Question 1

Sherrington found that repeated stimuli within a brief time have a cumulative effect. He referred to this phenomenon as ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   temporal summation
B)   spatial summation
C)   synaptic summation
D)   saltatory summationE) C) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 2

Why is the speed of conduction through a reflex arc slower than the speed of conduction of an action potential along an axon?

Accepted Answer

A)   Transmission between neurons at synapses is slower than along axons.
B)   The longer an axon, the slower its velocity.
C)   Interneurons have thicker axons than other neurons.
D)   There are greater amounts of myelin involved in the reflex arc.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 3

Insulin increases the entry of tryptophan into the brain by ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   weakening the blood-brain barrier
B)   converting tryptophan into a compound that more easily enters the brain
C)   increasing metabolic activity only in those areas of the brain that use tryptophan
D)   causing certain competing amino acids to enter other cells, outside the brainE) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 4

An IPSP represents ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   the location where a dendrite branches
B)   a gap in a myelin sheath
C)   a subthreshold depolarization
D)   a temporary hyperpolarizationE) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 5

An action potential causes the release of neurotransmitters by ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   blocking potassium pores in the membrane
B)   opening chloride pores in the membrane
C)   blocking iron pores in the membrane
D)   opening calcium pores in the membraneE) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 6

Most of the known neurotransmitters are synthesized from amino acids.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Transmission of information between neurons occurs in the same way as transmission along an axon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What do temporal summation and spatial summation have in common?

Accepted Answer

A)   Both involve the activity of only two neurons.
B)   Both require a response from the brain.
C)   Both depend on a combination of visual and auditory stimuli.
D)   Both enable a reflex to occur in response to weak stimuli.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 9

Receptor molecules for neurotransmitters that exert metabotropic effects are proteins that bind to ____ outside the membrane, and attach to ____ inside the membrane.

Accepted Answer

A)   calcium; potassium
B)   neurotransmitters; nicotine
C)   neurotransmitters; G-proteins
D)   adenosine; nitric oxideE) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 10

How are neurotransmitters removed from the synapse?

Accepted Answer

Some neurotransmitters like acetylcholin...

Question 11

Describe the main chemical events at a synapse.

Accepted Answer

Understanding the chemical events at a s...

Question 12

Generally speaking, a neuron will release a greater number of neurotransmitters than what it will respond to with its own receptors.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which process indicates spatial summation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Present two or more weak stimuli at the same time.
B)   Start action potentials at both ends of one axon at the same time.
C)   Do not allow a flexor muscle to relax before stimulating it again.
D)   Present a rapid sequence of weak stimuli.E) A) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 14

Which one of Sherrington's inferences about the synapse was wrong?

Accepted Answer

A)   Transmission at a synapse is slower than transmission of impulses along an axon.
B)   Transmission at the synapse is primarily an electrical process.
C)   Synapses can be either excitatory or inhibitory.
D)   Synapses make spatial summation and temporal summation possible.E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 15

Most of the brain's excitatory ionotropic synapses use the neurotransmitter glutamate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

At synapses, the cell that receives the message is called the presynaptic neuron.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Briefly compare the differences between ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Include their mechanisms of action and how they explain the difference in the effects on the postsynaptic cell.

Accepted Answer

Ionotropic receptors are ion channels th...

Question 18

A receptor can directly open a channel and thereby exert a(n)  ____ effect, or it can produce slower but longer ____ effect.

Accepted Answer

A)   gated; metabotropic
B)   ionotropic; gated
C)   metabotropic; ionotropic
D)   ionotropic; metabotropicE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 19

Neurons communicate with both electrical and chemical signals. Scientists have shown that chemical communication is the preferred form as it is faster.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Although slower than an action potential, synaptic transmission is still relatively fast because ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   the synaptic cleft is very narrow
B)   sodium ions are transported quickly
C)   neurotransmitters diffuse faster than electricity
D)   EPSPs travel faster than IPSPsE) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Exam 2: Synapses

A receptor can directly open a channel and thereby exert a(n) ____ effect, or it can produce slower but longer ____ effect.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Sherrington found that repeated stimuli within a brief time have a cumulative effect. He referred to this phenomenon as ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Neurons communicate with both electrical and chemical signals. Scientists have shown that chemical communication is the preferred form as it is faster.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly compare the differences between ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Include their mechanisms of action and how they explain the difference in the effects on the postsynaptic cell.

Correct AnswerverifiedIonotropic receptors are ion channels th...View AnswerShow Answer

Transmission of information between neurons occurs in the same way as transmission along an axon.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How are neurotransmitters removed from the synapse?

Correct AnswerverifiedSome neurotransmitters like acetylcholin...View AnswerShow Answer

Describe the main chemical events at a synapse.

Correct AnswerverifiedUnderstanding the chemical events at a s...View AnswerShow Answer

An IPSP represents ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Receptor molecules for neurotransmitters that exert metabotropic effects are proteins that bind to ____ outside the membrane, and attach to ____ inside the membrane.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the brain's excitatory ionotropic synapses use the neurotransmitter glutamate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Although slower than an action potential, synaptic transmission is still relatively fast because ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the known neurotransmitters are synthesized from amino acids.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

At synapses, the cell that receives the message is called the presynaptic neuron.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do temporal summation and spatial summation have in common?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of Sherrington's inferences about the synapse was wrong?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Insulin increases the entry of tryptophan into the brain by ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which process indicates spatial summation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Generally speaking, a neuron will release a greater number of neurotransmitters than what it will respond to with its own receptors.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is the speed of conduction through a reflex arc slower than the speed of conduction of an action potential along an axon?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

An action potential causes the release of neurotransmitters by ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A receptor can directly open a channel and thereby exert a(n) effect, or it can produce slower but longer effect.

Correct Answer
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Ionotropic receptors are ion channels th...
View Answer

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Some neurotransmitters like acetylcholin...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Understanding the chemical events at a s...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Receptor molecules for neurotransmitters that exert metabotropic effects are proteins that bind to outside the membrane, and attach to inside the membrane.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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