Exam 2: The Brain and Nervous System

The _____ consists of a thin sheet of neurons that wraps around the entire surface of the thalamus.

The neurons in the dorsal layers of spinal cord gray matter are mostly _____ neurons.

The vertebrate nervous system may actually be an upside-down relative of the invertebrate nervous system.

The vertebrate hindbrain subdivides into the myelencephalon and the:

Much of what we know about human neuroanatomy comes from studying nonhumans. Give 2 reasons justifying extrapolating from nonhumans to humans and 2 reasons why we cannot learn everything about humans from studying animals.

Most neurons are unconnected to other neurons.

Controlled by the hypothalamus, the _____ releases growth hormone into the body.

Two functions of the sympathetic nervous system are:

When a mother hugs her child, there is likely a release of the hormone:

Electrical activity in the motor neuron causes a release of signaling chemicals called:

The signals for the senses of hearing and balance are carried by the _____ cranial nerve.

The involuntary functions essential to life such as breathing and heart rate are controlled by the:

The _____ cortex provides the nervous system's most elaborate circuitry for sensory and motor functions.

.When you swallow, you are using the _____ cranial nerve.

Although they do possess _____, jellyfish and sea anemones are literally spineless and brainless.

Compare and contrast the benefits of monosynaptic versus polysynaptic reflexes. Give an example where each type of connection would be best.

A dopamine imbalance may result in sleep disturbances.

The long, thin extension of the brain that runs along the body axis is the:

Signaling mechanisms are so similar that, in many cases, the gene of one organism can still perform its usual signaling function even when placed inside the nervous system of a distantly related organism.

The midbrain's local inputs and outputs come mostly from the: