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UC Davis NPB 12
The Human Brain and Disease Fall 2011
95
Physiology
Undergraduate 1
12/04/2011

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Cards

Term
When you take a brain out of the skull, the most prominent thing that you see is A) a large mass of an intestine‐like structure known as the cerebral cortex.
B) a large mass that is a folded sheet known as the cerebral cortex
C) a series of spinal nerves coming out of the spinal cord.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.
Definition
B) a large mass that is a folded sheet known as the cerebral cortex
Term
The cerebral cortex can be divided into several different regions based on
A) what sensations or movements are elicited when electrical stimuli are
applied during epilepsy surgery.
B) the way that the cells look on slides in different places.
C) the symptoms one gets following a small stroke or injury.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.
Definition
D) all of the above
Term

A thrombus in the occipital cortex would most likely cause

A)difficulty with auditory processing.

B)difficulty in verbal language production.

C)difficulty in motor ability.

D) cortical blindness.

Definition

D) cortical blindness.

Term

Which of these vessels would be the worst for the brain if an embolism came from there:

A) The carotid artery in the neck.

B) The jugular vein in the neck.

C)The femoral artery in the leg.

D) The saphenous vein in the leg.

Definition
A) The carotid artery in the neck.
Term

You are a neurologist at a local hospital, and a person comes in after having suffered a stroke. When she wakes up she has no idea of anything to her left, or even that she has a left leg or left arm. You suspect that she is suffering from:

A)Cortical Blindness.

B)Kluver‐Bucy syndrome.

C)Right Parietal Lobe Syndrome.

D) Parkinson’s Disease.

Definition

C)Right Parietal Lobe Syndrome.

Term

Which of these individuals correctly matches their contribution to neuroscience?

A) Broca showed that language was localized to the left side of the brain based on the brain lesion

suffered by Phineas Gage.

B) Decartes convinced the Catholic Church that the soul and brain were different entities.

C)Marc Dax showed that language and handedness were localized to the same part of the brain.

D) Gall and Bouillaud showed that phrenology proved specialization of cortical function.

Definition
B) Decartes convinced the Catholic Church that the soul and brain were different entities.
Term
Human nervous systems are better than computers at:
A) recognizing complex visual objects like handwriting from almost anyone.
B) remembering long sequences of numbers.
C) performing complex mathematical equations.
D) following directions and/or commands.
Definition
A) recognizing complex visual objects like handwriting from almost anyone.
Term
Which of the following statements is correct?
A) The brain is organized in such a way that the regions that are responsible for some functions such as language and voluntary movement are localized to very circumscribed cortical areas
B) The brain is organized in such a way that the regions that are responsible for some functions such as language and voluntary movement are distributed across brain regions so that damage to a very small cortical area rarely disrupts these functions.
C) The brain vasculature is structured in such a way that an embolism will get trapped in large veins and will never affect the delivery of oxygen to brain cells.
D) Due to the interaction of the menengies with bone tissue, the functional organization of an individual’s brain can be determined by measuring bone density over different brain areas.
Definition
A) The brain is organized in such a way that the regions that are responsible for some functions such as language and voluntary movement are localized to very circumscribed cortical areas
Term
Neurons are different from kidney, liver, and skin cells because neurons
A) have a cell nucleus where the DNA resides.
B) have ribosomes that make proteins in the soma.
C) have a lipid bilayer as the cell membrane.
D) have polarity.
Definition
D) have polarity.
Term
Fast anterograde transport
A) is used to transport neurotransmitters to the soma.
B) is used by the cell to get vesicle‐associated proteins from the soma to the dendrites.
C) is used by the cell to get voltage‐gated Na+ channels to the Nodes of Ranvier
D) is used by neuroscientists to determine the location of neuronal cell bodies.
Definition
C) is used by the cell to get voltage‐gated Na+ channels to the Nodes of Ranvier
Term
Different types of neurons found in the nervous system include
A) pyramidal, bipolar and sterling.
B) Purkinje, pyramidal and polymorphal.
C) bipolar, Golgi, and Nissl.
D) Stellate, pyramidal and Purkinje
Definition
D) Stellate, pyramidal and Purkinje
Term
The menengies
A) refer to brothers in southern California that were convicted of killing their parents.
B) are the membranes that protect the central nervous system.
C) are the membranes that protect the peripheral nervous system.
D) form part of the blood brain barrier that causes thrombi.
Definition
rostral
Term
In the human:
A) The spinal cord is inside the vertebrae and caudal.
B) The spinal cord is medial to the arms and dorsal to the belly button
C) The nose is ipsilateral to the ears and rostral to the neck.
D) The ears are lateral to the eyes and ventral to the lips.
Definition
B) The spinal cord is medial to the arms and dorsal to the belly button
Term
The entire nervous system can be divided into:
A) Peripheral and Central
B) Autonomic and Spinal
C) Medial and Lateral
D) Cortical and Peri‐cortical
Definition
A) Peripheral and Central
Term
Parts of the Autonomic nervous system include
A) Spinal and Cranial
B) Sympathetic and Pathetic
C) Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
D) Sympathetic and Presympathetic
Definition
C) Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Term
With regard to infections within the central nervous system,
A) there are many immune cells available to fight infection.
B) the arachnoid membrane is able to detect infection and will eventually envelope infected tissue, in effect serving to isolate it from other healthy tissue.
C) there are hardly any immune cells available to fight infection.
D) all classes of synthetic antibiotics are able to cross the blood brain barrier and thus fight central nervous system infection.
Definition
Peripheral and Central
Term
Which of the following statements is true:
A) The cerebral cortex is caudal.
B) The eye is medial
C) The ear is rostral.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.
Definition
E) none of the above
Term
A difference between morphine and heroin is:
A) Morphine effects the pre‐synaptic neuron and heroin effects the post‐synaptic neuron.
B) Morphine crosses the blood‐brain barrier easier than heroin.
C) Heroin crosses the blood‐brain barrier easier than morphine.
D) There are no side effects of morphine.
Definition
C) Heroin crosses the blood‐brain barrier easier than morphine.
Term
Which of the following structures are the most caudal:
A) The thalamus.
B) The cerebral cortex.
C) The midbrain.
D) The hindbrain.
Definition
D) The hindbrain.
Term
Injecting a neuroanatomical tracer into the dorsal root ganglion near the shoulder of a rat will result in
A) label in the muscle if it moves in the retrograde direction only.
B) labeled axons in the ipsilateral ventral horn if it moves in the retrograde direction.
C) labeled cell bodies in the ventral horn and labeled cell bodies in the skin if it moves in both the anterograde and retrograde direction.
D) labeled axons in the arm that go mostly to the skin and sometimes to the muscles on the ipsilateral side if it moves in both the retrograde and anterograde direction.
Definition
C) labeled cell bodies in the ventral horn and labeled cell bodies in the skin if it moves in both the anterograde and retrograde direction.
Term
A difference between gray matter and white matter is
A) gray matter has less DNA than white matter.
B) sclerotic plaques are found mainly in the gray matter.
C) there are more cell bodies in gray matter than in white matter.
D) Nissl stains turn the white matter white and the gray matter gray.
Definition
C) there are more cell bodies in gray matter than in white matter
Term
A patient cannot feel pain or touch and his motor reflexes are absent. Yet he can voluntarily move any part of his body. Based on this information the best possible explanation is:
A) He has damage to ventral motor neurons.
B) He has damage to dorsal sensory neurons.
C) He has damage to his frontal lobe brain region
D) All input and output from his spinal cord is malfunctioning, yet the brain area that controls voluntary movement is intact.
Definition
B) He has damage to dorsal sensory neurons.
Term
The force(s) that act on an ion that determine the net direction of motion across the membrane through an open channel or pore are:
A) The relative force and the potential force.
B) The chemical force and the magnetic force.
C) The electrical force and the chemical force.
D) The equilibrium potential.
Definition
C) The electrical force and the chemical force
Term
The Nernst equation
A) is a mathematical description of the electrical and chemical forces acting on a single type of ion.
B) describes the action potential.
C) can be used to find the equilibrium potential for a neuron.
D) is all you need to know to determine whether a synapse is excitatory or inhibitory.
Definition
A) is a mathematical description of the electrical and chemical forces acting on a single type of ion.
Term
Neurons, kidney, liver and skin cells all have
A) dendrites.
B) action potentials.
C) myelin.
D) resting potentials.
Definition
D) resting potentials.
Term
Which ion normally has the highest conductance across the cell membrane at rest?
A) K+
B) Na+
C) Cl‐
D) Ca++
E) A‐
Definition
A) K+
Term
The equilibrium potential for fluoride (F­) is ­35 mV, the equilibrium potential for cesium (Cs+) is –85 mV, the equilibrium potential for potassium (K+) is –75 mV, and the resting potential of the neuron is ­70 mV.

