Introduction Behavioral Neuroscience Test Bank Chapter 10 Complete Exam Prep Resource 2025/ 2026

Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
OpenStax


Chapter 10: Motor Control
Multiple Choice

1. Which contraction-associated protein is considered a “thin filament,” attaches directly to
Z-discs, and provides periodic binding sites for globular heads derived from “thick
filaments?”
A. Actin*
B. Myosin
C. Troponin
D. Tropomyosin

Bloom’s Level. 1 Remembering

2. Which ion derives from internal stores in response to muscle action potentials and initiates
contraction by activating processes that expose binding sites on thin filaments, allowing
thick filament components to bind with and pull inward to contract via the cross-bridge
cycle?
A. Calcium*
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Chloride

Bloom’s Level 1. Remembering

3. Axon terminals at synapses within neuromuscular junctions, that activate voluntary skeletal
muscles, release multiple vesicles containing ________ as motoneurons depolarize muscle
fibers to promote contractions.
A. norepinephrine
B. gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA)
C. acetylcholine*
D. nicotine

Bloom’s Level 1. Remembering

4. What is the ultimate cause of rigor mortis, the stiffening effect of limb muscles that happens
after death and can be used by forensic scientists to determine approximate time of death
based on the time this takes to happen?
A. All muscles fully contract because the myosin can continuously crawl.
B. Calcium levels within the muscle cells runs out.
C. Contractile proteins completely break down.
D. The supply of ATP and ADP runs out.*



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, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
OpenStax

Bloom’s Level 3. Applying

5. Within the spinal cord grey matter, neurons that are involved in activating muscles
associated with moving our fingers would be found in ________ regions, while neurons
responsible for activating muscles that move the trunk of our body are located in more
________ regions.
A. dorsolateral / dorsomedial
B. dorsomedial / dorsolateral
C. ventromedial / ventrolateral
D. ventrolateral / ventromedial*

Bloom’s Level 2. Understanding

6. Where are the nicotinic receptors located around the neuromuscular junction synaptic
architecture?
A. On the crests (tops) of the postsynaptic junctional folds*
B. On the troughs (bottoms) of the postsynaptic junctional folds
C. In a circle formed around the edges of the postsynaptic site of the muscle cell
D. On the presynaptic terminals around the perimeter, away from the primary release zone

Bloom’s Level 1. Remembering

7. Central pattern generators in the nervous system generally:
A. help us determine the patterns of movement we need to elicit to accomplish a task.
B. automate and perpetuate many simple back-and-forth movements and serve as a basis
for many locomotor systems.*
C. create the images within our heads when we’re trying to be artistic.
D. help us determine the consistency of “patterns” of sensory-to-motor responses while
learning.

Bloom’s Level 2. Understanding

8. Declines in the support or involvement of upper motoneurons in movement control
targeting the spinal cord generally yields ________ and might appear as if limbs are moving
far more on their own without conscious control as a result.
A. automatism
B. sleepwalking
C. epilepsy
D. hyperreflexia*

Bloom’s Level 2. Understanding

9. Under which of the below circumstances or tasks would you predict it would be MOST likely
you would be activating both alpha and gamma motoneurons together (coactivation)?

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