BAPSY FREE BAPSY Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Biological Basis of Behavior Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the regulation of mood and is the target of most SSRI medications?
- Serotonin (Correct answer)
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
- GABA
Correct answer: Serotonin
Serotonin plays a central role in mood regulation, and SSRIs work by blocking its reuptake to increase availability in the synapse.
Question 2: What structure connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to communicate?
- Corpus callosum (Correct answer)
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
- Pons
Correct answer: Corpus callosum
The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that serves as the primary communication pathway between the two cerebral hemispheres.
Question 3: Which part of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response?
- Sympathetic nervous system (Correct answer)
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Somatic nervous system
- Enteric nervous system
Correct answer: Sympathetic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system activates the body's fight-or-flight response by increasing heart rate, dilating pupils, and redirecting blood flow to muscles.
Question 4: In the process of neural communication, what occurs during the refractory period?
- The neuron cannot fire another action potential and must reset its ion balance (Correct answer)
- The neuron releases neurotransmitters into the synapse
- The dendrites receive signals from neighboring neurons
- The myelin sheath regenerates around the axon
Correct answer: The neuron cannot fire another action potential and must reset its ion balance
During the refractory period, sodium channels are inactivated and the neuron must restore its resting potential before it can fire again.
Question 5: Which brain imaging technique measures changes in blood oxygenation to map neural activity?
- fMRI (Correct answer)
- CT scan
- PET scan
- EEG
Correct answer: fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) detects changes in blood oxygen levels (BOLD signal) as a proxy for neural activity in different brain regions.
Question 6: What role do glial cells play in the nervous system?
- They provide structural support, insulation, and nourishment to neurons (Correct answer)
- They generate action potentials to transmit signals
- They serve as the primary storage site for long-term memories
- They produce cerebrospinal fluid exclusively
Correct answer: They provide structural support, insulation, and nourishment to neurons
Glial cells support neurons by providing insulation (myelin), removing waste, supplying nutrients, and maintaining the chemical environment.
BAPSY FREE BAPSY Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Biological Basis of Behavior Questions and Answers 2
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the regulation of mood and is the target of most SSRI medications?