If the threshold for activation of the voltage‐gated Na+ channels is ‐45 mV, a synapse that opens F‐ channels would be considered
A) excitatory.
B) inhibitory.
Definition
A) excitatory.
Term
The equilibrium potential for fluoride (F­) is ­35 mV, the equilibrium potential for cesium (Cs+) is –85 mV, the equilibrium potential for potassium (K+) is –75 mV, and the resting potential of the neuron is ­70 mV.

Opening F‐ channels would
A) depolarize the cell
B) hyperpolarize the cell.
Definition
A) depolarize the cell
Term
The equilibrium potential for fluoride (F­) is ­35 mV, the equilibrium potential for cesium (Cs+) is –85 mV, the equilibrium potential for potassium (K+) is –75 mV, and the resting potential of the neuron is ­70 mV.

If F‐ channels were opened, the ions would go
A) into the cell.
B) out of the cell.
Definition
B) out of the cell.
Term
The equilibrium potential for fluoride (F­) is ­35 mV, the equilibrium potential for cesium (Cs+) is –85 mV, the equilibrium potential for potassium (K+) is –75 mV, and the resting potential of the neuron is ­70 mV.

The concentration of K+ is much greater inside the cell than outside the cell. Now you apply a drug that opened all of the Cs+ channels and drove the membrane potential to –85 mV. If you then opened K+ channels, the K+ ions will flow:
A) into the cell.
B) out of the cell.
Definition
A) into the cell
Term
Blocking the voltage‐gated Na+ and K+ channels and preventing them from opening would
A) have little if any effect on the resting potential.
B) have little if any effect on the action potential.
C) increase the equilibrium potential for Na+ (make it more positive).
D) increase the equilibrium potential for K+ (make it more negative).
Definition
A) have little if any effect on the resting potential.
Term
A chemical synapse in the brain
A) is the only type of synapse in mammals.
B) has gap junctions that allow action potentials to move from one cell to another without a time delay.
C) is dependent on voltage‐gated Na+ and K+ channels in the post‐synaptic neuron to transmit information.
D) can be modulated by different neuromodulators or different drugs
Definition
D) can be modulated by different neuromodulators or different drugs
Term
The equilibrium potential for K+ is normally ‐85 mV. If you were to increase the extracellular concentration of K+ the following would happen:
A) the equilibrium potential for the cell would get closer to zero.
B) the equilibrium potential for the cell would get farther from zero (more negative).
C) the equilibrium potential for the cell would stay the same.
D) none of the above.
Definition
D) none of the above.
Term
The _____ receive neural impulses from other neurons
A) dendrites
B) axons
C) myelin sheath
D) neurotransmitter
Definition
A) dendrites
Term
Which is the normal sequence of structures encountered by neural information as it travels along a neuron?
A) dendrites to soma to axon to synapse.
B) dendrites to soma to synapse to axon.
C) soma to axon to dendrites to synapse.
D) synapse to axon to soma to dendrites.
Definition
A) dendrites to soma to axon to synapse.
Term
If you were genetically engineering a class of neurons that would be able to propagate action potentials down very long axons and in a very rapid manner, what characteristic would you make sure to include in the design?
A) A very large axon diameter.
B) A very small axon diameter.
C) No myelination to slow things down.
D) Myelin that completely covers the entire axon with no gaps.
Definition
A) A very large axon diameter.
Term
The period of hyper‐polarization at the end of the action potential is due to
A) chloride ions moving into the axon.
B) potassium ions exiting the neuron.
C) the delay in action of the sodium‐potassium pump.
D) the myelin sheath preventing return of potassium to the inside of the cell.
Definition
B) potassium ions exiting the neuron.
Term
A signal is transmitted from one cell to another. It flows directly through a pore and does not require a voltage gated channel to open. What would be another characteristic of this signal transmission?
A) It would be modifiable.
B) It would be inhibitory.
C) It would be fast and reliable
D) It would allow the integration of information.
Definition
C) It would be fast and reliable
Term
A normal action potential is elicited in a neuron. However, the rate at which repolarization occurs is greatly increased. Which of the following best explains this behavior?
A) TTX has been applied.
B) Voltage gated K+ channels have been held open.
C) Voltage gated Na+ channels did not open.
D) Voltage gated K+ channels have been held closed.
Definition
D) Voltage gated K+ channels have been held closed.
Term
If you were to remove all of the Ca++ ions from the extracellular fluid, the immediate consequences (what would happen first) would be:
A) No release of neurotransmitter.
B) No action potentials in the post‐synaptic neurons.
C) No cleavage of vesicle‐associated proteins.
D) No hyperpolarization after the action potential.
Definition
A) No release of neurotransmitter.
Term
What property of what channel prevents the action potential from continuously traveling back and forth in both directions along the axon?
A) The relative refractory period of voltage‐gated K+ channels.
B) The salutatory conduction of the nodes of Ranvier.
C) The automatic inactivation of the voltage‐gated Na+ channels.
D) The fast anterograde transport mechanisms.
Definition
C) The automatic inactivation of the voltage‐gated Na+ channels.
Term
Tetrototoxin (TTX)
A) binds to and opens the voltage‐gated Na+ channels.
B) binds to and closes the voltage‐gated Na+ channels.
C) binds to and opens the voltage‐gated K+ channels.
D) binds to and closes the voltage‐gated K+ channels.
Definition
B) binds to and closes the voltage‐gated Na+ channels.
Term
Multiple sclerosis causes demyelination of the axons. This is a problem because: A) To compensate, the axons have to get larger which causes swelling in the brain.
B) The action potentials are smaller so the synaptic potentials are smaller.
C) The slower action potentials will not result in effective temporal and spatial summation at the post‐synaptic cell
D) The faster action potentials will not result in effective temporal and spatial summation at the post‐ synaptic cell.
Definition
C) The slower action potentials will not result in effective temporal and spatial summation at the post‐synaptic cell
Term
Your roommate begins complaining of extreme fatigue and double vision. Eventually, he says that his muscles are so fatigued that he doesn’t have the energy to pick up the remote control to change the TV station. You are able to correctly assess that:
A) He has come into contact with a bacterium that is causing his dorsal root ganglia cells to die.
B) His ventral motor neurons are not being inhibited any more and he should probably go get a tetanus shot.
C) He shouldn’t stay up late on weeknights because fatigue is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis.
D) He has probably come into contact with bacteria that are preventing the synaptic vesicles from activating the neuromuscular junction
Definition
D) He has probably come into contact with bacteria that are preventing the synaptic vesicles from
activating the neuromuscular junction
Term
The rabies virus
A) cannot enter the central nervous system because it is too large to cross the blood brain barrier.
B) always causes rabies in a person if they don’t get treatment.
C) has a longer incubation period the more caudally that you get bit because the virus has to travel longer distances to get to the brain.
D) can be transmitted to humans through the bite of a cobra.
Definition
C) has a longer incubation period the more caudally that you get bit because the virus has to travel longer distances to get to the brain.
Term
Symptoms of Tetanus are caused by
A) a bacteria that releases a toxin which binds to nerve terminals and gains access to the CNS by retrograde transport.
B) a toxin that cannot cross the blood brain barrier.
C) a toxin that selectively affects neurons that normally inhibit motor neurons
D) all of the above are correct
Definition
D) all of the above are correct
Term
Symptoms of Botulism poisoning are caused by
A) a bacterial infection of the gut due to contaminated food.
B) stepping on a rusty nail.
C) a bacteria that causes the dorsal root ganglion cells to die.
D) cleaved vesicle associated proteins.
Definition
D) cleaved vesicle associated proteins.
Term
Polio
A) used to be a problem, but is now eradicated much like small pox.
B) results in paralysis due to damage to ventral horn neurons
C) results in paralysis due to damage to the muscle.
D) results in no reflexes due to damage to the sensory neurons.
Definition
B) results in paralysis due to damage to ventral horn neurons
Term
A dermatome
A. is innervated by the nerves in the same spinal segments.
B. is innervated by nerves that converge from several different spinal segments.
C. is a device used to measure the extent of motor deficits in a spinal cord injury.
D. is a device used to measure the extent of sensory deficits in a spinal cord injury.
Definition
A. is innervated by the nerves in the same spinal segments.
Term
A patient does not have a motor reflex in either leg and the muscles of the leg appear to be wasting
away. However they still have touch and pain sensation. Which of the following is most likely
true?
A. dorsal columns have been selectively damaged.
B. upper motor neurons have been selectively damaged.
C. lower motor neurons have been selectively damaged.
D. the rubrospinal track has been selectively damaged.
Definition
C. lower motor neurons have been selectively damaged.
Term
A patient has exaggerated motor reflexes in their legs and a lot of tension in their leg muscles.
Which of the following is most likely true?
A. The lower motor neurons are not receiving information from the upper motor neurons.
