Learn: Openstax Psychology - Chapter 3: Biopsychology - Student Study Guide & Review Questions

Psychological researchers study genetics in order to better understand the ________ that contributes to certain behaviors.

A. biology

B. neurology

C. psychology

D. physiology

a

The _______is a nerve bundle that connects the two hemispheres.

A. pons

B. reticular

C. medulla

D. corpus callosum

d

A difference in ________can explain why one person dies from a disease and another person survives.

A. behavior

B. evolution

C. genetics

D. nurture

c

Studying close relatives allows behavioral geneticists to determine ________.

A. how behaviors have changed over time.

B. the contribution of genes or environment to the behavior in the individuals studied.

C. the relative contributions of genes and environment in a population.

D. whether genes or environment cause a behavior or trait.

c

Which of the following processes least describes a function of the cerebral cortex?

A. Breathing

B.Thinking

C.Memory

D.Reasoning

a

Changes in behavior and cognitive processes over time are studied by ________.

A.behavioral geneticists.

B.behavioral psychologists.

C.evolutionary psychologists.

D.historical psychologists.

c

Human eggs and sperm each contain 23 ________, which are composed of long strands of _______

A.chromosomes; DNA

B.chromosomes; genes

C.DNA; genes

D.genes; DNA

a

_______ is the differences between hemispheres in the areas underlying language function.

A.Brain organization

B.Lateralization

C.Synaptogenesis

D.Wernicke's area

b

Damage to the _________disrupts one's ability to comprehend language, but it leaves one's ability to produce words intact.

A. amygdala

B. Broca's Area

C. Wernicke's Area

D. occipital lobe

c

Wendy's mother has blue eyes and her father has brown eyes. The allele for brown eye coloris dominant (B) to the allele for blue eye color(b), but Wendy has blue eyes. Therefore, Wendy's ________ must be ________ and her father's must be Bb.

A.genotype; Bb

B.genotype; bb

C.phenotype; Bb

D.phenotype; bb

b

Split-brain patients are the result of an operation that severs the

A. cerebrum.

B. cerebellum.

C. corpus callosum.

D. cerebral cortex.

c

Polygenic means that most traits are controlled by________.

A.a single gene.

B.different genes under different circumstances.

C.different parts of only a few different genes.

D.more than one gene.

d

In the cerebral cortex, _______is to vision as _______is to hearing.

A. occipital; parietal

B. temporal;frontal

C. frontal; parietal

D. occipital; temporal

d

______ asserts that our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with our genes to determine where within those boundarieswe will fall.

A.Behavioral genetics

B.Environmental psychology

C.Evolutionary psychology

D.Range of reaction

d

Of adoptees whose biological mothers had schizophrenia and who were raised in disturbed family environments, 36.8% were likely to develop schizophrenia; of adoptees whose mothers did not have schizophrenia and who were raised in disturbed family environments, 5.3% were likely to develop schizophrenia. What is the most appropriate conclusion of these results?

A. Environmental factors and genetic factors interact to determine whether a person is likely to develop schizophrenia.

B.Environmental factors are most important to determining whether a person is likely to develop schizophrenia.

C.Genetic factors are most important to determining whether a person is likely to develop schizophrenia.

D.Not enough information is provided in order to make a conclusion about environmental versus genetic contributions to schizophrenia.

a

Phineas Gage showed severe personality changes following an accident that damaged his

A. temporal cortex.

B. hypothalamus.

C. hippocampus.

D. frontal lobe.

d

The ________ of a neuron contain ________ that house neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the nervous system.

A.axons; terminal buttons

B.dendrites; synaptic vesicles

C.terminal buttons; synaptic vesicles

D.terminal buttons; transport proteins

c

Which of the following situations is the type of physical functioning primarily influenced by the parasympathetic nervous system?

A. Aaron's body releases glucose when he stands up to the bully at school

B. Betty calms down as she drifts off into sleep at night

C. Chan's pupils dilate when he tells a lie to his father

D. Dawn's heart beats faster as she prepares to take her first psychology exam

b

Carlis in a car accident and his parietal lobe is injured. Which of the following is the mostlikely behavioral effect of his accident?

A.Blindness

B.Cannot taste

C.No sensation in his legs and feet

D.Deafness

c

The space between two neurons is called the ________.

A.soma.

B.synapse.

C.terminal button.

D.vesicle

b

The myelin sheath consists of ________.

A.axons.

B.glial cells.

C.somas.

D.terminal buttons.

b

The somatosensory cortex is responsible for processing ________.

A.cognition and emotion.

B.language, such as speech.

C.motor information to body areas,such as arms, legs, and face.

D. temperature, touch, and pain

d

Which of the following best describes a synapse?

A. a tiny gap separating one neuron from another through which messages are carried

B. the tube-like part of a neuron that carries messages to other neurons

C. Root like structure that receive neural impulses from other neurons

D. Body organs or structures that produce secretions

a

Neurons send ________ charges.

A.gravitational

B.hydraulic

C.electrical

D.frozen

c

The auditory cortex is located in which lobe of the brain?

A.Frontal

B.Occipital

C.Parietal

D.Temporal

d

Neurons are ________.

A.chemicals.

B.nerve cells.

C. in humans only.

D.in animals only.

b

Dendrites___________.

A.absorb information into nerve cells.

B.create chemicals that fire between neurons.

C. enable potassium gates open.

D.enable sodium gates open.

a

Which of the following areas is located in the frontal lobe of the brain?

A.Broca's area

B.hippocampus

C.thalamus

D.Wernicke's area

a

_____ is the electrical signal that typically moves from the cell body down the axon to the axon terminals.

A.action potential

B.depolarization

C.hyperpolarization

D.threshold of excitation

a

Dopamine and serotonin are both involved with ________.

A.vision.

B.hearing.

C.mood.

D. taste

c

The cerebellum controls _______.

A.coordination.

B.attention.

C.pain.

D.hearing.

a

Dopamine and glutamate are both involved with _______.

A.running.

B.learning.

C.shifting.

D.turning.

b

The electrical signal that typically moves from the cell body down the axon to the axon terminals is called a(n)_______

A. threshold of excitation

B. resting potential

C. membrane potential

D. action potential

a

Which of the following senses is associated with the temporal lobe?

A.Audition

B.Pain

C.Touch

D.Vision

a

Psychotropic medications are drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring ________ balance.

A.emotional

B.GABA

C.neurotransmitter

D.serotonin

c

The ________ is involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories.

A. amygdala

B. corpus callosum

C. hypothalamus

D. pons

a

Which of the following senses is least likely to be routed through the thalamus?

A.Audition

B.Smell

C.Taste

D.Vision

b

Which two neurotransmitters have roles in appetite suppression?

A.dopamine; acetylcholine

B.dopamine; norepinephrine

C.serotonin; GABA

D. serotonin; glutamate

b

Rosemary had a stroke about a year ago and now she cannot understand what people are saying to her. This is embarrassing for her, so she responds using vague language and tries to make it appear as though she understands. Which area of Rosemary's brain was likely damaged by the stroke?

A.Broca's area

B.Occipital cortex

C.Prefrontal cortex

D.Wernicke's area

d

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the case study of Phineas Gage's accident, which led to brain injury?

A. Frontal lobe injury causes people to be incapable of controlling any of their emotional impulses.

B. Injury to the brain causes changes in behavior, but specific brain areas are not linked to specific behaviors.

C.Injury to the frontal lobe does not affect behavior

D.Injury to the brain causes changes in behavior, and specific brain areas are linked to particular behaviors.

d

______ is a neurotransmitter with roles in pleasure and pain modulation.

A.acetylcholine

B.beta-endorphin

C.GABA

D.norepinephrine

b

Multiple sclerosis is mostly associated with ________.

A. plasma.

B. myelin.

C. sinew.

D.blood.

b

The _______ is a sensory relay station where all sensory information, except for smell, goes before being sent to other areas of the brain for further processing.

A. amygdala

B. hippocampus

C. hypothalamus

D. thalamus

d

The two major divisions of the nervous system are the ________and________.

A.autonomic;somatic nervous systems.

B.autonomic;sympathetic nervous systems.

C.central;peripheral nervous systems.

D.parasympathetic;sympathetic nervous systems

c

Electrical charges in axons must transductinto a _____ form called neurotransmitters.

A. light

B.heat

C.chemical

D.vapor

c

Which of the following is least associated with forebrain structure?

A.Amygdala

B.Hippocampus

C.Pons

D.Thalamus

c

The ________ nervous system is responsible for responses such as pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and increased respiration.

A.autonomic

B.parasympathetic

C.somatic

D.sympathetic

d

Which brain structure regulates such bodily functions as thirst and hunger, fluid concentrations, and body temperature?

A. reticular formation

B. hippocampus

C. thalamus

D. hypothalamus

d

Appetite is most impacted by the _______.

A. cerebrum.

B. cerebellum.

C. thalamus.

D. hypothalamus.

d

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are drugs commonly prescribed for _______.

A.depression.

B. obsessive-compulsive disorder.

C.Parkinson's disease.

D.schizophrenia

a

Dreaming occurs in the ____ region of the brain.

A.medulla

B.ventral tegmental

C.pons

D.substantia nigra

c

Which of the following is least associated with being a limbic system structure?

A.Amygdala

B.Hippocampus

C.Hypothalamus

D.Substantia Nigra

d

The ________ nervous system is responsible for stimulating digestion and causing the bladder to contract.

