Option A: Study Guide Questions

A.1 Neural development

1. Draw, label and annotate the embryonic tissues of Xenopus frog.

2. Describe why Spina bifida occurs.

3. Outline the differentiation and migration of immature neurons

4. Explain neural pruning

5. Compare and contrast functional and structural plasticity of the brain.

A.2 The Human Brain

1. We can agree that is the brain weight is large relative to the body (EQ), the animals may be able to accomplish more complex tasks. However, other factors may also be involved. Using the table below, answer the following questions:

a. Which four animals might have diets of meat or fish?

b. Suggest why this diet is beneficial to the species.

c. Which three animals have a plant and insect diet?

d. Why is this diet not as beneficial to a species?

e. What animal behavior would place a species high on the encephalization scale?

f. Why are rat and rabbit at the bottom in comparison with the other species?

g. What is the name of an invertebrate animal that has a high EQ?

2. Draw and annotate a diagram of the human brain.

3. Describe how an fMRI/animal experiements/autopsy/lesions is used to identify the role of different brain parts.

4. State the specific function of each of the following: Broca’s area; nucleus accumbens; visual cortex.

5. Explain how folding has allowed the cerebral cortex to become more highly developed in humans than in other animals.

6. Explain why brain metabolism requires a large input of energy.

7. Describe the use of pupil reflex to evaluate brain damage.

A.3 Perception of Stimuli

1. Label and annotate the eye diagram:

2. Annotate diagram of the retina and show the direction in which the light moves.

3. Compare and contrast rods and cones.

4. Describe red-green color blindness

5. Outline the use of cochlear implants in deaf patients.

6. Label the ear:

7. Explain how sound is perceived by the ear.

8. Describe how olfactory receptors can detect different chemicals.

A.4 Innate and Learned Behaviors

1. Distinguish between taxis and kinesis.

2. Draw and label a reflex arc for the pain withdrawal reflex.

3. Outline a lab experiment using reflex conditioning.

4. Compare and contrast innate and learned behavior.

5. Explain the role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong.

6. Explain the processes involved in memory.

A.5 Neuropharmacology

1. Look at the graph, it shows the number of receptors for serotonin that are active over time in a group of rats that were previously given eight doses of MDMA over a period of 4 days. Notice that a control group received no MDMA. The molecules named [1215]MIL was used to label active serotonin receptors in the brains of the rats.

a. Looking at the labels on the graph, what does ‘specific binding of’ tell you about the number of active receptors?

b. Which group has the highest number of activated serotonin receptors? Give evidence.

c. Compare the data for 0.25 days after the first dose with the data for 1 day after the first dose.

d. What happened to the receptor density over the 21 days following the last dose of MDMA?

e. Explain how MDMA acts on the receptor density of these rats 8 hours after the last dose of MDMA.

2. Some experiments have documented that molecules called antioxidants can reduce MDMA-caused neurotoxicity. Interesting work has been done with cheap antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C). High levels of oxidative radical levels are known to cause neurotoxicity.

a. Which two groups are the ‘control’ rats? Explain why.

b. Compare the other two groups and explain the findings.

c. Draw a conclusion based on these data.

3. Outline summation as a function of postsynaptic neurons.

4. Describe the two methods by which slow-acting neurotransmitters modulate fast synaptic transmission in the brain.

5. Explain how memory and learning are affected by slow-acting neurotransmitters.

6. Outline the effect of anesthetics on awareness.

7. Outline the effect of psychoactive drugs.

8. Outline causes of addiction.

9. Describe how endorphins can act as painkillers.

A.6 Ethology

1. Describe how natural selection can change the frequency of observed animal behavior.

2. Outline examples of behavior that will become more prevalent in a population since it increases the chances of survival and reproduction.