B. The upper motor neurons are intact.
C. The lower motor neurons are not receiving excitatory input from the basal ganglion.
D. The upper motor neurons are receiving excitatory input from the lower motor neurons.
Definition
A. The lower motor neurons are not receiving information from the upper motor neurons.
Term
Which of the following is not true?
A. Axons in the dorsal columns travel from the dorsal root ganglion rostrally to the brain stem.
B. Axons in the spino-thalamic tract travel from the thalamus to the spinal cord.
C. Axons in the spino-thalamic tract carry information involved in pain sensation.
D. The cortico-spinal tract contains neurons that help control voluntary movement.
Definition
B. Axons in the spino-thalamic tract travel from the thalamus to the spinal cord.
Term
If one assumes that cutting an axon causes the cell body to die, then
A. cutting the left cortico-spinal tract will cause some right somatosensory cortical neurons to die.
B. cutting the spino-thalamic tract will cause some neurons in the ventral horn to die.
C. cutting the dorsal columns will cause some neurons in the ventral horn to die.
D. cutting the dorsal columns will cause some neurons in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion to die.
Definition
D. cutting the dorsal columns will cause some neurons in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion to die.
Term
The spinal cord itself is shorter than the backbones (vertebrae). After the early lumbar sections, the
part of the nervous system that is within the dura mater and inside the vertebrae is called the:
A. Substantia Nervosa.
B. Adenylate Cyclase.
C. Brown-Sequard.
D. Cauda Equina.
Definition
D. Cauda Equina.
Term
Symptoms never suffered by a person because of a spinal cord injury at the level of C7 would be:
A. Bed sores.
B. Poor control of the autonomic system leading to fainting and constipation.
C. Respiratory arrest.
D. Spastic-rigid paralysis.
Definition
C. Respiratory arrest.
Term
Spinal cord injuries
A. are the worst right after the accident, but then improve with cortical plasticity.
B. can get much worse immediately after the initial accident due to swelling.
C. should be easy to fix using embryonic stem cells.
D. All of the above.
E. None of the above.
Definition
B. can get much worse immediately after the initial accident due to swelling.
Term
Research focused on helping individuals with spinal cord injuries include
A. Transplanting oligodendricytes into the spinal cord to help axons re-grow.
B. Transplanting the neurons with cut axons into the peripheral nervous system.
C. Recording from neurons in the cerebral cortex to manipulate a robotic arm.
D. Titrating drugs into the basal ganglion through a needle implanted into the brain.
Definition
C. Recording from neurons in the cerebral cortex to manipulate a robotic arm.
Term
Given what we know about phantom limb pain and why is occurs after amputation, then does someone
with a complete transection of the spinal cord get phantom limb pain?
A. they don’t get phantom limb pain because it is central, not peripheral neurons that are affected.
B. they usually do get phantom limb pain but Professor Recanzone forgot to tell us about that.
C. they don’t get phantom limb pain because the cognitive parts of the brain can see the legs are okay.
D. they don’t get phantom limb pain because the spino-thalamic tract is cut so pain messages can’t reach the
brain.
Definition
C. they don’t get phantom limb pain because the cognitive parts of the brain can see the legs are okay.
Term
If you stimulate a neuron of a monkey in an area of primary motor cortex that is involved in
moving the index finger of the left hand, it is highly likely that if you stimulate a neighboring
neuron of primary motor cortex, that neuron will be involved in
A. moving the thumb of the right hand.
B. moving the middle finger of the right hand.
C. moving the middle finger of the left hand.
D. sensing cutaneous information from the first finger of the left hand.
E. none of the above.
Definition
C. moving the middle finger of the left hand.
Term
Your friend has told you that he recently heard about a new cure for Parkinson’s disease on the
news. However, your friend does not have a very good memory for what they hear on the news.
Which of the following would be most likely to be what your friend heard?
A. He tells you that scientists are attempting to transplant tissue into the primary motor cortex in hope that they will take over function of the lost dopamanergic cells.
B. He tells you that scientists are attempting to find a cure using fetal cells that would normally develop into MAO inhibitor cells.
C. He tells you that scientists are attempting to lesson the symptoms of Parkinson’s by passing a current through an electrode tip to kill off many of the neurons in the neostriatum so that the
inhibition is reduced.
