All AP Psychology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Which of the following is an example of a malfunction linked to blocking the transmission of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?
Overstimulation of the brain that causing migraines
Increased difficulty in waking from sleep
Increased occurrences of tremors, seizures, and insomnia
Increased memory loss
Increased bouts of depression
Increased occurrences of tremors, seizures, and insomnia
GABA is known to be a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA is observed to be most active in the brain during times of rest and sleep. In a sense, it inhibits being awake and it can reduce the occurance of tremors and seizures. As a result, malfunctions linked to blocking the trnsmission of this neurotransmitter can result in tremors, seizures, and bouts of insomnia.
Example Question #22 : Biology
Which of the following choices best describes the term associated with the process of developing synapses?
Plasticity
Aphasia
Synaptogenesis
Pruning
Synaptogenesis
Synaptogenesis is the process of developing synapes. Synaptogenesis occurs throughout the lifespan and in spurts; this process results in the generation of dendrites and axons.
Example Question #22 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Which of the following choices best describes the term associated with the process of removing unnecessary synapses?
Pruning
Myelination
Plasticity
Synaptogenesis
Pruning
When synapses are unnecessary or redundant the brain eliminates them. This process is known as pruning. Pruning is a crucial part of the development process and follows each synaptogenesis spurt.
Example Question #22 : Neurons And Action Potentials
How do neurons propagate neural impulses?
Stimulus
Hyperpolarization
Absolute refractory period
Action potential
Ionic equilibrium
Action potential
An action potential is a rapid electrical charge that will propagate down through the neuron. This charge causes a continuous chain reaction through the neuron from the dendrites to the axon terminals by creating a threshold stimulus that allows rapid depolarization and repolarization via the movement of ions across the membrane. This represents the basic construct of how neuronal communication is possible. Although stimulus does seem like a viable answer, a neuron may sense a stimulus but may not propagate a neural impulse. In this case, the stimulus may not be strong enough to activate an action potential. This solicits the "all or nothing" behavior of action potentials. If the stimulus is slightly below the necessary threshold to elicit an action potential, then no impulse can be expected. Conversely, if a stimulus is just at the minimal requirement of the neuron's threshold, then an action potential may be expected; therefore, stimulus would be incorrect. Due to the fact that action potentials function on ionic concentration gradients, ionic equilibrium would also be an incorrect answer. While the terms absolute refractory period and hyperpolarization are related to action potentials, these are merely parts of an action potential that may be argued to be the reasoning to prevent an impulse from traveling backwards. This prevents an action potential from travelling back the way it came. These choices would also be incorrect answers because while they are important, they're only components to an action potential.
Example Question #22 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Where does neuronal communication take place?
Myelin sheath
Axon
Axon terminal
Synaptic gap
Neurotransmitter vesicles
Synaptic gap
The synaptic gap is where two neurons meet. Here neurotransmitters will be released from vesicles in the sending neuron to the receiving neuron. The receiving neuron will receive communication via sensing the neurotransmitters at receptor sites specific for that neurotransmitter. The release of neurotransmitter is stimulated once the action potential has propagated to the axon terminal.
Example Question #23 : Neurons And Action Potentials
What happens to neurotransmitters once the receiving neuron has started its action potential propagation?
The neurotransmitter undergoes reuptake by the sending neuron
The neurotransmitter is transported to another synapse via vesicles
The neurotransmitter undergoes reuptake by the receiving neuron
The neurotransmitter will automatically denature after a given amount of time
The neurotransmitter diffuses from the synapse to the neuronal surroundings
The neurotransmitter undergoes reuptake by the sending neuron
The neurotransmitter is released with the purpose of signaling and beginning action potentials for the receiving neuron. This chemical messenger must be quickly removed from the synapse to prevent continuous stimulation of the receiving neuron. The reuptake procedure is done from the sending neuron, meaning the remaining neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the neuron it came from. This process will not create an action potential for the sending neuron as it would for the receiving neuron and is necessary in order to prevent overstimulation.
Example Question #24 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Which of the following is the part of a neuron that is responsible for receiving information from another neuron?
Synapse
Axon
Dendrites
Axon hillock
Cell body
Dendrites
Dendrites are the little branched hair-like structures attached to the cell body. They play the role of receiving information that will be propagated through the cell body and eventually through the axon hillock as a neural impulse if the stimulus warrants a great enough action potential. The axon is what the neural impulse will travel through to reach the axon terminals and ultimately pass along the message to the next neuron or target tissue via neurotransmitters released into the synapse. The synapse is the space between two neurons. Because action potentials do not propagate backwards (due to refractory periods), a stimulus is not expected to be sensed by the axon terminals. As a result, impulses will travel from cell body to axon terminals with the dendrites responsible for sensing stimuli.
Example Question #31 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Which of the following best describes how neurotransmitters in the synapse can be deactivated?
Benzodiazepines
Reuptake and chemical breakdown by enzymes
Benzodiazepines and chemical breakdown by enzymes
Chemical breakdown by enzymes
Reuptake
Reuptake and chemical breakdown by enzymes
Reuptake is reabsorption of neurotransmitter into the neuron. Chemically breaking down neurotransmitters makes them nonfunctional.
Example Question #32 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Where are neurotransmitters stored in the axon terminal?
Cell body
Synapses
Dendrites
Receptors
Synaptic vesicles
Synaptic vesicles
Synaptic vesicles are at the end of the presynaptic neuron, and they release neurotransmitter into the synapse. Dendrites are outer branched extensions of a neuron. Synapses are the structures that permit neuron transfer.
Example Question #33 : Neurons And Action Potentials
Which of the following best describes the junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another?
Myelin sheath
Terminal buttons
Synapse
None of these
Synapse
The synapse is the place where two neurons meet to transmit information. In other words, in between two neurons is the synapse, sometimes called the "synaptic gap". Terminal buttons are at the end of each axon and they secrete neurotransmitters. They are very close to the synapse, but not the right answer in this case. The myelin sheath encases the axon in order to insulate the cell, which speeds up the transmission of signals.
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