Physiological & Behavioral Neuroscience - AP Psychology

Physiological testing (e.g. blood screenings, radiologic scans and hormonal level measures) have shown that in male primates including humans, cortisol and stress levels have a moderate positive correlation, whereas this correlation is weakly negative in females of the same species.

Remember that typical antipsychotics refer to the first generation of antipsychotics, while atypical antipsychotics refer to the second generation of antipsychotics. Both typical and atypical antipsychotics block dopamine pathways, but many atypical antipsychotics also block seratonin pathways. The other listed neurotransmitters are not associated with psychosis.

While SSRIs can be utilized to treat multiple disorders, it is primarily used in the treatment of depression. Depression is thought to be caused by low serotonin release, and SSRIs prevent the re-uptake and subsequent breakdown of serotonin. Antisocial Personality Disorder, previously known as Psychopathy, has no known treatment though group therapy can be utilized. ADHD is primarily treated with methylphenidates (ex. Ritalin) or amphetamines (ex. Adderall). BPD is treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Substantia nigra is named for it's darker appearance relative to its surroundings. It is dark because of high amounts of neuromelanins in its tissues—an apparent byproduct of dopamine production. The substantia nigra is subdivided into two functionally distinct sections: the pars compacta and pars reticulata.

The corpus callosum is a wide set of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the human brain. Agenesis of the corpus callosum, a rare birth defect, results in impaired cognitive abilities (e.g. key processes like face processing and other socially-important skills).

In order to examine brain functions, researchers must examine living individuals, rather than the brains of cadavers. This poses several challenges. Sometimes, animal brains are studied using invasive techniques that would be unethical to perform on human subjects. In order to mitigate these challenges and study brain activities, researchers in psychology have developed several noninvasive techniques including PET scans, MRIs, and electroencephalograms.

The correct answer is frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is responsible for reward, attention, short-term memory tasks, planning, and motivation. It is also the part that tells a person if they are making a good decision or not. If the frontal lobe is injured, people may not realize they are behaving socially unacceptably. The other choices are incorrect. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information from your environment. The occipital lobe is responsible for eyesight processing. The temporal lobe is responsible for hearing and memory input. Last, the anterior lobe does not exist.

The rCBF refers to the regional cerebral blood flow, a noninvasive procedure that detects broad patterns of neural activity based on increased flow to different brain areas. CAT scans, PET scans, and MRIs are all computerized scanning techniques but not specialized to test blood flow in the brain.

The hippocampus—located in the brain's temporal lobe—is the center for making, storing, and retrieving memories. Damage to this particular area is likely to result in difficulty with one or all of these memory-related processes.

Acetylcholine or aka ACH is the neurotransmitter that is released from the axon terminal to through the neuromuscular junction across the synaptic cleft.

Nociceptors are sensory neurons that are activated by agitating or painful stimuli. Nociceptors respond to mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli to help protect the body from harmful interception.

"Wernicke's aphasia" is a receptive aphasia that results in problems with language comprehension. People with Wernicke's aphasia speak rapidly and do not make sense. They often do not have insight into their language difficulties. On the other hand, "Broca's aphasia" is an expressive aphasia that results in difficulty generating language. A person with Broca's aphasia produces slow speech with incorrect grammar, making it difficult to understand. “Global aphasia” includes symptoms of both Wernicke's and Broca's aphasias. A person with “conduction aphasia” has difficulties with verbal repetition. Last, “agnosia” involves problems processing sensory information.

“Prosopagnosia” is the inability to recognize familiar faces. The other choices are incorrect. “Agnosia” is the inability to recognize familiar objects. “Akathisia” is a feeling of restlessness and agitation that may be caused by antipsychotic medications. “Anomia” is difficulty with naming objects. “Apraxia” is the inability to perform skilled movements.

All of the responses are true of PKU except that it is caused by a third 21st chromosome. Down Syndrome is caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Symptoms typically include delayed development, intellectual disability, and specific facial features. Unfortunately Down Syndrome cannot be managed by a change in diet. The most helpful interventions for Down Syndrome include parents, therapists, and teachers working together to support the child early on.

“Prosopagnosia” is the inability to recognize familiar faces. The other choices are incorrect. “Agnosia” is the inability to recognize familiar objects. “Akathisia” is a feeling of restlessness and agitation that may be caused by antipsychotic medications. “Anomia” is difficulty with naming objects. “Apraxia” is the inability to perform skilled movements.

All of the responses are true of PKU except that it is caused by a third 21st chromosome. Down Syndrome is caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Symptoms typically include delayed development, intellectual disability, and specific facial features. Unfortunately Down Syndrome cannot be managed by a change in diet. The most helpful interventions for Down Syndrome include parents, therapists, and teachers working together to support the child early on.

While each of the other options is involved in the release and/or inhibition of hormones (including the hypothalamus, which produces hormones that direct the rest of the endocrine system), the pons function as a relayer of messages from the cortex and the cerebellum.

Oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are more prevalent in prairie voles who have a pair-bond than in those who've yet to mate, indicating higher releases of those two neurotransmitters in monogamous prairie voles--prairie voles which are considered promiscuous, when does with both of these neurotransmitters, become monogamous.

This scenario is an example of a fight or flight response. Epinephrine is the only hormone listed here that is involved in this response. Another correct answer, not listed, would be norepinephrine. The other choices are incorrect. Acetylcholine is responsible for the "rest and digest" response. Dopamine is responsible for the body's reward system. Neostigmine is a drug that acts like acetylcholine. Last, estrogen is a female sex hormone.

Relaxation indicates that the body possesses a high level of acetylcholine. This is know as the "rest and digest" stage. Epinephrine and norepinephrine perform the opposite task of acetylcholine and are "fight or flight" neurotransmitters. Last, dopamine is a pleasure hormone