D. He tells you scientists are trying to get neurons in the neostriatum to make more glutamate receptors so they have a bigger response to glutamate from the cerebral cortex inputs.
Definition
D. He tells you scientists are trying to get neurons in the neostriatum to make more glutamate receptors so they have a bigger response to glutamate from the cerebral cortex inputs.
Term
An animal has the symptom of having the inability to move their right shoulder and elbow, but
can feel touch, pain and temperature, and can move their right and left hand and wrist (and the rest
of their body). The most likely explanation is:
A. They suffered a small stroke in the right primary motor cortex.
B. They have suffered a stroke in their left red nucleus.
C. They have a Brown-Sequard lesion that is restricted to the gray matter on the right side.
D. They have suffered a stroke in their left basal ganglion.
E. They have anterior artery syndrome at the C5 level.
Definition
B. They have suffered a stroke in their left red nucleus.
Term
Asynergia is the result of a dysfunction of the:
A. Cerebral cortex.
B. Red Nucleus.
C. Basal Ganglion.
D. Substantia Nigra.
E. Cerebellum.
Definition
E. Cerebellum.
Term
Ballismus is the result of a dysfunction of the:
A. Cerebral cortex.
B. Red Nucleus.
C. Basal Ganglion.
D. Substantia Nigra.
E. Cerebellum.
Definition
C. Basal Ganglion.
Term
An important aspect of the motor system is
A. The somatosensory system provides important feedback.
B. The pathways always go in a single direction.
C. The cerebral cortex is necessary for all types of movements.
D. Neuromodulators are not necessary, as changes in motor outputs are controlled by exercise (or the lack thereof).
Definition
A. The somatosensory system provides important feedback.
Term
A main advantage of neuromodulators is that by using them
A. A small input can be magnified to a large input.
B. Synapses from other neurons are not effected.
C. The same input from a different neuron can be modified to be either larger or smaller.
D. One can help the symptoms of mental illnesses.
Definition
C. The same input from a different neuron can be modified to be either larger or smaller.
Term
Dysfunctions of the motor system do not include
A. making unwanted movements
B. the inability to make movements
C. the inability to initiate movements
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
Definition
E. none of the above
Term
A patient has lost his arm in a car accident several years ago. They report feeling pain from this
‘phantom arm’. Which of the following is most likely not true?
A. The part of the brain that once dealt with somatosensory information for that arm has not reorganized.
B. The cortical neurons in the part of the brain that once dealt with somatosensory information for that arm have died.
C. There is spontaneous activity occurring in the cortex that was once involved in dealing with somatosensory information for the lost arm.
D. None of the above are likely to be true.
E. All of the above are likely to be true.
Definition
B. The cortical neurons in the part of the brain that once dealt with somatosensory information for that arm have died.
Term
The concept of convergence and divergence in the nervous system refers to:
A. The fact that single neurons are pre-synaptic to many (hundreds) of post-synaptic neurons, and a single neuron is post-synaptic to many (hundreds) of pre-synaptic neurons.
B. The fact that there are multiple cortical areas devoted to each sensory system.
C. The fact that different neuromodulators can perform different functions on cells depending on the type of neuromodulator and the type of receptor.
D. The fact that the cerebral cortex is a large sheet, and needs to be ‘folded’ to allow it to fit into the skull.
Definition
A. The fact that single neurons are pre-synaptic to many (hundreds) of post-synaptic neurons, and a single neuron is post-synaptic to many (hundreds) of pre-synaptic neurons.
Term
Leprosy and shingles are similar in the sense that
A. Both lead to a loss of pain sensation.
B. Both are the result of dorsal root ganglion cells being infected.
C. Both cause parts of the body to fall off.
D. Both are caused by flesh-eating bacteria
Definition
B. Both are the result of dorsal root ganglion cells being infected.
Term
The homunculus in the primary somatosensory cortex
A. is much larger than the homunculus in the motor cortex.
B. is a scaled version of the contralateral body
C. is a complete representation of the contralateral body surface, including the head.
D. has a larger hand than body because there is more room to represent the hand.
Definition
C. is a complete representation of the contralateral body surface, including the head.
Term
The normal pathway from the skin to the primary somatosensory cortex is:
A. dorsal root ganglion cell -> dorsal column nucleus cell -> ventro-posterior thalamus -> primary somatosensory cortex
B. dorsal root ganglion cell -> trigeminal ganglion -> ventro-posterior thalamus -> primary somatosensory cortex