A.autonomic

B.parasympathetic

C.somatic

D.sympathetic

b

Which part of the brain controls balance?

A. cerebrum

B. cerebellum

C. pons

D. medulla

b

Which part of the forebrain are sometimes described as the "executive center" and directs judgement, reasoning, and impulse control?

A. Frontal lobe

B. Temporal lobe

C. Reticulartal lobe

D. Parietal lobe

a

Sensory and motor neurons of the ________ nervous system are associated with activities traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary.

A.autonomic

B.parasympathetic

C.somatic

D.sympathetic

c

________ is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, reward, addiction, and motor behavior.

A.Acetylcholine

B.Dopamine

C.Glutamate

D.Serotonin

b

Henry Gustav Molaison (H.M.) had brain surgery for which of the following reasons?

A. He had encephalitis as a child.

B. He had severe seizures.

C.He was born with an extra area of cortex.

D.He was part of a medical trial study

b

______ is a state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels.

A.Homeostasis

B.Resting potential

C.Reuptake

D.Synergy

a

Randolf is walking down the street of his hometown, after being away for several years, when he smells the scent of freshly baked pie coming from a local baker. He suddenly has vivid memories of walking down this street as a child, holding both of his parents' hands,and swinging between them, feeling relaxed and happy. This is because the sense of smell projects directly to the ________, which is responsible for ________ memories.

A. basal ganglia; childhood

B.basal ganglia; emotional

C. limbic system; childhood

D.limbic system; emotional

d

Which of the following is leasta part of the fight or flight response?

A.Adrenaline surges into the bloodstream

B.Heart rate and blood pressure increases

C.Pupils dilate

D.Falling asleep

d

Which of the following is least associated with a hindbrain structure?

A.cerebrum

B.cerebellum

C.medulla

D.pons

a

The brain contains________ of interconnected neurons and glia.

A. billions

B.tens of thousands

C. thousands

D.millions

a

The ________ is the part of the brain which is most likely to generate high arousal.

A.cerebellum

B.medulla

C.pons

D.reticular formation

d

Neurons____ touch.

A.always

B.sometimes

C.usually

D.never

d

Elaina has been diagnosed with a small brain tumor. She first went to see her doctor after experiencing symptoms such as feeling very cold, almost fainting, a reduced appetite, and reduced sexual desire. Which of the following structures is her tumor most likely affecting?

A.Broca's area

B.Hypothalamus

C.Substantia nigra

D.Thalamus

b

The brain and spinal cord constitute the ________nervous system

A. central

B. somatic

C. peripheral

D. autonomic

a

The ________ receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control movement and finer motor skills.

A.cerebellum

B.sensory cortex

C.substantia nigra

D.ventral tegmental area

a

A(n) _______uses magnetic fields to create pictures of a given tissue.

A. EEG

B. MRI

C. PET scan

D. CT scan

b

Jennifer has been depressed for several months and she decided to take an overdose of sleeping pills. After taking the pills, her breathing rate decreased dramatically, her heart slowed down, and her blood pressure decreased. On which brain structure is the drug acting?

A.amygdala

B.medulla

C.pons

D.reticular formation

b

The ________ is the deep groove that separates the brain into two halves.

A.central gyrus

B.central sulci

C.hemisphere

D.longitudinal fissure

d

Jane has recently been having trouble staying awake throughout the day. Which area of Jane's brain is most likely related to her difficulty?

A. cerebellum

B. pons

C. medulla

D. cerebrum

b

The medulla________.

A. exists only in animals.

B. disappeared through evolution.

C.controls only the left hemisphere.

D.controls automatic functioning.

d

The ______ is located just behind the amygdala and can be described as playing an important role in the formation of memories.

A. hypothalamus

B. thalamus

C. hippocampus

D. cerebellum

c

You are most likely to be awoken by your morning alarm clock through the activation of the __________.

A.cerebellum

B.corpus callosum

C.medulla

D. reticular formation

d

In the endocrine system, the ______ gland is considered the "master gland," because its messenger hormones control the other glands

A. pituitary

B. thyroid

C. adrenal

D. pancreas

a

Terri Schiavo went into cardiac arrest and her brain was deprived of oxygen, leaving only her brainstem functioning. Which of the following functions could Schiavo still accomplish?

A.feel someone touching her hand

B.groan and move her eyes

C.hear someonetalking to her

D.speak in simple words

b

Which type of imaging would an individual least want repeated on a weekly basis due to radiation exposure?

A. computerized tomography (CT) scan

B. electroencephalograph (EEG)

C. magnet resonance imaging (MRI)

D. positron emission tomography (PET)

a

Parsons and colleagues are conducting a study comparing differences in brain activity levels between patients with schizophrenia and controls with no psychological disorders. Their hypothesis requires a high level of detail and good detection of differences over time. Which of the following is the best brain imaging technique to use?

