Neuroscience and Behavior Master the
Exam – Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions and Verified Answers
What is biological psychology? -answer✅✅✅The scientific study of the biological
bases of behavior and mental processes.
Define neuroscience. -answer✅✅✅The scientific study of the nervous system,
especially the brain.
What is a neuron? -answer✅✅✅A highly specialized cell that communicates
information in electrical and chemical form.
What type of neuron conveys information to the brain from sense organs? -
answer✅✅✅Sensory (afferent) neuron.
What is the role of a motor neuron? -answer✅✅✅To signal muscles and glands to
relax or contract.
What is an interneuron? -answer✅✅✅A type of neuron that communicates information
between neurons.
What are the three basic components of most neurons? -answer✅✅✅Cell body
(soma), dendrites, and axon.
What is the function of glial cells? -answer✅✅✅To provide structural and functional
support for neurons throughout the nervous system.
What do oligodendrocytes do? -answer✅✅✅They form the myelin sheath and nodes
of Ranvier.
What is the function of microglia? -answer✅✅✅They perform the brain's 'clean-up'
work and are part of the immune response.
What is the enteric nervous system often referred to as? -answer✅✅✅The second
brain.
What is an action potential? -answer✅✅✅A neural impulse produced by the movement
of electrically charged particles (ions) across the axon membrane.
,What is the stimulus threshold? -answer✅✅✅The minimum level of stimulation
required to activate a particular neuron.
What occurs at the synapse? -answer✅✅✅Communication between neurons takes
place at the synapse, the junction between two adjoining neurons.
What is the presynaptic neuron? -answer✅✅✅The neuron that sends the signal.
What is the postsynaptic neuron? -answer✅✅✅The neuron that receives the signal.
What are neurotransmitters? -answer✅✅✅Chemical messengers that transmit signals
across the synapse between neurons.
How do drugs affect synaptic transmission? -answer✅✅✅They can increase or
decrease neurotransmitter release, block reuptake, or mimic neurotransmitters.
What are the two major communication systems in the body? -answer✅✅✅The
nervous system and the endocrine system.
What does the central nervous system (CNS) consist of? -answer✅✅✅The brain and
spinal cord.
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system? -answer✅✅✅It
regulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.
What hormones are produced by the adrenal glands? -answer✅✅✅Epinephrine and
norepinephrine, involved in the stress response.
What is neuroplasticity? -answer✅✅✅The brain's capacity to change in function and
structure in response to experience.
What is functional plasticity? -answer✅✅✅The brain's ability to shift functions from
damaged to undamaged areas.
What is structural plasticity? -answer✅✅✅The brain's ability to change its physical
structure in response to learning or environmental influences.
What is the primary function of the somatic nervous system? -answer✅✅✅To
communicate sensory information to the CNS and motor messages from the CNS to
muscles.
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system? -answer✅✅✅To regulate
involuntary functions and responses, including the fight-or-flight response.
, What does Electroencephalography (EEG) measure? -answer✅✅✅Brain activity and
abnormalities in electrical charges, including subcortical areas.
What is the primary use of Positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning? -
answer✅✅✅To provide color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the use of a
radioactively tagged compound.
What does functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measure? -
answer✅✅✅Changes in brain blood flow and oxygen levels to track specific brain
activities.
What is the purpose of Computed tomography (CT)? -answer✅✅✅To create three-
dimensional images of scanned regions using repetitive X-ray images.
What does Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produce? -answer✅✅✅Highly detailed
images of the body's structures and tissues using electromagnetic signals.
What is Diffusion MRI (dMRI) used for? -answer✅✅✅To map neural connections in
the brain by tracking the movement of water molecules along myelinated axons.
What are some limitations of brain imaging studies? -answer✅✅✅They may not
enhance understanding of real-time behavior and responses can vary among
individuals.
What is neurogenesis? -answer✅✅✅The development of new neurons incorporated
into existing neural networks, particularly in learning and memory.
Which two brain regions have limited neurogenesis? -answer✅✅✅The olfactory bulb
and the hippocampus.
What structures make up the brainstem? -answer✅✅✅The hindbrain and midbrain.
What functions does the hindbrain regulate? -answer✅✅✅Basic life functions such as
breathing and circulation.
What are the three main structures of the hindbrain? -answer✅✅✅Medulla, pons, and
cerebellum.
What is the role of the medulla? -answer✅✅✅To control vital life functions like
breathing and circulation.
What does the pons connect? -answer✅✅✅The medulla to the two sides of the
cerebellum.