C. dorsal root ganglion cell -> dorsal column nucleus cell -> ventral motor thalamus -> primary somatosensory cortex
D. dorsal root ganglion cell -> dorsal column nucleus cell -> trigeminal lemniscus -> primary somatosensory cortex
Definition
A. dorsal root ganglion cell -> dorsal column nucleus cell -> ventro-posterior thalamus -> primary somatosensory cortex
Term
The primary somatosensory cortex
A. does not have neurons that respond to painful stimuli.
B. projects back to sub-cortical areas such as the thalamus and dorsal column nucleus.
C. has convergent receptive fields.
D. has a specific representation for painful stimuli.
Definition
B. projects back to sub-cortical areas such as the thalamus and dorsal column nucleus.
Term
The somatosensory pathway that does pain and temperature sensations has the axons travel up the
contralateral side of the spinal cord to where the receptor is. Where does the information cross the
midline?
A. spinal cord
B. dorsal column nucleus
C. trigeminal nucleus
D. medial lemniscus
E. ventro-posterior thalamus
Definition
A. spinal cord
Term
If a neuron fires 20 action potentials in one second to a 20 Hz vibrating stimulus
A. it is phase locking if the PSTH has 20 peaks and valleys for every second.
B. it is phase locking if the time between the action potentials is very nearly the same
C. it is phase locking if the action potential occurs at the same phase of the stimulus
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
Definition
D. all of the above
Term
Which of the following is true of receptive fields?
A. A receptive field is defined by the energy necessary to change the firing rate of the neuron.
B. Neighboring cells are not likely to have overlapping receptive fields.
C. Receptive fields occur best in the somatosensory system
D. They are located within the cell membrane of a neuron
Definition
A. A receptive field is defined by the energy necessary to change the firing rate of the neuron.
Term
Differences between somatosensory cortical areas include
A. the way that they are connected to other cortical areas.
B. the size of the receptive fields.
C. the activity of the neurons depending on the wakefulness of the subject.
D. the complexity of the stimuli necessary to change the firing rate.
E. all of the above
Definition
E. all of the above
Term
In an experiment described in your course notes, a rat’s whiskers are cut short except for 2 adjacently located whiskers. These whiskers are then glued together. Normally, neurons that respond to these whiskers only respond to the movement of one whisker and not to both. However, after you have glued two of these whiskers together and have waited a few days, which of the following would you expect?
A. Many neurons will respond to the stimulation of both of the remaining whiskers
B. No neurons will respond to the remaining two whiskers.
C. The neurons responding to each of the remaining whiskers have a decreased firing frequency
D. The neurons responding to each of the remaining whiskers release more dopamine in order to
compensate for the loss of the removed whiskers
E. The rat reports experiencing a “phantom whisker”.
Definition
A. Many neurons will respond to the stimulation of both of the remaining whiskers
Term
your “map” of your contralateral foot in the primary somatosensory cortex
A. doesn’t change with small amputations, like your pinkie toe
B. looks identical between you and your identical twin.
C. has one part for the hairy skin and one part for the pain.
D. looks a little different between you and your classmates because of the shoes that you do and don’t wear
Definition
D. looks a little different between you and your classmates because of the shoes that you do and don’t wear
Term
The NMDA receptor in the body normally
A. is found in the post-synaptic cell and binds gluatamate.
B. is found in the post-synaptic cell and binds n-methyl d-aspartate.
C. is found in the post-synaptic cell and binds n-medius diatom A.
D. is found in the pre-synaptic cell and binds n-methyl d-aspartate.
Definition
A. is found in the post-synaptic cell and binds gluatamate.
Term
Under normal conditions, the NMDA receptor
A. will never allow ions to pass through it.
B. only allows ions to pass through it if a ligand is bound to it and the pre-synaptic cell is depolarized.
C. only allows ions to pass through it if ligand-gated sodium channels are also open.
D. only allows ions to pass through it if the cell is depolarized and a ligand is bound to it.
Definition
D. only allows ions to pass through it if the cell is depolarized and a ligand is bound to it.
Term
Cortical plasticity is important because
A. it allows you to have phantom limbs
B. it allows you to have phantom limb pain
C. it allows you to stay good at everything that you have ever done
D. all of the above
E. none of the above
Definition
C. it allows you to stay good at everything that you have ever done

