Clark AP Psych Ch 3 Online Quiz

An oversupply of glutamate can trigger seizures or migraines because glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. When there is an excessive amount of glutamate, it can overstimulate the neurons, leading to abnormal electrical activity and potentially causing seizures. Additionally, glutamate can also cause the blood vessels in the brain to expand, leading to migraines. Therefore, it is true that an oversupply of glutamate can trigger seizures or migraines.

Botulin is a neurotoxin that inhibits the release of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. By blocking ACh release, botulin prevents the communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle paralysis. This is why botulinum toxin is commonly used in medical and cosmetic procedures to temporarily relax muscles and reduce wrinkles. Therefore, the statement that botulin can cause paralysis because it blocks ACh release is true.

The parasympathetic system is responsible for regulating the body's rest and digest functions. It helps to slow down heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and conserve energy. This system promotes relaxation and calmness by stimulating digestion, promoting salivation, and increasing blood flow to the digestive organs. Therefore, the statement "The parasympathetic system calms body processes and reactions" is true.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are indeed commonly referred to as adrenaline and noradrenaline. These terms are often used interchangeably in medical and scientific literature to describe the same hormones. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are secreted by the adrenal glands and play important roles in the body's response to stress, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, among other effects. Therefore, the statement "Epinephrine and norepinephrine are also called adrenaline and noradrenaline" is true.

This statement is incorrect. Dendrites actually receive information from other nerve cells and transmit it towards the cell body, while axons send information away from the cell body to other nerve cells.

Destruction of the myelin sheath is indeed one of the main characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The myelin sheath is a protective covering that surrounds nerve fibers in the central nervous system. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the myelin sheath, leading to disruption in the transmission of nerve signals. This can cause a wide range of symptoms, including problems with coordination, balance, muscle weakness, and cognitive impairments. Therefore, it is correct to say that destruction of the myelin sheath results in Multiple Sclerosis.

The statement that the synaptic gap is almost a 32nd of an inch wide is false. The synaptic gap, also known as the synaptic cleft, is actually a very small space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron. It is estimated to be around 20 to 40 nanometers wide, which is much smaller than a 32nd of an inch.

Acetylcholine is indeed the best understood neurotransmitter. It was the first neurotransmitter to be discovered and extensively studied. Its functions and mechanisms of action have been extensively researched, and it is known to play a crucial role in various physiological processes, including muscle movement, memory, and cognition. Numerous drugs and diseases have been associated with acetylcholine, further contributing to our understanding of its functions. Therefore, the statement that acetylcholine is the best understood neurotransmitter is true.

Excess dopamine can trigger schizophrenia. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood, motivation, and pleasure. In individuals with schizophrenia, there is evidence of an overactivity of dopamine receptors in the brain. This excess dopamine activity is believed to contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Therefore, it is true that excess dopamine can trigger schizophrenia.

The somatic nervous system is responsible for the voluntary control of skeletal muscles and the reception of external stimuli. It does not regulate our organs and glands, which are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, the statement is false.

This statement suggests that psychological processes and phenomena are ultimately rooted in biological processes. It implies that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are influenced by the functioning of our brain and nervous system. This perspective is supported by scientific research that shows the close relationship between our mental experiences and the underlying biological mechanisms in our body. Therefore, it can be concluded that everything psychological has a biological basis, making the statement "True."

The pituitary gland is not directly responsible for the "fight or flight" response. This response is primarily regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, which is controlled by the adrenal glands. The pituitary gland, however, does play a role in the stress response by releasing hormones that stimulate the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a stress hormone. Therefore, the statement that the pituitary gland is in charge of the "fight or flight" response is false.

The hypothalamus is not the most influential endocrine gland. While it plays a crucial role in regulating the release of hormones from the pituitary gland, the pituitary gland itself is often considered the "master gland" of the endocrine system. The pituitary gland secretes a variety of hormones that control other endocrine glands in the body, making it more influential in overall hormonal regulation. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

In Alzheimer's disease, the ACh (acetylcholine) neurons actually degenerate or decrease in number, rather than grow dramatically. This degeneration of ACh neurons is one of the factors that contribute to the cognitive decline and memory loss characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the given statement is false.

When flooded with opiate drugs, the brain does not produce large amounts of its own natural opiates. Opiate drugs bind to the same receptors in the brain as natural opiates, but they do not stimulate the brain to produce more natural opiates. Instead, they mimic the effects of natural opiates and can lead to dependence and addiction.

Franz Gall's phrenology theory is not considered helpful in understanding psychology. Phrenology, which was popular in the 19th century, proposed that personality traits and mental abilities could be determined by examining the shape and size of bumps on a person's skull. However, this theory has been widely discredited and is not supported by modern scientific understanding of psychology. Therefore, the statement that Franz Gall's phrenology theory is very helpful to understanding psychology is false.

When the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, it triggers the fight-or-flight response, which is characterized by increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and decreased digestive activity. This response is not associated with an excess of saliva and stomach digestion, but rather a decrease in these functions. Therefore, the given statement is false.

The statement "The neuron's reaction is an all-or-none response" means that when a neuron receives a stimulus, it either fires an action potential or it doesn't, there is no in-between. This is because neurons have a threshold that must be reached in order for an action potential to be generated. If the stimulus is strong enough to reach this threshold, the neuron will fire an action potential at its maximum intensity. If the stimulus is not strong enough to reach the threshold, the neuron will not fire at all. Therefore, the neuron's response is either all (action potential) or none (no action potential).

The statement is false because a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon is called an action potential, not an all or none impulse. An action potential is an all-or-nothing event that either occurs fully or does not occur at all, but it is not referred to as an all or none impulse.