Q: If the probability that a rat will chase a car is $$P$$, and the probability that a rat has increased dopamine activity is $$D$$, which equation best represents the hypothesis that dopamine activity increases the likelihood of car-chasing?

$$P = kD$$ \\ (where $$k is a $$proportionality constant)

Q: Which equation best represents the relationship between stimulus intensity ($$S) $$and neural response ($$R) in $$the context of car-chasing behavior, assuming a threshold effect?

$$R = \frac{S}{S + T}$$ \\ (where $$T is $$the threshold)

Question 1

Which brain region is most likely to be involved in the reward response that could explain why some rodents are attracted to chasing cars?

Accepted Answer

Nucleus accumbens

Question 2

If you were designing an experiment to test the neural basis of car-chasing behavior in rats, which of the following would be the best control group?

Accepted Answer

Rats that have never been exposed to cars

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter is most commonly associated with reward-seeking behavior in mammals, including rodents?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Question 4

A researcher finds that rats which chase cars have higher activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). What is the most likely explanation for this observation?

Accepted Answer

The VTA is part of the reward pathway, increasing motivation to chase cars.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes an appropriate experimental design to identify brain regions involved in car-chasing behavior in rats?

Accepted Answer

Insert electrodes into regions associated with reward and motivation, comparing activity between car-chasing and non-chasing rats.

Question 6

If the probability that a rat will chase a car is $$P$$, and the probability that a rat has increased dopamine activity is $$D$$, which equation best represents the hypothesis that dopamine activity increases the likelihood of car-chasing?

Accepted Answer

$$P = kD$$ \ (where $$k is a $$proportionality constant)

Question 7

Which of the following is a plausible real-world application of understanding why rodents chase cars?

Accepted Answer

Improving animal models for studying human impulsive behavior

Question 8

A student hypothesizes that car-chasing behavior in rats is due to increased activity in the amygdala. Which experiment would best test this hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Measure amygdala activity in rats exposed to cars and compare to rats not exposed.

Question 9

If a rat's car-chasing behavior is reduced after lesioning the prefrontal cortex, what does this suggest about the role of the prefrontal cortex?

Accepted Answer

It is involved in decision-making and impulse control.

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why some rats do NOT chase cars, based on neural reward pathways?

Accepted Answer

They have decreased dopamine receptor sensitivity in reward regions.

Question 11

If you wanted to quantify the difference in neural activity between car-chasing and non-chasing rats, which statistical test would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Student's t-test

Question 12

A rat is exposed to a moving car and shows increased activity in the striatum. What is the most likely behavioral outcome?

Accepted Answer

The rat will chase the car.

Question 13

Which equation best represents the relationship between stimulus intensity ($$S) $$and neural response ($$R) in $$the context of car-chasing behavior, assuming a threshold effect?

Accepted Answer

$$R = \frac{S}{S + T}$$ \ (where $$T is $$the threshold)

Question 14

Which of the following would be a valid hypothesis for a follow-up experiment based on the initial study design?

Accepted Answer

Car-chasing rats have higher activity in reward-related brain regions compared to non-chasing rats.

Question 15

If the average firing rate of neurons in the nucleus accumbens during car-chasing is $$f_1$$ and during rest is $$f_0$$, what is the percent increase in firing rate?

Accepted Answer

$$\frac{f_1$ - f_0$}{f_0$} 	imes 100\%$$

Neural Mechanisms of Rodent Behavior: Attraction to Cats

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