GRE Psychology - Biological Psychology
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Central Nervous System - CORRECT ANSWER - - composed of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System - CORRECT ANSWER - - the pathway that runs to and from
the CNS
- afferent fibers run toward the CNS; efferent fibers run away from the CNS
- composed of:
1) Somatic Nervous System - controls voluntary movements of the striated muscles
2) Autonomic Nervous System - involuntary movements of the smooth muscles, 2 parts:
a) Sympathetic nervous system - arousal
b) Parasympathetic nervous system - recuperation
Spinal Cord - CORRECT ANSWER - - consists of an inner core of gray matter (cell
bodies and dendrites) and an outer covering of white matter (nerve fivers, axon bundles, myelin
sheathing) that go to and from the brain
Hindbrain - CORRECT ANSWER - - Myelencephalon (medulla): controls reflexes, sleep,
attention, movement
- Metencephalon: contains the pons (connects brain to spine) and cerebellum (muscle
coordination, balance, and posture)
- Reticular Formation: considered the oldest part of the brain; controls alertness, thirst, sleep, and
involuntary muscles
Mesencephalon (Midbrain) - CORRECT ANSWER - - Tectum: controls vision and
hearing
- Tegmentum: houses the part of the reticular formation; involved in the sensorimotor system,
analgesic effect of opiates
, Forebrain - CORRECT ANSWER - can be divided into the diencephalon and the
telencephalon
Diencephalon - CORRECT ANSWER - - Thalamus: channels sensory information to the
cerebral cortex
- Hypothalamus: controls ANS biological motivations (hunger, thirst) and the pituitary gland
(master endocrine gland)
Telencephalon - CORRECT ANSWER - - Limbic system: a group of structures around the
brainstem involved in fleeing, feeding, fighting, and fornicating
- Hippocampus: involved in transferring STM to LTM
- Amygdala: controls emotional reactions, fear, anger
- Cingulate Gyrus: links areas in the brain dealing with emotion and decisions
Cerebral Cortex - CORRECT ANSWER - - the outer half-inch of the cerebral
hemispheres, with gyri (bumps) and sulci (fissures)
- 90% is neocortex (new in evolution, 6-layer cortex), the other 10% has < 6 layers and is more
primitive
1) Frontal lobe: speech, reasoning, problem solving
2) Occipital lobe: vision
3) Parietal lobe: somatosensory system
4) Temporal lobe: hearing
Meninges - CORRECT ANSWER - tough connective tissues that cover and protect the
brain and spinal cord
Blood-Brain Barrier - CORRECT ANSWER - protects the brain by making it extremely
difficult for toxic substances to pass from the blood into the brain
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Central Nervous System - CORRECT ANSWER - - composed of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System - CORRECT ANSWER - - the pathway that runs to and from
the CNS
- afferent fibers run toward the CNS; efferent fibers run away from the CNS
- composed of:
1) Somatic Nervous System - controls voluntary movements of the striated muscles
2) Autonomic Nervous System - involuntary movements of the smooth muscles, 2 parts:
a) Sympathetic nervous system - arousal
b) Parasympathetic nervous system - recuperation
Spinal Cord - CORRECT ANSWER - - consists of an inner core of gray matter (cell
bodies and dendrites) and an outer covering of white matter (nerve fivers, axon bundles, myelin
sheathing) that go to and from the brain
Hindbrain - CORRECT ANSWER - - Myelencephalon (medulla): controls reflexes, sleep,
attention, movement
- Metencephalon: contains the pons (connects brain to spine) and cerebellum (muscle
coordination, balance, and posture)
- Reticular Formation: considered the oldest part of the brain; controls alertness, thirst, sleep, and
involuntary muscles
Mesencephalon (Midbrain) - CORRECT ANSWER - - Tectum: controls vision and
hearing
- Tegmentum: houses the part of the reticular formation; involved in the sensorimotor system,
analgesic effect of opiates
, Forebrain - CORRECT ANSWER - can be divided into the diencephalon and the
telencephalon
Diencephalon - CORRECT ANSWER - - Thalamus: channels sensory information to the
cerebral cortex
- Hypothalamus: controls ANS biological motivations (hunger, thirst) and the pituitary gland
(master endocrine gland)
Telencephalon - CORRECT ANSWER - - Limbic system: a group of structures around the
brainstem involved in fleeing, feeding, fighting, and fornicating
- Hippocampus: involved in transferring STM to LTM
- Amygdala: controls emotional reactions, fear, anger
- Cingulate Gyrus: links areas in the brain dealing with emotion and decisions
Cerebral Cortex - CORRECT ANSWER - - the outer half-inch of the cerebral
hemispheres, with gyri (bumps) and sulci (fissures)
- 90% is neocortex (new in evolution, 6-layer cortex), the other 10% has < 6 layers and is more
primitive
1) Frontal lobe: speech, reasoning, problem solving
2) Occipital lobe: vision
3) Parietal lobe: somatosensory system
4) Temporal lobe: hearing
Meninges - CORRECT ANSWER - tough connective tissues that cover and protect the
brain and spinal cord
Blood-Brain Barrier - CORRECT ANSWER - protects the brain by making it extremely
difficult for toxic substances to pass from the blood into the brain
