Neuroscience: Neurons and Synapses

Which term describes the basic building block of the nervous system; a nerve cell that receives, processes, and transmits information?

• neuron

• action potential

• dendrite

• central nervous system

What is the brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron, also known as a neural impulse?

• synapse

• Action potential

• neurotransmitter

• resting potential

Which term identifies the junction, or tiny gap, between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron?

• Axon terminal

• cerebral cortex

• synapse

• corpus callosum

What are the chemical messengers that travel across the synaptic gaps between neurons and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron?

• limbic system

• serotonin

• neurotransmitter

• dopamine

What is the major division of the nervous system that includes the brain and the spinal cord?

• sensory nerves

• limbic system

• central nervous system

• brainstem

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is located at the front of the head and is involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans and judgments?

• medulla

• limbic system

• frontal lobe

• cerebral cortex

What is the oldest and innermost region of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions like controlling the heart and breathing?

• corpus callosum

• medulla

• brainstem

• central nervous system

What is the neural system associated with emotions and drives, containing structures like the amygdala and hippocampus, located below the cerebral hemispheres?

• Brainstem

• cerebral cortex

• frontal lobe

• limbic system

Which large band of neural fibers connects the two brain hemispheres and is responsible for carrying messages between them?

• corpus callosum

• axon

• sensory nerves

• synapse

Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and social behavior? Low levels are often linked to depression.

• action potential

• neurotransmitter

• serotonin

• dopamine