PSYCH 381 MIDTERM EXAM AND SOLUTIONS.
What is biopsychology? correct answers The study of the brain and how it affects behavior
- Its purpose is to explain the relationships between brain and behavior
The differences between animal brains and human brains: correct answers Animal brains: there
are less ethical restrictions for doing research on them, but they can't follow instructions. It takes
time to train the animals. We can compare them to human brains.
Human brains: More cost effective, can follow instructions.
*Main difference*: THE SIZE. Rat brains and human brains have all of the same main
structures, but rat brains are smaller. - The human brain has a larger cortex.
Importance of genetic diversity: correct answers Main point: It helps prevent the inheritance of
genetic diseases (e.g. Huntington's disease). Because of this, less diseases are passed down and
there is more variability in traits.
2 main divisions of the nervous system: correct answers Central Nervous System (CNS): The
brain and the spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Everything else that is not the brain and spinal cord
Divisions of the peripheral nervous system: correct answers Autonomic nervous system
&
Somatic nervous system
Describe the divisions of the autonomic nervous system: correct answers Parasympathetic: Rest
and digest, conserve energy
Sympathetic: fight/flight, mobilize energy, psychological arousal
Describe the cardinal directions: correct answers Anterior: In front
Posterior: In back
Superior: Above
Inferior: Below
Dorsal & ventral:
- When looking at the brain, the dorsal is the top of the brain and ventral is the bottom of the
brain.
- When looking from the neck down, the dorsal is towards the back (like a shark) and ventral is
towards the front
The distinction between afferent and efferent: correct answers - Afferent nerves move from the
senses towards the CNS (ARRIVE)
- Efferent nerves move away from the DNS towards the senses (EXIT)
, List the layers of the meninges from most superficial (furthest from the brain) to most deep
(closest to the brain): correct answers Dura mater (hard mother): Hard protective outer layer
Arachnoid membrane
Subarachnoid space: consists mostly of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
Pia mater (soft mother): thin membrane
Role and function/location of CSF: correct answers Supports and cushions the brain
- Found in spinal cord, ventricles, and subarachnoid space
Describe the 3 different "cuts" of the brain: correct answers When looking at a subject in
anatomical position-
Sagittal: vertical slices (anterior to posterior)
Axial: Horizontal slices (like the x axis)
Coronal: (vertical slices but from side to side; like a crown)
List the order of the "encephalon" brain structures: correct answers Telencephalon
Diencephalon
Mesencephalon
Metencephalon
Myelencephalon
What the telencephalon is composed of: correct answers Cerebral cortex: high level processing
Basal ganglia: motor control; it's within the cerebral cortex
Limbic system: attention and motivation
What the diencephalon is composed of, and those structure's functions: correct answers
Thalamus: Sensory switchboard (receives signals from the receptors, processes them, and then
transmits them to the appropriate areas of the sensory cortex)
Hypothalamus: Plays an important role in the regulation of several motivated behaviors (e.g.
eating, sleeping, and sexual behaviors). Does this by regulating the release of hormones from the
pituitary gland.
Another name for the mesencephalon is: correct answers the midbrain
What the metencephalon is composed of: correct answers Cerebellum: fine motor control
What is biopsychology? correct answers The study of the brain and how it affects behavior
- Its purpose is to explain the relationships between brain and behavior
The differences between animal brains and human brains: correct answers Animal brains: there
are less ethical restrictions for doing research on them, but they can't follow instructions. It takes
time to train the animals. We can compare them to human brains.
Human brains: More cost effective, can follow instructions.
*Main difference*: THE SIZE. Rat brains and human brains have all of the same main
structures, but rat brains are smaller. - The human brain has a larger cortex.
Importance of genetic diversity: correct answers Main point: It helps prevent the inheritance of
genetic diseases (e.g. Huntington's disease). Because of this, less diseases are passed down and
there is more variability in traits.
2 main divisions of the nervous system: correct answers Central Nervous System (CNS): The
brain and the spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS): Everything else that is not the brain and spinal cord
Divisions of the peripheral nervous system: correct answers Autonomic nervous system
&
Somatic nervous system
Describe the divisions of the autonomic nervous system: correct answers Parasympathetic: Rest
and digest, conserve energy
Sympathetic: fight/flight, mobilize energy, psychological arousal
Describe the cardinal directions: correct answers Anterior: In front
Posterior: In back
Superior: Above
Inferior: Below
Dorsal & ventral:
- When looking at the brain, the dorsal is the top of the brain and ventral is the bottom of the
brain.
- When looking from the neck down, the dorsal is towards the back (like a shark) and ventral is
towards the front
The distinction between afferent and efferent: correct answers - Afferent nerves move from the
senses towards the CNS (ARRIVE)
- Efferent nerves move away from the DNS towards the senses (EXIT)
, List the layers of the meninges from most superficial (furthest from the brain) to most deep
(closest to the brain): correct answers Dura mater (hard mother): Hard protective outer layer
Arachnoid membrane
Subarachnoid space: consists mostly of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
Pia mater (soft mother): thin membrane
Role and function/location of CSF: correct answers Supports and cushions the brain
- Found in spinal cord, ventricles, and subarachnoid space
Describe the 3 different "cuts" of the brain: correct answers When looking at a subject in
anatomical position-
Sagittal: vertical slices (anterior to posterior)
Axial: Horizontal slices (like the x axis)
Coronal: (vertical slices but from side to side; like a crown)
List the order of the "encephalon" brain structures: correct answers Telencephalon
Diencephalon
Mesencephalon
Metencephalon
Myelencephalon
What the telencephalon is composed of: correct answers Cerebral cortex: high level processing
Basal ganglia: motor control; it's within the cerebral cortex
Limbic system: attention and motivation
What the diencephalon is composed of, and those structure's functions: correct answers
Thalamus: Sensory switchboard (receives signals from the receptors, processes them, and then
transmits them to the appropriate areas of the sensory cortex)
Hypothalamus: Plays an important role in the regulation of several motivated behaviors (e.g.
eating, sleeping, and sexual behaviors). Does this by regulating the release of hormones from the
pituitary gland.
Another name for the mesencephalon is: correct answers the midbrain
What the metencephalon is composed of: correct answers Cerebellum: fine motor control
