PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
PSYC 302 – BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY | EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND
NEUROSCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 302: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Page 1 of 53
,PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
1. The basic cell of the nervous system that receives, integrates and
transmits information is the:
A. Glial cell
B. Myelin sheath
C. Synaptic vesicle
D. Neuron
D. Neuron
Neurons are the signalling cells; glia support them but do not carry the
main information signal.
2. Which part of a neuron is specialised mainly for receiving
information from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrites
C. Nodes of Ranvier
D. Terminal buttons
B. Dendrites
Dendrites are branching extensions covered in receptors that pick up
incoming chemical messages.
3. The typical resting membrane potential of a neuron is
approximately:
A. 0 mV
B. -70 mV
C. -20 mV
D. +40 mV
B. -70 mV
At rest the inside of the neuron is about 70 millivolts more negative than
the outside.
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,PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
4. Which ion is more highly concentrated inside the neuron than
outside at rest?
A. Potassium (K+)
B. Sodium (Na+)
C. Chloride (Cl-)
D. Calcium (Ca2+)
A. Potassium (K+)
The sodium-potassium pump keeps K+ concentrated inside and Na+
concentrated outside the cell.
5. The sodium-potassium pump moves ions across the membrane in
which ratio?
A. 3 Na+ out for every 2 K+ in
B. 1 Na+ out for every 1 K+ in
C. 2 Na+ out for every 3 K+ in
D. 3 Na+ in for every 2 K+ out
A. 3 Na+ out for every 2 K+ in
Each cycle uses ATP to push three sodium ions out and bring two
potassium ions in.
6. The rising (depolarising) phase of the action potential is mainly
caused by:
A. Influx of Cl- through ligand-gated channels
B. Efflux of K+ through voltage-gated channels
C. Activity of the sodium-potassium pump
D. Influx of Na+ through voltage-gated channels
D. Influx of Na+ through voltage-gated channels
Once threshold is reached, voltage-gated sodium channels open and Na+
rushes into the cell.
7. Repolarisation of the membrane after the peak of the action
potential is chiefly due to:
A. Outflow of K+ ions
B. Inflow of Na+ ions
C. Closure of chloride channels
D. Inflow of Ca2+ ions
A. Outflow of K+ ions
Voltage-gated potassium channels open and K+ leaves, returning the
inside toward a negative charge.
Page 3 of 53
, PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
8. During the absolute refractory period:
A. A stronger than normal stimulus can trigger an action potential
B. Neurotransmitter release is at its peak
C. No stimulus, however strong, can trigger another action potential
D. The membrane is permanently depolarised
C. No stimulus, however strong, can trigger another action potential
Sodium channels are inactivated, so a second action potential cannot be
produced at all.
9. The all-or-none law states that:
A. Stronger stimuli produce larger action potentials
B. Every neuron fires at the same rate
C. Graded potentials always reach the axon terminal
D. Once threshold is reached, the size of the action potential does not
depend on stimulus intensity
D. Once threshold is reached, the size of the action potential does not
depend on stimulus intensity
An action potential either fires fully or not at all; intensity is coded by
firing rate instead.
10. Saltatory conduction refers to:
A. Release of neurotransmitter in small packets
B. Backward spread of current into dendrites
C. Chemical transmission across a synapse
D. The action potential jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next
D. The action potential jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next
In myelinated axons the signal regenerates only at the nodes, which
speeds conduction.
11. In the central nervous system, myelin is produced by:
A. Oligodendrocytes
B. Schwann cells
C. Microglia
D. Astrocytes
A. Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes wrap segments of several CNS axons at once.
Page 4 of 53
PSYC 302 – BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY | EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND
NEUROSCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 302: BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Page 1 of 53
,PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
1. The basic cell of the nervous system that receives, integrates and
transmits information is the:
A. Glial cell
B. Myelin sheath
C. Synaptic vesicle
D. Neuron
D. Neuron
Neurons are the signalling cells; glia support them but do not carry the
main information signal.
2. Which part of a neuron is specialised mainly for receiving
information from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrites
C. Nodes of Ranvier
D. Terminal buttons
B. Dendrites
Dendrites are branching extensions covered in receptors that pick up
incoming chemical messages.
3. The typical resting membrane potential of a neuron is
approximately:
A. 0 mV
B. -70 mV
C. -20 mV
D. +40 mV
B. -70 mV
At rest the inside of the neuron is about 70 millivolts more negative than
the outside.
Page 2 of 53
,PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
4. Which ion is more highly concentrated inside the neuron than
outside at rest?
A. Potassium (K+)
B. Sodium (Na+)
C. Chloride (Cl-)
D. Calcium (Ca2+)
A. Potassium (K+)
The sodium-potassium pump keeps K+ concentrated inside and Na+
concentrated outside the cell.
5. The sodium-potassium pump moves ions across the membrane in
which ratio?
A. 3 Na+ out for every 2 K+ in
B. 1 Na+ out for every 1 K+ in
C. 2 Na+ out for every 3 K+ in
D. 3 Na+ in for every 2 K+ out
A. 3 Na+ out for every 2 K+ in
Each cycle uses ATP to push three sodium ions out and bring two
potassium ions in.
6. The rising (depolarising) phase of the action potential is mainly
caused by:
A. Influx of Cl- through ligand-gated channels
B. Efflux of K+ through voltage-gated channels
C. Activity of the sodium-potassium pump
D. Influx of Na+ through voltage-gated channels
D. Influx of Na+ through voltage-gated channels
Once threshold is reached, voltage-gated sodium channels open and Na+
rushes into the cell.
7. Repolarisation of the membrane after the peak of the action
potential is chiefly due to:
A. Outflow of K+ ions
B. Inflow of Na+ ions
C. Closure of chloride channels
D. Inflow of Ca2+ ions
A. Outflow of K+ ions
Voltage-gated potassium channels open and K+ leaves, returning the
inside toward a negative charge.
Page 3 of 53
, PSYC 302: Biological Psychology
8. During the absolute refractory period:
A. A stronger than normal stimulus can trigger an action potential
B. Neurotransmitter release is at its peak
C. No stimulus, however strong, can trigger another action potential
D. The membrane is permanently depolarised
C. No stimulus, however strong, can trigger another action potential
Sodium channels are inactivated, so a second action potential cannot be
produced at all.
9. The all-or-none law states that:
A. Stronger stimuli produce larger action potentials
B. Every neuron fires at the same rate
C. Graded potentials always reach the axon terminal
D. Once threshold is reached, the size of the action potential does not
depend on stimulus intensity
D. Once threshold is reached, the size of the action potential does not
depend on stimulus intensity
An action potential either fires fully or not at all; intensity is coded by
firing rate instead.
10. Saltatory conduction refers to:
A. Release of neurotransmitter in small packets
B. Backward spread of current into dendrites
C. Chemical transmission across a synapse
D. The action potential jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next
D. The action potential jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next
In myelinated axons the signal regenerates only at the nodes, which
speeds conduction.
11. In the central nervous system, myelin is produced by:
A. Oligodendrocytes
B. Schwann cells
C. Microglia
D. Astrocytes
A. Oligodendrocytes
Oligodendrocytes wrap segments of several CNS axons at once.
Page 4 of 53
