1. The `fight or flight` response is primarily mediated by which branch of the nervous system?
A. Parasympathetic nervous system
B. Somatic nervous system
C. Sympathetic nervous system
D. Central nervous system
2. What is the `blood-brain barrier`?
A. A network of veins that supplies blood to the brain.
B. A protective layer of glial cells surrounding neurons.
C. A semi-permeable membrane separating circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid.
D. The space between neurons where neurotransmitters are released.
3. Which research method in neuroscience involves temporarily disrupting neural activity in a specific brain region to study its function?
A. Electroencephalography (EEG)
B. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
C. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
D. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
4. What is the difference between sensation and perception?
A. Sensation is the interpretation of sensory information, while perception is the detection of stimuli.
B. Sensation is the detection of stimuli by sensory organs, while perception is the brain`s interpretation and organization of that sensory information.
C. Sensation and perception are the same process described with different terms.
D. Perception occurs in the sensory organs, while sensation occurs in the brain.
5. Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with mood regulation, and low levels of it are often linked to depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Glutamate
6. What is the role of myelin sheath that surrounds axons?
A. To produce neurotransmitters.
B. To increase the speed of action potential propagation.
C. To provide structural support to dendrites.
D. To regulate the blood-brain barrier.
7. Which of the following is an example of a `cognitive bias`?
A. Perfectly rational decision-making.
B. Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.
C. Random errors in perception.
D. Unconscious reflexes to stimuli.
8. What is the role of neurotransmitters in neuronal communication?
A. To insulate axons and speed up signal transmission.
B. To provide nutrients to neurons.
C. To transmit signals across the synapse between neurons.
D. To regulate blood flow in the brain.
9. Which of the following is NOT typically considered a primary taste modality?
A. Sweet
B. Sour
C. Spicy
D. Bitter
10. What is the `default mode network` (DMN) in the brain?
A. The brain network responsible for primary sensory processing.
B. A network of brain regions that is most active when a person is focused on external tasks.
C. A network of brain regions that is most active when a person is at rest and mind-wandering or thinking about themselves.
D. The brain network responsible for motor control.
11. What is the function of glial cells in the nervous system?
A. To transmit electrical signals rapidly.
B. To act as the primary information processors.
C. To support, nourish, and protect neurons.
D. To produce neurotransmitters exclusively.
12. What is the `mere-exposure effect`?
A. Decreased liking for something after repeated exposure.
B. Increased liking for something simply as a result of repeated exposure.
C. Neutral response to something despite repeated exposure.
D. Fear response developed after repeated exposure to a negative stimulus.
13. What is `prosopagnosia`?
A. Loss of the ability to recognize familiar faces.
B. Loss of the ability to speak or understand language.
C. Loss of motor coordination.
D. Loss of memory for past events.
14. Damage to the amygdala is most likely to affect which aspect of behavior?
A. Language comprehension
B. Motor coordination
C. Emotional processing, especially fear and anxiety
D. Visual perception
15. What is the `resting potential` of a neuron?
A. The electrical charge of a neuron during an action potential.
B. The electrical charge difference across the neuronal membrane when the neuron is not actively signaling.
C. The maximum electrical charge a neuron can reach.
D. The potential energy stored in neurotransmitters.
16. Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for visual processing?
A. Frontal lobe
B. Parietal lobe
C. Temporal lobe
D. Occipital lobe
17. Which brain region is primarily responsible for regulating basic life functions like breathing and heart rate?
A. Cerebellum
B. Cerebrum
C. Brainstem
D. Thalamus
18. In the context of addiction, what is `tolerance`?
A. Increased sensitivity to a drug over time.
B. Reduced responsiveness to a drug, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.
C. Complete abstinence from a drug.
D. The pleasurable effects of a drug.
19. Which of the following is NOT a type of glial cell?
A. Astrocyte
B. Microglia
C. Schwann cell
D. Pyramidal cell
20. Which neuroimaging technique has the highest temporal resolution?
A. fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
B. PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
C. EEG (Electroencephalography)
D. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
21. What is the role of the prefrontal cortex?
A. Primary visual processing.
B. Regulation of basic emotions like fear and anger.
C. Executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and working memory.
D. Coordination of fine motor movements.
22. What is the fundamental principle of `Hebbian learning` often summarized as `neurons that fire together, wire together`?
A. Synapses weaken when neurons are simultaneously active.
B. Synapses strengthen when neurons are simultaneously active.
C. Neuronal activity is independent of synaptic strength.
D. Neurons only fire randomly, without any wiring changes.
23. What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?
A. Storing long-term motor skills.
B. Processing emotional memories.
C. Formation of new explicit memories (facts and events).
D. Retrieval of all types of memories.
24. What is the primary function of neurons?
A. To produce hormones for bodily regulation.
B. To transport oxygen throughout the body.
C. To transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.
D. To provide structural support to the brain.
25. What is the `placebo effect` in research?
A. The actual therapeutic effect of a drug.
B. A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the placebo itself, and must therefore be ascribed to the patient`s expectations.
C. The negative side effects of a drug.
D. The effect of a drug only on certain individuals, not on the entire population.
26. Which part of the neuron typically receives signals from other neurons?
A. Axon
B. Dendrite
C. Cell body (soma)
D. Myelin sheath
27. What is `synaptic plasticity`?
A. The generation of new neurons.
B. The process of neuronal death.
C. The strengthening or weakening of synapses over time in response to activity.
D. The insulation of axons by myelin.
28. What is the main function of the cerebral cortex?
A. Regulation of sleep cycles.
B. Coordination of movement and balance.
C. Higher-level cognitive functions like thought, language, and memory.
D. Processing sensory information from the body.
29. What is `plasticity` in the context of neuroscience?
A. The rigidity of neuronal connections.
B. The brain`s ability to reorganize and adapt its structure and function over time.
C. The process of neuronal death.
D. The fixed genetic blueprint of the brain.
30. What is the main difference between explicit and implicit memory?
A. Explicit memory is unconscious, while implicit memory is conscious.
B. Explicit memory involves conscious recollection, while implicit memory is unconscious and involves skills and habits.
C. Explicit memory is stored in the cerebellum, while implicit memory is stored in the hippocampus.
D. Explicit memory is more prone to forgetting than implicit memory.
