Psychology: Biological Bases of Behavior: Brain and Neurons Worksheet

Question 1

Describe the main job of a neuron and explain why neurons are important for behavior.

Accepted Answer

A neuron is a specialized nerve cell that receives, processes, and sends information through the nervous system. Neurons are important for behavior because they allow the brain and body to communicate, which supports movement, thinking, emotion, memory, and sensation.

Question 2

Identify the function of each neuron part: dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheath, and axon terminals.

Accepted Answer

Dendrites receive messages from other neurons. The cell body keeps the neuron alive and processes information. The axon carries the neural impulse away from the cell body. The myelin sheath speeds up signal transmission. Axon terminals pass the message to the next cell.

Question 3

Explain the difference between an action potential and resting potential.

Accepted Answer

Resting potential is the neuron's stable electrical state when it is not firing. An action potential is a brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon when the neuron reaches threshold and sends a signal.

Question 4

A neuron receives several weak signals from nearby neurons. Together, these signals make the neuron reach threshold and fire. What process is being described?

Accepted Answer

This process is called summation. It happens when multiple incoming signals combine and become strong enough to cause the neuron to fire an action potential.

Question 5

Define neurotransmitter and explain what happens at the synapse.

Accepted Answer

A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger released by a neuron. At the synapse, neurotransmitters cross the small gap between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the next cell, which can excite or inhibit that cell.

Question 6

Compare excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter effects.

Accepted Answer

Excitatory effects increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential. Inhibitory effects decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire. Behavior depends on the balance of excitatory and inhibitory signals.

Question 7

Dopamine is often involved in reward, motivation, and movement. Give one example of a behavior or condition that could be affected by dopamine activity.

Accepted Answer

One example is motivation to repeat rewarding behaviors, such as studying to earn a good grade. Dopamine is also involved in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, which affects movement, and addiction, which involves reward pathways.

Question 8

A medication blocks certain neurotransmitter receptors so the neurotransmitter cannot activate them. Is this medication acting as an agonist or an antagonist? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The medication is acting as an antagonist because it blocks the action of the neurotransmitter. An antagonist reduces or prevents a neurotransmitter's effect at the receptor.

Question 9

Match each brain structure with its major function: medulla, cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus.

Accepted Answer

The medulla controls vital automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate. The cerebellum helps coordinate movement and balance. The amygdala is important for emotion, especially fear and threat detection. The hippocampus helps form new memories. The hypothalamus helps regulate hunger, thirst, body temperature, and the endocrine system.

Question 10

Explain how the brainstem supports survival.

Accepted Answer

The brainstem supports survival by controlling basic life functions such as breathing, heart rate, sleep and wakefulness, and reflexes. Damage to the brainstem can be extremely serious because these functions are necessary for life.

Question 11

Describe one role of the frontal lobe and one role of the occipital lobe.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is involved in planning, decision-making, personality, impulse control, and voluntary movement. The occipital lobe is mainly responsible for processing visual information.

Question 12

A person has damage to Broca's area. They can understand speech but have difficulty producing fluent speech. Explain what this tells psychologists about localization of function.

Accepted Answer

This shows that some mental abilities are linked to specific brain areas. Broca's area is important for speech production, so damage there can affect speaking even when language understanding is partly preserved.

Question 13

Explain the difference between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that carry messages between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.

Question 14

Compare the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic division prepares the body for action during stress by increasing heart rate, slowing digestion, and releasing energy. The parasympathetic division calms the body after stress by slowing heart rate and supporting digestion and recovery.

Question 15

A student claims, "Biology determines all behavior, so environment and learning do not matter." Write a short response that uses the biopsychosocial perspective.

Accepted Answer

A biopsychosocial response would explain that behavior is influenced by biological factors, psychological factors, and social or environmental factors. Brain activity and genetics matter, but learning, culture, stress, relationships, and personal experiences also shape behavior.

Psychology: Biological Bases of Behavior: Brain and Neurons

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