Introduction to Neurosciences - Student MCQ Test

Flashcards generated from the Introduction to Neurosciences - Student MCQ Test.

Which glial cells is primarily responsible for forming myelin in the CNS?

Oligodendrocytes

Which type of neuron primarily carries information from the periphery to the central nervous system?

Sensory neurons

Which type of neuron is responsible for connecting and synchronizing signals between neurons?

Interneurons

What is the role of astrocytes in the nervous system?

Form the blood-brain barrier and provide metabolic support

Which glial cell type is involved in immune defense and phagocytosis of debris in the CNS?

Microglia

In radiological imaging, what best describes the axial plane?

Parallel to the floor of the cranium

Which structure connects the two hemispheres of the brain?

Corpus callosum

What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

Motor coordination and learning

Which pathway is responsible for discriminative touch?

Dorsal column-medial lemniscus

Which disease is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra?

Parkinson's disease

What is the main function of the thalamus?

Relay station for sensory information

The pyramidal tract primarily controls:

Voluntary motor control

What is the typical resting membrane potential of a neuron?

-70 mV

What maintains the resting membrane potential?

Potassium leak channels

During the depolarization phase of an action potential, which ion enters the neuron?

Na+

Which of the following best describes saltatory conduction?

Jumping of action potentials between nodes of Ranvier

Which ion is most permeable in the resting neuron membrane?

K+

What is the role of the Na+/K+ pump in neurons?

Maintains ion gradients across the membrane

Which neurotransmitter is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Glutamate

Which receptor type produces the fastest postsynaptic response?

Ionotropic receptor

What happens during long-term potentiation (LTP)?

Strengthening of synaptic transmission due to high-frequency stimulation

What causes GABA to be excitatory in the developing brain?

Higher intracellular chloride concentration

Which receptor is blocked by magnesium at rest but activated when depolarized?

NMDA receptor

Spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) is based on:

Precise timing of presynaptic and postsynaptic activity

Which mechanoreceptor in glabrous skin detects texture and shape?

Merkel cells

Which mechanosensitive ion channel is crucial in proprioception?

Piezo2

What sensory information does the spinothalamic pathway carry?

Pain and temperature

What condition results from frataxin mutation and affects proprioception?

Friedreich's ataxia

Which brain area maps sensory input and shows cortical magnification?

Primary somatosensory cortex

What type of afferents coil around the central part of intrafusal fibers?

Group Ia

Which cells in the retina are responsible for phototransduction?

Photoreceptors

In darkness, what is the state of the photoreceptor membrane?

Depolarized due to open cGMP-gated Na+ channels

What pigment is found in rods?

Rhodopsin

Which type of ganglion cell responds to light in the center of its receptive field?

On-center cell

What structure contains the auditory sensory receptors?

Organ of Corti

Which ion enters hair cells during sound transduction?

K+

Which membrane vibrates first in response to sound waves?

Tympanic membrane

How is pitch (frequency) encoded in the auditory system?

By position of maximal vibration on basilar membrane

Which structure detects vertical acceleration?

Saccule

What ion is responsible for depolarizing vestibular hair cells?

K+

Which canal detects nodding motion (yes gesture)?

Superior

Where do vestibular signals project to adjust posture and eye movements?

Brainstem and cerebellum

Olfactory receptors are what type of receptors?

G-protein coupled receptors

Where is the olfactory epithelium located?

Superior nasal cavity

What does cAMP do in olfactory signal transduction?

Opens Na+ channels

Which brain area does olfactory information reach directly?

Primary olfactory cortex

Which ions are involved in the ionotropic transduction of salty and sour tastes?

Na+ and H+

Which tastes are detected by metabotropic receptors?

Bitter, sweet, and umami

Where do second-order gustatory neurons project?

Limbic system and thalamus

What is the initial event in taste transduction?

Binding of gustatory molecules to microvilli