A.computerized tomography (CT) scan

B.functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

C.magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

D.positron emission tomography (PET)

b

The term lateralization refers to

A. divisions of the brain into hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain.

B. the division of functions between the right and left hemispheres.

C. the cross-wiring of the brain

D. the connections between Broca's area and Wernicke's area

b

Which of the following imaging techniques least describes a means to collect information about brain functioning?

A.computerized tomography (CT) scan

B.electroencephalography(EEG)

C.functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

D.positron emission tomography (PET)

a

Jeremy has Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor skills. In addition to motor symptoms, Jeremy has noticed changes in his mood,and he feels the need to smoke more cigarettes than he used to. It is likely that Jeremy's ________ is producing less ________ than it needs to.

A.motor cortex; acetylcholine

B.motor cortex; dopamine

C.substantia nigra; acetylcholine

D.ventral tegmental area; dopamine

d

Kelsey had a CT scan that showed a tumor in the right frontal cortex. Which of the following behavioral symptoms most likely prompted the scan to take place?

A.difficulty comprehending language

B.difficulty producing language

C.motor skill deficits in the left side of her body

D.sensory deficits in the right side of her body

c

The endocrine system consists of a series of glands that produce chemical substances known as ________.

A.factors

B.hormones

C.neurotransmitters

D.proteins

b

The effects of neurotransmitters tend to be ________, whereas the effects of hormones tend to be ________.

A.fast; a short duration

B. fast; long lasting

C.slow; a short duration

D. slow; long lasting

b

Which of the following is least associated with an endocrine gland?

A.hypothalamus

B.ovaries

C.pineal gland

D.thyroid

a

During the fight or flight response, which of the following endocrine glands is most likely to increase activity?

A.adrenal

B.pancreas

C.testes

D.thyroid

a

Which type of chemical messenger do the male gonads secrete? A.androgens

B.dopamine

C.endorphins

D.estrogens

a

The _________ gland is often referred to as the master gland of the endocrine system.

A.adrenal

B.pituitary

C.testes

D.thyroid

b

Diabetes is a(n) ________ disorder because insulin is a ________.

A.endocrine; hormone

B.endocrine; neurotransmitter

C.neurological; hormone

D.neurological; neurotransmitter

a

Considerable debate occurs regarding the use of an abolic steroid drugs like________ in professional athletes and bodybuilders.

A.growth hormone

B.insulin

C.testosterone

D.thyroxine

c

The theory of ________ states that organisms that are better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce, while those that are poorly suited for their environment will die off.

A.behavioral genetics

B.evolution by natural selection

C.genetic mutation

D.survivalism

b

Glucose, a small uncharged molecule, can pass through the cell membrane, but sodium ions do not pass through the membrane easily. What is the most accurate explanation for these findings?

A. Cell membranes have carrier proteins for glucose but not for sodium.

B. The cell membrane is semi-permeable.

C. The membrane potential makes it difficult for sodium ions to diffuse across the membrane.

D.The sodium-potassium pump keeps sodium inside the cell.

b

Gyri and sulci are the ________and ________, respectively, which characterize the surface of the human brain.

A. cortex;forebrain

B.fissures;folds

C.folds;grooves

D.grooves;folds

c

A ________ scan involves taking a number of x-rays of a particular section of a person's body or brain.

A.computerized tomography (CT)scan

B.functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

C.magnet resonance imaging (MRI)

D.positron emission tomography (PET)

a

Identical twins _____.

A. share the same genes.

B.are half-related to one another.

C.are just as related as any other brother/sister.

D.seldom look/act alike.

a

Ainsley is participating in a study that aims to determine whether the occipital cortex becomes more active in response to moving versus stationary stimuli. When she arrives at the lab, she ingests a"tracer" and then enters the scanning machine. What type of brain imaging is most likely being conducted in this study?

A.computerized tomography (CT)scan

B.electroencephalograph(EEG)

C.magnet resonance imaging (MRI)

D.positron emission tomography (PET)

d

A(n) ________ is a sudden, permanent changein a sequence of DNA.

a. allele

b. chromosome

c. epigenetic

d. mutation

d

______ is a technique often used in studies investigating sleep patterns. Researchers place electrodes at various locations on a person's head in order to record brainwaves.

A.electroencephalography (EEG)

B.functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

C.magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

D.positron emission tomography (PET)

a

The neurotransmitter ________ impacts "pleasure" and the neurotransmitter ________ impacts "mood."

A. dopamine; serotonin

B. serotonin; dopamine

C. acetylcholine; glutamate

D. glutamate; acetylcholine

a