QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Where in the cell do action potentials exist?
a) cell body
b) axons
c) dendrites
d) all of the above - ANSWER-b) axons
Where in the cell is information received?
a) cell body
b) axons
c) dendrites
d) all of the above - ANSWER-c) dendrites
Put the following steps of transmitting an action potential into the correct order.
a) Receptor molecules open up ion channels
b) Action potential activates synaptic bouton
c) Neurotransmitter diffuses across gap to postsynaptic cleft
d) Synaptic vesicles releases neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft
e) Ions flow through into postsynaptic cell
f) Neurotransmitter binds to receptor molecule on postsynaptic cell - ANSWER-b) Action
potential activates synaptic bouton
d) Synaptic vesicles releases neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft
c) Neurotransmitter diffuses across gap to postsynaptic cleft
f) Neurotransmitter binds to receptor molecule on postsynaptic cell
a) Receptor molecules open up ion channels
e) Ions flow through into postsynaptic cell
True or False: Cells receive input from multiple sources coming onto the cell body and
dendrites. - ANSWER-True.
What are 2 ways that one can change the properties of neurotransmission (forms of
neuroplasticity)? - ANSWER-1. Change in neurotransmitter release
2. Change in the size or shape of the post-synaptic potential
What are 3 forms of neuroplasticity that result in a change in cell properties? -
ANSWER-1. Changing size or shape of cell
2. Changing electrical properties (resistance)
3. Changing the leakiness of the membrane
,What are the 3 overarching forms of neuroplasticity? - ANSWER-1. Change the
properties of neurotransmission
2. Change cell properties
3. Structural/anatomical changes in cells
True or False: the bulk of the (neuroplasticity) changes that we see in rehab are a result
of structural or anatomical changes in cells. - ANSWER-False. (This form of
neuroplasticity takes a lot of time, and this is not the bulk of change that we will be
seeing in rehab)
Unmasking is an example of which form of neuroplasticity?
a) Change the properties of neurotransmission
b) Change cell properties
c) Structural/anatomical changes in cells - ANSWER-c) Structural/anatomical changes
in cells
Which of the following is responsible for the phenomenon known as phantom limb
syndrome?
a) unmasking
b) collateral sprouting
c) dendritic pruning
d) neurogenesis - ANSWER-a) unmasking
How does dendritic pruning change the function of the cell? - ANSWER-It changes the
size and shape of the cell, which therefore changes the function.
True or False: Dendritic pruning happens immediately after an injury. - ANSWER-False.
(it takes time, as the dendrites will stay there for a while hoping that new inputs will
come in and try to connect)
Why does the body undergo dendritic pruning? - ANSWER-Dendrites without input are
metabolically costly, and we don't want to waste energy sustaining something that is not
contributing to anything
True or False: Collateral sprouting is activity dependent. - ANSWER-True.
True or False: An injury is required to drive collateral sprouting. - ANSWER-False.
(Think about monkey's fingers that were stimulated. If something is being used a lot, it
will take over territory that is not being used that much - no injury involved)
What are 3 pieces of evidence that we have to support that neurogenesis does occur in
adulthood? - ANSWER-1. Tissues in our body produce new cells (blood, bone
remodelling, etc.)
, 2. Glial cells produce new cells in response to injury
3. Neurogenesis occurs in vertebrate species
In which 2 areas of the brain do neural stem cells exist? - ANSWER-1. Lateral ventricle
2. Hippocampus
Neurogenesis in the lateral ventricle is involved in which function?
a) Injury repair
b) Replacing cells lost in wear and tear
c) Memory retention
d) All of the above - ANSWER-b) Replacing cells lost in wear and tear (replacing
olfactory bulb cells that are being sloughed off every time we sneeze or blow our nose)
Neurogenesis in the hippocampus is involved in which function?
a) Injury repair
b) Replacing cells lost in wear and tear
c) Memory retention
d) All of the above - ANSWER-c) Memory retention
What is the leading hypothesis for how we replace locked memories? - ANSWER-There
is a high turnover rate in a very specialized region on the hippocampus (we destroy the
cell and replace it with something new, resulting in changes to the entire network)
Which of the following do we know that the human system is incapable of doing?
a) Carrying out neurogenesis in the adult nervous system
b) Creating new neurons
c) Embedding new neurons in the nervous system
d) Using the new neurons in a functional role
e) The human system is capable of all of these things. - ANSWER-d) Using the new
neurons in a functional role
What are the 3 main steps that neural stem cells have to undergo to become neurons? -
ANSWER-1. Proliferation
2. Migration
3. Differentiation
In the mature nervous system, what prevents sprouting over great distances? -
ANSWER-Pre-existing structures are barriers to growth
What are the 2 types of axonal guidance cues? - ANSWER-1. Chemoattractants
2. Chemorepellants