension.

d. Wernicke’s area

13. Match the structures with their principal functions:

1. association areas: b. integration of information from all over brain; 2. temporal lobes: c. hearing and language comprehension; 3. meninges: a. three thin membranes protect brain; 4. occipital lobes: e. processes visual information; 5. parietal lobes: d. receive sensory information, such as touch

14. The limbic system is a group of interconnected structures in the brain. Match the structures below with their principle functions:

1. amygdala: b. processes basic emotions; 2. hippocampus: a. responsible for making new memories; 3. hypothalamus: d. keeps body systems in steady state; 4. thalamus: c. relays sensory information

15. The ____________ is located in the midbrain and is responsible for levels of arousal and your ability to selectively attend to important stimuli.

d. reticular formation

16. Describe how agonists and antagonists differ and develop an analogy to help you remember these differences.

Answers will vary. Agonists boost normal neurotransmitter activity and antagonists dampen normal neurotransmitter activity. An agonist is somewhat like a substance you add to your car engine to increase its efficiency. An antagonist might be compared to a character in a novel who prevents a heroine from doing her job.

17. The “knee-jerk” reaction that occurs when a doctor taps your knee with a rubber hammer provides a good example of a reflex arc. Describe this involuntary reaction and then draw your own diagram to show the reflex arc associated with it.

Diagrams will vary; see Figure 2.3. A reflex is an uncontrollable reaction that often protects us from bodily harm. For example, we automatically pull away when we touch a hot surface. Sensory neurons are activated and carry information from the environment to interneurons in the spinal cord, which activates motor neurons. The motor neurons excite the muscle and initiate the motion of pulling away.

18. Describe two major differences between neurotransmitters and hormones and how they influence behavior.

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers produced by neurons that enable communication between neurons. Hormones are chemical messengers produced by the endocrine system and released into the bloodstream. The effects of the neurotransmitters are almost instantaneous, whereas those of hormones are usually delayed and longer lasting. Both influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Neurotransmitters and hormones can work together, for example directing the fight-or-flight response to stress.

19. The research conducted by Sperry and Gazzaniga examined the effects of surgeries that severed the corpus callosum. Describe what these split-brain experiments tell us about the lateralization of the hemispheres of the brain and how they communicate.

Sperry and Gazzaniga’s research demonstrated that the hemispheres of the human brain, while strikingly similar in appearance, specialize in different functions. The left hemisphere excels in language processing, and the right hemisphere excels at visuospatial tasks. The corpus callosum normally allows the two hemispheres to share and integrate information.

20. We described a handful of tools scientists use to study the brain. Compare their functions and limitations.

The EEG detects electrical impulses in the brain. The CT uses X-rays to create many cross-sectional images of the brain. The MRI uses pulses of radio waves to produce more detailed cross-sectional images than those of a CT scan, but both MRI and CT are used to study the structure of the brain. The PET uses radioactivity to track glucose consumption and constructs a map of brain activity. The fMRI also captures changes in brain activity, but instead of tracking glucose consumption, it reveals patterns of blood flow in the brain, which is a good indicator of how much oxygen is being used. All of these tools have strengths and limitations (see Table 2.1 and Infographic 2.1).