Week 2: Brain-Behavior Relationships

The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office. 
—Robert Frost

This is an amusing quote; however, it is scientifically incorrect. Yes, your brain is a wonderful organ, but it never really stops working. We are able to interact with our world through our nervous system, which is comprised of our brain and all the nerve cells in the rest of the body. The nervous system and our endocrine system, involved in secreting hormones through our bloodstream, both communicate messages that influence behavior and many aspects of our biological functioning.

This week you learn how the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and endocrine system interact to communicate within the body. You will also learn about how our bodies sense things from the environment and transform and organize that sensation into meaningful perceptions of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Demonstrate comprehension of the relationships among brain structure, neural transmission, and thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Identify major structures and functions of parts of the nervous system
• Demonstrate understanding about connections between nervous system structures
• Identify instances of sensory adaptation
• Identify aspects of basic sensation and perception in regard to vision, hearing, smell, and taste
• Assess concepts related to perceptual organization
• Summarize salient characteristics of an individual for case study project

Test

Test for Understanding

This 20-question Test for Understanding assesses how well you understand and can apply the information in this week’s Learning Resources.

To prepare for the Test for Understanding:

• Review the assigned Learning Resources.

About the Test for Understanding:

• The Test for Understanding has a 40-minute time limit.
• If your test completion time exceeds the 40-minute time limit, your Instructor will reduce your final test score by 1 point for every minute your time exceeds the limit.
• If you encounter technical difficulties during the Test for Understanding, or if you have questions about how an online test works, contact Student Support for more information.

Once you have completed the Test for Understanding, you will be shown the correct answer for each question.

Click on the Test – Week 2 link to access the Test for Understanding.

Please answer each question and click Submit when you have completed the Test. If you are inactive for a period of time during the test, you may be prompted to exit the test. Remember to carefully read the prompts provided by the test. For example, click “Cancel” (as in cancel the exit) to stay inside the test. If you click “OK” or “back,” you accept to exit the test. Please be mindful about staying active inside the test (i.e., how much time you spend between items) so the test does not time you out.