Practice Test
Biological Functions
Biological processes
Chapter 3
This unit identifies the basic processes and systems in the approach of understanding behavior.
1.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Your secretary at work is typing on her computer, talking on the phone, and handing you some
important papers. She is performing a role similar to which aspect of brain functioning?
complexity
integration
adaptability
plasticity
2.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which division of the nervous system is composed of all the sensory and motor nerves?
peripheral nervous system
afferent nervous system
central nervous system
somatic nervous system
3.
The terms somatic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system are best associated with
the
somatosensory area.
central nervous system.
limbic system.
peripheral nervous system.
A.
B.
C.
D.
4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
5.
A.
B.
C.
D.
6.
7.
You are sitting in a public place next to a new acquaintance to whom you are attracted. You feel
this person’s hand touch yours. You move your hand to return the gesture. Your heart beats faster
and you feel “butterflies” in your stomach. Your hand movement was initiated by your ________
nervous system while your increased heart rate and stomach contractions were initiated by your
________ nervous system.
somatic; autonomic
autonomic; somatic
sympathetic; parasympathetic
parasympathetic; sympathetic
Which part of the peripheral nervous system would be particularly important to a backpacker
being chased by a bear?
sympathetic
intrinsic
parasympathetic
involuntary muscles
Who is relying most heavily on their mirror neurons?
A. Francesca is watching Animal Planet on TV.
B. Billy is jumping rope as his sister watches.
C. Chie is taking a golf lesson from the local pro.
D. Pedro is going to the grocery store.
________ cells assist in transporting nutrients to neurons.
A. Glial
B. Neurotransmitter
C. Axon
D. Mirror
8.
9.
Which of the following best describes how information is transmitted within a neuron?
A. cell body → dendrite → axon
B. dendrite → cell body → axon
C. axon → dendrite → nucleus
D. nucleus → dendrite → axon
E.
Depolarizing the membrane during an action potential first involves the flow of ________ ions
into the membrane.
A. sodium
B. potassium
C. serotonin
D. dopamine
10. Broca's area is located in the ________ hemisphere.
A. left
B. right
C. parietal
D. occipital
11. The ability for nerve cells in the brain to change their purpose demonstrates what capacity of the brain?
A. plasticity
B. electrochemical transmission
C. complexity
D. lesioning
12. Which of the following is a role of the autonomic nervous system?
A. controls motor neurons
B. monitors essential processes
C. conveys information to the CNS about temperature
D. controls sensory neurons
13. You are sitting in a public place next to a new acquaintance to whom you are attracted. You feel this
person’s hand touch yours. You move your hand to return the gesture. Your heart beats faster and you feel
“butterflies” in your stomach. Your hand movement was initiated by your ________ nervous system while
your increased heart rate and stomach contractions were initiated by your ________ nervous system.
A. somatic; autonomic
B. autonomic; somatic
C. sympathetic; parasympathetic
D. parasympathetic; sympathetic
14. The neurobiologist explained to the students, “The neural system is very much like the wires
connecting your T.V. and stereo to the electrical outlet. If the wires were not covered with insulation, the
signal would short circuit.” The neurobiologist was describing the function of the
A. terminal button.
B. axon.
C. cell body.
D. myelin sheath.
15. Depression is associated with low levels of what neurotransmitter?
A. acetylcholine
B. serotonin
C. dopamine
D. norepinephrine
16. Based on the research on oxytocin, if Julia finds herself in a stressful situation she is most likely to
A. run away.
B. stay and confront the stressor.
C. call a friend.
D. react as if nothing is wrong.
17. The practice of women bringing food to other women during times of crisis may have been triggered by
which neurotransmitter?
A. GABA
B. serotonin
C. dopamine
D. oxytocin
18. Magnetic resonance imaging is a technique that works by
A. measuring the rate at which brain cells use glucose.
B. constructing a three-dimensional image from X rays.
C. transducing the electrical activity of individual neurons.
D. detecting and interpreting magnetic activity from hydrogen levels in the blood.
19. When combined with brain-imaging techniques, transcranial magnetic stimulation allows researchers to
A. draw cause and effect conclusions.
B. apply correlational inferences.
C. make naturalistic observations.
D. eliminate bias from their work.
20. The ________ is the part of the hindbrain that is involved in sleep and arousal.
A. pons
B. medulla
C. cerebral cortex
D. thalamus
21. Who would benefit the most from a highly efficient cerebellum?
A. baseball player
B. teacher
C. salesperson
D. composer
22. Joe has brushed his teeth seven times this morning. More than likely, he has a damaged
A. amygdala.
B. thalamus.
C. hippocampus.
D. hypothalamus.
23. Theus is about to take the Bar Exam. Which lobe of the brain will he be relying on most to do well?
A. frontal
B. occipital
C. temporal
D. parietal
24. What area of the brain is associated with the recognition of faces and/or the recognition of other
familiar objects?
A. amygdala
B. hippocampus
C. fusiform face area
D. Wernicke’s area
25. Professor Travis noticed that a large book was sliding out of the shelf and was about to hit the top of the
computer. He moved quickly to intercept the book before his computer could be damaged. The movement
of his hand was a result of a process in the
A. limbic system.
B. motor cortex.
C. pons.
D. temporal lobe.