NSCI 175 Final Exam Review Questions And Correct Answers
Rated A+ verified answers (2026 update)
Explain Why Progress in science is often slow Correct Answer:- -Because experiments take
time and the process of observation, replication, interpretation, and verification is
exhaustive. It also takes time to get published and for the new information to become
widespread.
Explain the Reductionist Approach:
- How is the Approach? Correct Answer:- Is the process of breaking down the enormous
problem of understanding how the brain works into smaller pieces for systematic
experimental analysis. The reductionist approach lends itself to different levels of analysis
in the brain from molecular to cognitive neuroscience.
Compare different levels of analysis:
Question: What are they? Correct Answer:- - Molecular Neuroscience
- Cellular Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Definition For All Levels of Analysis: Correct Answer:- - Molecular: Studying the variety of
molecules in the brain and the roles they play in brain function; the most elementary level
of neuroscience.
- Cellular: Studying how all those molecules work together to give neurons their special
properties; the study of cells and their properties/functions in the brain.
- Systems: Studying how different neural circuits analyze sensory information, from
perceptions fo the external world, and execute movements
- Behavioral: Studying how neural systems work together to produce integrate behaviors
(such as behavior, memory, mood, dreams)
- Cognitive: Studying the neural mechanisms responsible for higher levels of human mental
activity, such as self-awareness, imagination, and language; studies how he activity of the
brain creates the mind.
List and Describe the Four Essential Steps in the Scientific Process with examples. Correct
Answer:- Observation: Observations are made during experiments designed to test a
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, particular hypothesis, or are made by carefully watching the world us (like observing clinical
patients)
Replication: Observations must be then replicated BY THE ORIGINAL OBSERVER by repeating
the experiment on different subjects or making similar observations in different patients, as
many time as necessary to rule out the possibility that the observation occurred by chance.
Interpretation: Observations are then interpreted after they are believed to be correct.
Interpretations seek to explain the observation. Interpretations depend on the state of
knowledge or ignorance at the time and on a scientists preconceived notions, so they don't
always hold up over time.
Verification: Assesses whether the observation is sufficiently robust that any competent
scientist who precisely follows the protocols of the original observer can reproduce it. The
process of verification establishes new scientific fact.
Discuss the importance of animal research in the field of neuroscience Correct Answer:- -
Animal research is important to the field of neuroscience because it enables us to learn
about the nervous system to a degree that would be impossible if we only performed
noninvasive experiments on humans. Animal research lets us work with living tissue and
helps us understand the human nervous system by examining that of animals.
Explain when animal research is needed: Correct Answer:- Is needed when questions about
the nervous system are unable to be answered by an ethical examination of humans.
Animal models allow us to answer these questions
Differentiate animal rights and animal welfare views. Correct Answer:- Animal Welfare:
Accepting the necessity for animal experimentation to advance knowledge, as long as it is
performed humanely and with proper response for animals' welfare.
- Animals are only being used in worthwhile experiments that promise to advance our
knowledge of the nervous system, all necessary steps being taken to minimize pain and
distress experience by animals, and all possible alternative to the use of animals are
considered.
Animal Rights: Seeking to totally abolish animal use for human purposes, including
experimentation; believing that animals should/do have the same legal and moral rights as
humans.
Describe the three Rs of Ethical Animals Research Correct Answer:- Reduction:
Reducing the numbers of animals using in experiments by:
- Improving experimental techniques
- Improving techniques of data analysis
pg. 2
, - Sharing information with other researchers
Refinement: Refining the experiment of the way the animals are care for so as to reduce
their suffering by:
- Using less invasive techniques
- Better Medical Care
- Better living conditions
Replacement: Replacing experiments on animals with alternative
techniques.
Identify how many neurons and glia are in the human Brain. Correct Answer:-
Approximately 85 billion neurons and 85 billion glia in the human brain
Discuss Important histological procedures and how they contributed to the
advancement of neuroscience
(i.e. Golgi method, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization) Correct Answer:- Golgi
Method: The Golgi Method is a silver nitrate based stain. It stains a few neurons at the time
in their entirety, allowing us to study them in detail against the backdrop of other cells. The
Golgi method enabled scientists to see the distinct structure and features of a neuron better
than before.
Immunohistochemistry: Utilizes aspects of the immune system to selectively identify protein
expression in neurons. The expression of individual proteins can be used to identify the
location and identity of unique cell populations in the nervous systems. BASED ON PROTEIN
In situ Hybridization: Is a type of hybridization that uses a labeled complementary DNA, RNA
or modified nucleic acids strand (i.e., probe) to localize a specific DNA or RNA sequence in a
portion or section of tissue. IN situ hybridization is used to reveal the location of specific
nucleic acid sequences on chromosomes or in tissues, a crucial step for understanding the
organization, regulation, and function of genes, BASED ON RNA.
What did Golgi and Cajal disagree about? Correct Answer:- Golgi and Cajal disagreed about
the nature of the nervous system. Whether it was a continuous electrical circuit (reticular
Theory) or composed of individual cells that communicate information to one another
(neuron Doctrine).
Compare Neuron Doctrine and Reticular Theory Correct Answer:- Neuron Doctrine:
- The brain is composed of independent cells, as cell theory states. Information is
transmitted from cell to cell across synapses. The neuritis of different neurons are not
continuous with each other and communicate by contact (at synapses) not continuity.
Reticular Theory:
pg. 3
Rated A+ verified answers (2026 update)
Explain Why Progress in science is often slow Correct Answer:- -Because experiments take
time and the process of observation, replication, interpretation, and verification is
exhaustive. It also takes time to get published and for the new information to become
widespread.
Explain the Reductionist Approach:
- How is the Approach? Correct Answer:- Is the process of breaking down the enormous
problem of understanding how the brain works into smaller pieces for systematic
experimental analysis. The reductionist approach lends itself to different levels of analysis
in the brain from molecular to cognitive neuroscience.
Compare different levels of analysis:
Question: What are they? Correct Answer:- - Molecular Neuroscience
- Cellular Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Definition For All Levels of Analysis: Correct Answer:- - Molecular: Studying the variety of
molecules in the brain and the roles they play in brain function; the most elementary level
of neuroscience.
- Cellular: Studying how all those molecules work together to give neurons their special
properties; the study of cells and their properties/functions in the brain.
- Systems: Studying how different neural circuits analyze sensory information, from
perceptions fo the external world, and execute movements
- Behavioral: Studying how neural systems work together to produce integrate behaviors
(such as behavior, memory, mood, dreams)
- Cognitive: Studying the neural mechanisms responsible for higher levels of human mental
activity, such as self-awareness, imagination, and language; studies how he activity of the
brain creates the mind.
List and Describe the Four Essential Steps in the Scientific Process with examples. Correct
Answer:- Observation: Observations are made during experiments designed to test a
pg. 1
, particular hypothesis, or are made by carefully watching the world us (like observing clinical
patients)
Replication: Observations must be then replicated BY THE ORIGINAL OBSERVER by repeating
the experiment on different subjects or making similar observations in different patients, as
many time as necessary to rule out the possibility that the observation occurred by chance.
Interpretation: Observations are then interpreted after they are believed to be correct.
Interpretations seek to explain the observation. Interpretations depend on the state of
knowledge or ignorance at the time and on a scientists preconceived notions, so they don't
always hold up over time.
Verification: Assesses whether the observation is sufficiently robust that any competent
scientist who precisely follows the protocols of the original observer can reproduce it. The
process of verification establishes new scientific fact.
Discuss the importance of animal research in the field of neuroscience Correct Answer:- -
Animal research is important to the field of neuroscience because it enables us to learn
about the nervous system to a degree that would be impossible if we only performed
noninvasive experiments on humans. Animal research lets us work with living tissue and
helps us understand the human nervous system by examining that of animals.
Explain when animal research is needed: Correct Answer:- Is needed when questions about
the nervous system are unable to be answered by an ethical examination of humans.
Animal models allow us to answer these questions
Differentiate animal rights and animal welfare views. Correct Answer:- Animal Welfare:
Accepting the necessity for animal experimentation to advance knowledge, as long as it is
performed humanely and with proper response for animals' welfare.
- Animals are only being used in worthwhile experiments that promise to advance our
knowledge of the nervous system, all necessary steps being taken to minimize pain and
distress experience by animals, and all possible alternative to the use of animals are
considered.
Animal Rights: Seeking to totally abolish animal use for human purposes, including
experimentation; believing that animals should/do have the same legal and moral rights as
humans.
Describe the three Rs of Ethical Animals Research Correct Answer:- Reduction:
Reducing the numbers of animals using in experiments by:
- Improving experimental techniques
- Improving techniques of data analysis
pg. 2
, - Sharing information with other researchers
Refinement: Refining the experiment of the way the animals are care for so as to reduce
their suffering by:
- Using less invasive techniques
- Better Medical Care
- Better living conditions
Replacement: Replacing experiments on animals with alternative
techniques.
Identify how many neurons and glia are in the human Brain. Correct Answer:-
Approximately 85 billion neurons and 85 billion glia in the human brain
Discuss Important histological procedures and how they contributed to the
advancement of neuroscience
(i.e. Golgi method, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization) Correct Answer:- Golgi
Method: The Golgi Method is a silver nitrate based stain. It stains a few neurons at the time
in their entirety, allowing us to study them in detail against the backdrop of other cells. The
Golgi method enabled scientists to see the distinct structure and features of a neuron better
than before.
Immunohistochemistry: Utilizes aspects of the immune system to selectively identify protein
expression in neurons. The expression of individual proteins can be used to identify the
location and identity of unique cell populations in the nervous systems. BASED ON PROTEIN
In situ Hybridization: Is a type of hybridization that uses a labeled complementary DNA, RNA
or modified nucleic acids strand (i.e., probe) to localize a specific DNA or RNA sequence in a
portion or section of tissue. IN situ hybridization is used to reveal the location of specific
nucleic acid sequences on chromosomes or in tissues, a crucial step for understanding the
organization, regulation, and function of genes, BASED ON RNA.
What did Golgi and Cajal disagree about? Correct Answer:- Golgi and Cajal disagreed about
the nature of the nervous system. Whether it was a continuous electrical circuit (reticular
Theory) or composed of individual cells that communicate information to one another
(neuron Doctrine).
Compare Neuron Doctrine and Reticular Theory Correct Answer:- Neuron Doctrine:
- The brain is composed of independent cells, as cell theory states. Information is
transmitted from cell to cell across synapses. The neuritis of different neurons are not
continuous with each other and communicate by contact (at synapses) not continuity.
Reticular Theory:
pg. 3