Exam – Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions and Verified Answers
What is biological psychology? -answer✅✅✅The scientific study of the biological
bases of behavior and mental processes.
Define neuroscience. -answer✅✅✅The scientific study of the nervous system,
especially the brain.
What is a neuron? -answer✅✅✅A highly specialized cell that communicates
information in electrical and chemical form.
What type of neuron conveys information to the brain from sense organs? -
answer✅✅✅Sensory (afferent) neuron.
What is the role of a motor neuron? -answer✅✅✅To signal muscles and glands to
relax or contract.
What is an interneuron? -answer✅✅✅A type of neuron that communicates information
between neurons.
What are the three basic components of most neurons? -answer✅✅✅Cell body
(soma), dendrites, and axon.
What is the function of glial cells? -answer✅✅✅To provide structural and functional
support for neurons throughout the nervous system.
What do oligodendrocytes do? -answer✅✅✅They form the myelin sheath and nodes
of Ranvier.
What is the function of microglia? -answer✅✅✅They perform the brain's 'clean-up'
work and are part of the immune response.
What is the enteric nervous system often referred to as? -answer✅✅✅The second
brain.
What is an action potential? -answer✅✅✅A neural impulse produced by the movement
of electrically charged particles (ions) across the axon membrane.
,What is the stimulus threshold? -answer✅✅✅The minimum level of stimulation
required to activate a particular neuron.
What occurs at the synapse? -answer✅✅✅Communication between neurons takes
place at the synapse, the junction between two adjoining neurons.
What is the presynaptic neuron? -answer✅✅✅The neuron that sends the signal.
What is the postsynaptic neuron? -answer✅✅✅The neuron that receives the signal.
What are neurotransmitters? -answer✅✅✅Chemical messengers that transmit signals
across the synapse between neurons.
How do drugs affect synaptic transmission? -answer✅✅✅They can increase or
decrease neurotransmitter release, block reuptake, or mimic neurotransmitters.
What are the two major communication systems in the body? -answer✅✅✅The
nervous system and the endocrine system.
What does the central nervous system (CNS) consist of? -answer✅✅✅The brain and
spinal cord.
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the endocrine system? -answer✅✅✅It
regulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.
What hormones are produced by the adrenal glands? -answer✅✅✅Epinephrine and
norepinephrine, involved in the stress response.
What is neuroplasticity? -answer✅✅✅The brain's capacity to change in function and
structure in response to experience.
What is functional plasticity? -answer✅✅✅The brain's ability to shift functions from
damaged to undamaged areas.
What is structural plasticity? -answer✅✅✅The brain's ability to change its physical
structure in response to learning or environmental influences.
What is the primary function of the somatic nervous system? -answer✅✅✅To
communicate sensory information to the CNS and motor messages from the CNS to
muscles.
What is the role of the autonomic nervous system? -answer✅✅✅To regulate
involuntary functions and responses, including the fight-or-flight response.
, What does Electroencephalography (EEG) measure? -answer✅✅✅Brain activity and
abnormalities in electrical charges, including subcortical areas.
What is the primary use of Positron-emission tomography (PET) scanning? -
answer✅✅✅To provide color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the use of a
radioactively tagged compound.
What does functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measure? -
answer✅✅✅Changes in brain blood flow and oxygen levels to track specific brain
activities.
What is the purpose of Computed tomography (CT)? -answer✅✅✅To create three-
dimensional images of scanned regions using repetitive X-ray images.
What does Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produce? -answer✅✅✅Highly detailed
images of the body's structures and tissues using electromagnetic signals.
What is Diffusion MRI (dMRI) used for? -answer✅✅✅To map neural connections in
the brain by tracking the movement of water molecules along myelinated axons.
What are some limitations of brain imaging studies? -answer✅✅✅They may not
enhance understanding of real-time behavior and responses can vary among
individuals.
What is neurogenesis? -answer✅✅✅The development of new neurons incorporated
into existing neural networks, particularly in learning and memory.
Which two brain regions have limited neurogenesis? -answer✅✅✅The olfactory bulb
and the hippocampus.
What structures make up the brainstem? -answer✅✅✅The hindbrain and midbrain.
What functions does the hindbrain regulate? -answer✅✅✅Basic life functions such as
breathing and circulation.
What are the three main structures of the hindbrain? -answer✅✅✅Medulla, pons, and
cerebellum.
What is the role of the medulla? -answer✅✅✅To control vital life functions like
breathing and circulation.
What does the pons connect? -answer✅✅✅The medulla to the two sides of the
cerebellum.
