Nervous System – What is a neuron, List and describe the principle

Community College of Philadelphia Nervous System Questions

1

• What is a neuron? List and describe the principle physical features of a neuron.
• What is the function of a neuron? How does function relate to the principle features of the cell?
• What are glial cells? How do they differ from Neurons?
• What is the action potential? Describe the 4 steps of the action potential.
• In your own words, how does the action potential relate to psychology?
• What are synapses? List and describe they key features of a synapse.
• Describe the process of chemical transmission that occurs at the synapse.

2

• How do drugs affect activity at the synapse?
• What is the difference between an agonist and antagonist?
• Define the following classes of drugs. Next, list and describe include examples of each and describe both the bodily and cellular effects.
  • Stimulants
  • Hallucinogens
  • Depressants
  • Narcotics
  • Marijuana
• What are endorphins? How do they relate to narcotics?

 

3

• What is Monism? How does it relate to the function of the nervous system?
• What is the central nervous system? What is the peripheral nervous system?
• What are the 3 divisions of the brain?
• What is the cerebral cortex? 
• Describe their key functions and structures associated with the four lobes of the cortex.
• Describe the role of hemispheres in the brain. How does these regions interact? Describe some examples of how disconnection of the hemispheres can alter behavior.  
• What does the term “subcortical” refer to? List and describe the functions of key subcortical regions.
• What is the autonomic nervous system? Describe its organization and function.
• What does the term “plasticity” refer to? How does this differ from new cell growth?
• What is the binding problem? How is this topics relevant to psychology?

 

 

 

4

• What are stimuli? What does the nervous system use to detect stimuli?
• What is light? How does our body detect light?
• Describe the following structures of the eye: pupil, iris, retina, cornea, lense, fovea.
• Compare and contrast the two types of visual receptors (photoreceptors).
• Describe the process of dark adaptation. How does this process affect our night vision?
• Describe the pathway of neurons from the photoreceptors to the brain.
• What is the trichromatic theory of color vision? What aspects of color vision does this theory account for?
• What is the opponent-process theory of color vision? What aspects of color vision does this theory account for?
• What is the retinex theory of color vision? What aspects of color vision does this theory account for?
• List and describe the different forms of color vision deficiency.

 

5

• What is an absolute sensory threshold? How does it relate to signal-detection theory? Why are these concepts important for psychology?
• What is subliminal perception? How does a psychologist’s definition of this phenomenon differ from popular media portrayal of “subliminal messages?”
• What are feature detectors? How would these cells aid in visual perception? What aspects of vision do these cells not explain?
• What is Gestalt Psychology? How does it contribute to our understanding of perception?
• Describe how each of the following Gestalt Psychology terms relates to perceptual experiences.
  • Bottom-up Process
  • Top-Down Process
  • Figure & Ground
  • Reversible Figures
  • Proximity
  • Similarity
  • Continuation
  • Closure
  • Common Fate
  • Good Figure
• What is visual constancy? How does it contribute to visual perception?
• How is movement perceived? What stimulus information do we use to determine whether an object is moving?
• What is depth perception? What factors contribute to depth perception?
• What is an optical illusion? What are some explanations for common optical illusions?

6

• Describe the concept of circadian rhythms. What processes does the circadian rhythm influence?
• Compare and contrast “Morning People” and “Evening People.” How does each pattern of behavior influence day-to-day life?
• What is jet lag? What direction of travel is easier to adjust to?
• What brain structure regulates the circadian rhythm? How is the function of this structure influenced by environmental stimuli?
• What evidence is there that we need sleep? What are some of the proposed functions of sleep?
• Describe the stages of sleep. What are some key characteristics of each stage? How are they measured in an experimental setting?
• Compare and contrast the typical sleep abnormalities (insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy).
• What are dreams? Describe the typical content that dreams contain.
• How did Freud describe dreams? How well do those theories hold up today?
• What is the activation-synthesis theory of dreams? What is the neurocognitive theory of dreams?

7

• What are emotions? Why is it difficult to define an “emotion?”
• What four components are typically associated with an emotional state? Create an example to further illustrate this point.
• Compare and contrast the measurements of emotions. What are some advantages and disadvantages of each?
• Compare and contrast how the James-Lange and Schachter& Signer theories explain emotional states. How do these theories explain the relationship between cognitions and emotions?
• What is meant by the term “Basic Emotions?” What are some of the proposed criteria for defining a basic emotion?
• How have facial expressions been used in the study of emotions?
• What evidence does the study of facial expression provide for describing basic emotions?
• How easily does the study of facial expressions translate to other cultures? What does the cross-cultural study of emotional facial expressions suggest about emotions?
• What is the Circumplex Model of emotions? Why is this an important alternative to “basic emotion?”
• It has been proposed that emotions must have a function? Describe this argument and some evidence that supports it.
• How do emotions influence moral decision making? What regions of the brain seem to be involved in these processes?
• What does the term “Emotional Intelligence” describe? How well do measures of emotional intelligence predict life outcomes in individuals?

 

8

• What is fear? What is anxiety? How is anxiety typically measured in a laboratory setting?
• What role does the amygdala play in fear and anxiety?
• What are polygraph machines? How does their function relate to fear or anxiety? How accurate are they?
• What is the guilty-knowledge test? How does it differ from a polygraph?
• Describe anger, disgust, and contempt. How are these terms possibly related?
• What is positive psychology? What is subjective well-being? How do these relate to happiness?
• Describe the evidence for what influences a person’s subjective well-being. What are some ways to improve happiness?
• What is sadness? What role does crying play in sadness?
• What are surprise and embarrassment? What evidence is there that these experiences are emotions?

9

• What is healthy psychology? What does this branch of psychology focus on studying?
• What is stress? How does stress relate to cortisol release?
• Describe the stages of Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome.
• What are some typical means of measuring stress? What are some criticisms with these measures?
• What does it mean to say there are “indirect effects” of stress?
• What does the term “direct effects” refer to in terms of stress?
• How is heart health influenced by stress? What are some personality factors that may be involved?
• What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? How does PTSD development relate to a stressful experience?
• Describe, compare, and contrast the three categories of stress coping strategies. Be sure to provide examples for each.