Neurons & Neurotransmission
What part of the neuron contains the nucleus and chromosomes?
Cell body
Which part of the hindbrain regulates breathing and heart rate?
Medulla
Which system includes the brain and spinal cord?
Central nervous system
Which neurotransmitters are linked to depression?
Serotonin and norepinephrine
Which disease results from a shortage of dopamine, leading to motor impairment?
Parkinson’s disease
Which part of the neuron receives messages from nearby neurons?
Dendrites
Which brain structure regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature?
Hypothalamus
Which branch of the autonomic nervous system calms the body after stress?
Parasympathetic
Which neurotransmitter reduces pain sensations?
Endorphins
Which disorder involves a breakdown of myelin, disrupting communication?
Multiple sclerosis
What is the “all-or-none law”?
A neuron fires at full strength or not at all
Which lobe of the brain serves as the “executive control center”?
Frontal lobe
Which system regulates bodily processes by secreting hormones?
Endocrine system
Which neurotransmitter is most involved in regulating anxiety?
GABA
Which brain area is primarily associated with memory formation
Hippocampus
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with schizophrenia?
Dopamine
Which brain structure connects the two hemispheres?
Corpus callosum
A person touches a hot stove and quickly pulls their hand back. What is this called?
Spinal reflex
Amphetamines produce effects by interfering with what process?
Reducing reuptake of neurotransmitters
Which system of the brain regulates emotions?
Limbic system
Your friend swears drinking 5 energy drinks makes their neurons fire faster and stronger. What’s wrong with this claim?
Neurons can only fire faster in frequency, not stronger in intensity — amplitude doesn’t change.
The hippocampus, as damage to the hippocampus prevents new memories from sticking
You’re home alone and hear footsteps behind you in the dark. Which systems are at work in the fight-or-flight response, and how do they interact?
Sympathetic nervous system activates physiological arousal; parasympathetic later calms the body
A researcher develops a drug that prevents dopamine from binding to receptors but does not affect dopamine levels in the synapse. What type of drug is this, and what would its likely effect be?
An antagonist; it would reduce dopamine’s effects, possibly lessening reward and motivation
If a motorcyclist suffers brain injury but later grows new neurons, which process explains this recovery, and how does it relate to neuroplasticity?
Neurogenesis; part of brain plasticity that allows repair and adaptation