AP Psychology · Topic 1.3
The Neuron and Neural Firing Practice
Part of Biological Bases of Behavior.
Practice questions
31
Sample questions
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Sample 1difficulty 1/5
Which part of a neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
- A
Axon
- B
Myelin sheath
- Ccheck_circle
Dendrites
- D
Terminal buttons
Why
Dendrites branch off the cell body and receive signals; the axon transmits the signal away from the cell body.
- A
Sample 2difficulty 2/5
The synapse is
- A
A type of glial cell that supports and protects neural tissue
- B
The fatty insulating sheath wrapped around the length of the axon
- Ccheck_circle
The gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released
- D
The cell body of the neuron containing the nucleus and organelles
Why
The synaptic cleft is the small gap; vesicles release neurotransmitters that bind to receptors on the next neuron.
- A
Sample 3difficulty 2/5
The myelin sheath wrapped around axons primarily
- A
Slows neural transmission by absorbing electrical charge
- B
Releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap
- C
Receives chemical messages from neighboring dendrites
- Dcheck_circle
Speeds up neural impulses through saltatory conduction
Why
Myelin allows action potentials to "jump" between nodes of Ranvier (saltatory conduction).
- A
Sample 4difficulty 2/5
In a clinical study, researchers randomly assigned 200 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder to either receive a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or an inactive placebo pill for eight weeks. Neither participants nor researchers conducting the depression assessments knew which pill each participant received. After eight weeks, depression scores in the SSRI group had decreased significantly more than in the placebo group, though both groups improved somewhat.
Based on its name, an SSRI most directly acts by:
- A
Stimulating the release of dopamine in the limbic system
- B
Blocking serotonin receptors on the postsynaptic neuron
- C
Destroying serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei
- Dcheck_circle
Blocking the reabsorption of serotonin into the presynaptic neuron, increasing its availability in the synapse
Why
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) prevent presynaptic neurons from reabsorbing serotonin, leaving more serotonin in the synaptic cleft to bind to postsynaptic receptors. They do not block receptors or destroy neurons.
- A
Sample 5difficulty 2/5
In a study, researchers measured the levels of dopamine in the substantia nigra of postmortem brains from patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and compared them to age-matched controls. Patients showed approximately 70-80% loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Researchers also gave living patients L-dopa, a precursor to dopamine, and observed reductions in tremor and rigidity in many patients within hours of administration.
L-dopa is best classified as which type of drug?
- A
An antagonist that blocks dopamine receptors
- B
A reuptake inhibitor for serotonin
- Ccheck_circle
An agonist that increases dopamine availability
- D
A GABA antagonist
Why
Agonists are drugs that mimic or increase the effect of a neurotransmitter. L-dopa is converted to dopamine, increasing its availability and acting as an indirect agonist. Antagonists block neurotransmitter activity.
- A