PSYC 4002
Brain and Behavior
COMPLETED EXAM w/
RATIONALES
2024
- Which of the following is responsible for transferring information
between brain cells?
a) Neurotransmitters
b) Hormones
c) Axons
d) Dendrites
Answer: c) Axons
Rationale: Axons are long, slender projections of nerve cells that transmit
information between neurons, allowing for communication and coordination within the brain.
- Which part of the brain is involved in regulating basic survival
functions such as breathing and heart rate?
a) Cerebellum
b) Hypothalamus
c) Occipital lobe
d) Frontal lobe
Answer: b) Hypothalamus
Rationale: The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in maintaining vital
bodily functions and homeostasis, such as body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep.
- Which neurotransmitter is associated with feelings of pleasure and
reward?
a) Serotonin
b) Norepinephrine
c) Dopamine
d) GABA
Answer: c) Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine is involved in regulating movement, motivation, and
reinforcement. It plays a key role in the brain's reward system, contributing to experiences of pleasure and reinforcement.
- Damage to the hippocampus is most likely to affect which cognitive
function?
a) Memory formation
b) Language processing
c) Motor coordination
d) Decision-making
Answer: a) Memory formation
Rationale: The hippocampus is vital for the formation of new memories
and spatial navigation. Damage to this region often results in memory impairment.
- Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for processing visual
information?
a) Amygdala
b) Temporal lobe
c) Parietal lobe
d) Occipital lobe
Answer: d) Occipital lobe
Rationale: The occipital lobe is dedicated to processing visual information
received from the eyes. It helps in recognizing and interpreting visual stimuli.
- Which of the following brainwave patterns is consistently associated
with deep sleep?
a) Alpha waves
b) Beta waves
c) Theta waves
d) Delta waves
Answer: d) Delta waves
Rationale: Delta waves are slow brainwave patterns associated with deep
sleep. They indicate the lowest level of neuronal activity in the brain during sleep.
- The prefrontal cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is mainly responsible
for which cognitive function?
a) Motor control
b) Emotional regulation
c) Decision-making and planning
d) Sensory perception
Answer: c) Decision-making and planning
Rationale: The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in executive functions,
such as decision-making, planning, problem-solving, and impulse control.
- Which gland is often called the "master gland" because it controls the
release of hormones from other glands in the body?
a) Adrenal gland
b) Pineal gland
c) Thyroid gland
d) Pituitary gland
Answer: d) Pituitary gland
Rationale: The pituitary gland secretes hormones that control and regulate
many other endocrine glands in the body. It plays a vital role in maintaining overall hormonal balance.
- Which of the following brain structures is responsible for regulating and
controlling emotions, including fear and aggression?
a) Amygdala
b) Thalamus
c) Cerebellum
d) Medulla oblongata
Answer: a) Amygdala
Rationale: The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped brain structure that is
crucial for processing emotions and the initiation of emotional responses, including fear and aggression.
- Parkinson's disease is associated with the degeneration of neurons that
produce which neurotransmitter?