Psych 111 Quiz 2

The limbic system structure that regulates hunger is called the __?

Hypothalamus

The vast majority of neurons in the body's information systems are?

Interneurons

The prevalence of genetically predisposed traits that have a reproductive advantage is best explained in terms of __?

Natural selection

Following massive damage to his frontal lobes, Gage was most strikingly debilitated by __?

Irritability

Research with split-brain patients suggest that the __ typically constructs the theories people offer to explain their own behaviors,

Left cerebral hemisphere

In emphasizing that heredity's effects on behavior depend on a persons home environment, psychologists are highlighting the importance of __?

Nature vs. nurture

The visual cortex is located in the __?

Occipital lobe

Which hormone enables contractions associated with birthing and milk flow during nursing?

Oxytocin

Compared with fraternal twins, identical twins are __.

More similar in risk to develop Alzheimers and more similar in risk to be emotionally unstable.

What is a major source of genetic diversity?

Mutations

What would be most useful for detecting the brain areas that are most active as a person does math?

A PET scan

The release of __ to muscle cell receptors triggers muscle contractions.

ACh

Research has suggested that a reward deficiency syndrome may contribute to __?

Alcohol dependence

If chronic child abuse alters a victims' gene expression in such a fashion as to facilitate depression and suicide, this would be said to illustrate __?

An epigenetic

The regions of the parietal lobes that are involved in math and spatial reasoning are known as __?

Association areas

An axon transmits messages __ the cell body and a dendrite transmits messages __ the cell body.

Away from, toward

Studies of the relative impact of nature and nurture on human differences in aggressiveness best illustrate the research efforts of __?

Behavior geneticists

After an accidental brain injury, Kira has difficulty walking coordinated. She probably suffered damage to her __?

Cerebellum

Chromosomes are composed of __?

Deoxyribonucleic acid

To monitor the electrical activity in the brain that's triggered by hearing ones own name, researchers would make use of an __?

EEG

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control are called __?

Endorphins

Two individuals are most likely to differ in personality if they're __?

Fraternal twins who are raised apart

Which portion of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in making plans and formulating moral judgments?

Frontal lobes

Evolutionary psychologists attribute the human tendency to fear snakes and heights to __?

Genetic predisposition

Brain scans indicate that well-practiced pianists have a larger-than-usual auditory cortex area. This best illustrates __?

Plasticity

The release of epinephrine and norephrine __ blood pressure and __ blood sugar.

Raises, raises

The peripheral nervous system consists of __?

Sensory and motor neurons

Although Ron has no genital sensations, he is capable of an erection if his genitals are stimulated. Ron's experience is most indicative of a __?

Severed spinal cord

To excite or inhibit an action potential in a receiving neuron, a neurotransmitter must cross the __?

Synaptic gap

Drugs that block the reuptake or serotonin will thereby increase the concentration of serotonin molecules in the __?

Synaptic gaps