or

D. all of the above
Term
Inhibition in the central nervous system
A. occurs about as often as excitation
B. is largely confined to the gray matter of the spinal cord
C. is mediated by neuromodulators
D. is recurrent or bicurrent
Definition
A. occurs about as often as excitation
Term
Receptive fields of neurons will change as a function of
A. age
B. use
C. time
D. length
Definition
B. use
Term
Differences between Professor Recanzone and Michael Phelps (winner of 16 gold medals in
Olympic swimming) do not include:
A. cortical representations responsible for understanding the brain.
B. cortical representations of the hands and shoulders in somatosensory and motor cortex
C. the order of the different finger representations from lateral to medial in primary somatosensory cortex
D. height, weight, and shoe size.
Definition
C. the order of the different finger representations from lateral to medial in primary somatosensory cortex
Term
Cortical plasticity
A. is restricted largely to the somatosensory and motor systems.
B. is used primarily to make certain individuals particularly remarkable.
C. is common in squirrels but not as much in humans.
D. happens to everyone.
Definition
D. happens to everyone.
Term
Brain areas that are involved in the perception of painful stimuli include:
A. Frontal, parietal and temporal lobes.
B. intralaminar nucleus of the ventrobasal thalamus
C. peri-aquatic gray matter
D. retrothalamus
E. none of the above
Definition
B. intralaminar nucleus of the ventrobasal thalamus
Term
The placebo effect in pain control
A. works best the more involved and painful the ‘treatment’ is.
B. works because the patient was only faking it in the first place.
C. works if both the scientist and the doctor giving the treatment know it is a placebo.
D. is responsible for soups being an effective treatments for viral infections.
Definition
A. works best the more involved and painful the ‘treatment’ is.
Term
Afferent inhibition
A. is the result of enkephalins being released onto neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
B. is the result of increasing the activity of inhibitory interneurons found in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
C. is ultimately controlled by the PAG and raphe nucleus
D. is an example of a placebo effect
Definition
B. is the result of increasing the activity of inhibitory interneurons found in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord
Term
You are a new physician at a very rural hospital. A woman is about to give birth and is experiencing considerable pain. You want to inject morphine through the dura so that it gets to the spinal cord to stop the pain, but last night some junkies broke into the clinic and stole all of your morphine. Which of these available drugs would work just as well to stop the pain when you inject
it through the dura (assume you know the correct dosage and it crosses the blood-brain barrier)?

A. NMDA
B. dopamine
C. acetylcholine
D. serotonin
Definition
D. serotonin
Term
You successfully deliver the baby, and now go to the pharmacy to see what else the junkies have stolen. Which of the following drugs would you expect to be stolen as well?

A. L-dopa
B. naloxone
C. placebo
D. TTX
Definition
B. naloxone
Term
If you have a toothache, your brain is probably receiving information from your
A. small, un-myelinated axons otherwise known as type C fibers.
B. small, myelinated delta fibers otherwise known as delta-fibers
C. the ‘fast’ pain pathway
D. dorsal columns
Definition
A. small, un-myelinated axons otherwise known as type C fibers.
Term
The _______________ in the retina is a region responsible for the greatest acuity; it contains only ________________.

A. Fovea; rods
B. Optic disk; cones
C. Cornea; cones
D. Fovea; Cones
Definition
D. Fovea; Cones
Term
The blind spot is produced by
A. the optic chiasm.
B. a deformity in the lens.
C. the optic disk.
D. the bundle of axons from the photoreceptors.
Definition
C. the optic disk.
Term
Photoreceptors form synapses with ______________ which in turn form synapses with ________________________.

A. amacrine cells; bipolar cells
B. bipolar cells; ganglion cells
C. rods; ganglion cells
D. cones; bipolar cells
Definition
B. bipolar cells; ganglion cells
Term
When a photoreceptor absorbs a photon
A. the amount of glutamate it releases onto the retinal ganglion cells increases.
B. action potential are generated if enough photons are absorbed.
C. the membrane is depolarized.
D. the membrane is hyperpolarized.
Definition
D. the membrane is hyperpolarized.
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