Biological Psychology Core Review Questions

Fall 2013

To get the most from this study guide, write out both the questions and answers, then test yourself by reading each question and reciting answers from memory. Practice tests with a study partner is even more effective. Allow yourself enough time to complete the questions AND to study the answers.
(Not available for Honors Section) For 3% extra credit (added to Course Grade), answer each of the questions and submit it on the day of the quiz. Do not submit unfinished work. Incomplete work with unanswered questions will be penalized. No partial credit. Work can be handwritten or typewritten, but must be organized. Pages must be stapled at the top.
To earn extra credit all answers must be your own work, written in your own words. Do not copy answers from the textbook, or from another student (i.e. do not cheat).
Recommended: After self-testing with the Quiz Review, construct one page of (handwritten) notes of the most difficult concepts/key terms for use during the test.
Completing the Review Questions and creating a sheet of notes will deepen understanding and improve your retention of the course material. Good effort leads to good grades.

QUIZ 1: Chap 1, 2, 3, 4

Chap 1: An Introduction to Brain and Behavior
1. Describe Descartes’ concept of “dualism”? In contrast, describe Darwin’s concept of “materialism” (i.e. the workings of the mind are purely physical)?
2. At each level (Box 1.1 p. 11), what are the characteristics humans have in common with all animals, all vertebrates, all mammals, all primates?
3. What is a correlational study? What is a positive correlation? What is a negative correlation?
4. How does a correlational study differ from an experimental study?
5. Identify the following terms: control group, independent variable, dependent variable.
6. Be able to identify somatic interventions/effects versus behavioral interventions/effects.
7. What are some of the pros and cons of animal research?

Chap 2: Cells and Structures: The Anatomy of the Nervous System

1. Describe the roles of the different parts of a neuron: dendrite, cell body/soma, axon, myelin sheath, nodes of Ranvier, axon terminal. Know which structures are responsible for input, integration, conduction, and output.
2. Explain the roles of sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons.
3. Identify the different parts of a synapse : presynaptic membrane, vesicles (sacs), neurotransmitter, synaptic cleft, postsynaptic membrane, receptors.
4. Describe the roles of different glia in the nervous system: astrocytes (astroglia), microglia, oligodendrocytes (oligodendroglia), Schwann cells.
5. Briefly describe the 3 components of the peripheral nervous system.
6. In the cranial nerves: identify the functions of the trigeminal nerve and the vagus nerve.
7. Contrast the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
8. In the autonomic nervous system, contrast the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
9. Describe describe the directions of dorsal vs ventral, anterior vs posterior, lateral vs medial, contralateral vs ipsilateral, and superior versus inferior. Also, what part of the human brain is the dorsal surface?
10. In the spinal cord, identify: white matter, grey matter, ventral roots and dorsal roots.
11. Identify the following structures of the brain: three types of meninges, convolutions (gyrus, sulcus, fissue), ventricles, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood-brain barrier.
12. Briefly describe the sequence of development (hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain) and how this relates to complexity of function
13. Describe the location (lobe) and major functions of the following cortical areas: visual cortex, auditory cortex, motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, prefrontal cortex, Broca’s Area, Wernicke’s Area.
14. Describe the function of the following structures: basal ganglia, limbic system, amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus,