Psychology Chap. 1-2

Survey researchers cannot generalize findings unless their samples are random. Which of the following is an example of a random sampling procedure used to pick 100 participants for a research project?

Choose participants from the entire population of interest by putting all the names in a bowl, mixing them up, and then picking names one at time until you have enough to ensure at least 100 participants.

Brenda has been asked to give a brief lecture on neurons and the action potential to a group of high school students. Which of the following would she likely use as a model to describe the chemistry-to-electricity process of the action potential?

It is similar to the way batteries generate electricity

What is true regarding action potentials?

Once an action potential is started, it is self-sustaining and continues to the end of the axon

In December 1879, _______ created the world's first psychology laboratory in Germany.

Wilhelm Wundt

Psychologists who focus on the adaptive function of behaviors and emotions (that is, those who study behaviors and emotions that appear to have allowed our ancestors to survive) would likely consider ______ an early representative of their approach to psychology.

William James

Jorge, who is terrified of snakes, is walking down the street when he sees a stick that looks somewhat like a snake. He immediately becomes fearful, despite knowing that what he sees is only a stick. An area of the brain called the _______ is responsible for Jorge's fear reaction.

amygdala

Brain activity results in telltale electrical signals that can be detected by:

an electroencephalogram (EEG)

Mary Whiton Calkins was the first woman to:

be president of the APA (American Psychological Association)

Mary Whiton Calkins was the first women to:

be president of the APA (American Psychological Association)

Psychology is NOW defined as the scientific study of:

behavior and mental processes

Dr. Williamson is working with the National Institutes of Mental Health to determine if omega-3 fatty acids have beneficial effects on mood and anxiety disorders. Which perspective is Dr. Williamson subscribing to?

behavioral neuroscience

Which perspective is most relevant to understanding links between areas of brain activation and sexual motivation?

behavioral neuroscience

Watson is associated with:

behaviorism

Although correlation shows an association between two variables, it does NOT necessarily prove _____.

causation

The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus is the:

cell body

After she suffered a brain injury, Kira had difficulty walking in a smooth, coordinated manner. It is likely that she suffered damage to her:

cerebellum

"After i graduate, I really want to help people with schizophrenia," says Elaine. Elaine most likely wants to be a _______ psychologist.

clinical

In a study of whether alcohol consumption might affect memory, research participants were assigned to drink either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage prior to completing a memory test. Those who drank the nonalcoholic beverage participated in the _______ condition.

control

pharmaceutical studies sometimes test their experimental drug against an already available medication to see if the experimental drug works the same or better than the existing medication. Those participants who get assigned to the existing-medication group would be in the:

control condition

Carla is studying for an exam in her introductory psychology course. She is trying to understand the difference between descriptive research methods and other types of research methods. Which of the following statements might best clarify this issue for her?

descriptive research methods can expand knowledge about behaviors and help generate hypotheses, but they are not good for explaining behaviors and why they occur.

Which of the following statements is FALSE? a) Body sensations such as touch and temperature are processed in the somatosensory cortex b)Sensory and motor information is processed and integrated in association areas on the cerebral cortex c)The temporal lobe contains the primary auditory cortex, which processes auditory information d) Each part of the body has the same degree of representation on the motor cortex

each part of the body has the same degree of representation on the motor cortex

Which of the following statements is FALSE? a) Body sensations such as touch and temperature are processed in the somatosensory cortex b) Sensory and motor information is processed and integrated in association areas on the cerebral cortex c) Each part of the body has the same degree of representation on the motor cortex d) The temporal lobe contains the primary auditory cortex, which processes auditory information.

each part of the body has the same degree of representation on the motor cortex

The limbic system is a group of structures involved in:

emotions and drives

Researchers now believe that developing a fear of darkness may have contributed to the survival of our human ancestors. This finding would be most relevant to the __________ perspective.

evolutionary

Most of the signals that neurons receive are _______; others are the opposite, or inhibitory.

excitatory

Correlational studies cannot determine causation. The only way to demonstrate causation is to conduct a(n):

experiment

In science, the clearest way to isolate cause and effect is to conduct a(n):

experiment

This type of study manipulates factors to determine their effects.

experimental designs

The signals for voluntary muscle movements originate in a band of tissue called the motor cortex, which is located at the rear of the _____ lobes.

frontal

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in speaking?

frontal

Dr. Jamison studies the part of the brain that is active when people are lying. She asks half of her participants to tell the truth about an event from their childhood and half to tell a lie about a childhood event. Which of the following brain imaging techniques should she use to detect brain areas that are active when participants are lying?

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Janet begins seeing a therapist to cope with a number of stressful life events. Her therapist does not focus on her childhood or on any learned behaviors, but instead emphasizes the importance of her need for love and acceptance. Which is most likely the school of though that the therapist follows?

humanistic psychology

The influence of the current environment on one's growth potential is emphasized by:

humanistic psychology

James Olds and Peter Milner (1954) were trying to implant an electrode in a rat's reticular formation when they placed the electrode incorrectly by mistake. Curiously, as if seeking more stimulation, the rat kept returning to the location where it had been stimulated by the misplaced electrode. When they realized that they had actually placed the device in a region of the _____, Olds and Milner realized they had stumbled upon a reward center.

hypothalamus

James Olds and Peter Milner (1954) were trying to implant an electrode in a rat's reticular formation when they placed the electrode incorrectly by mistake. Curiously, as if seeking more stimulation, the rat kept returning to the location where it had been stimulated by the misplaced electrode. When they realized that they had actually placed the device in a region of the ______, Old and Milner realized they had stumbled upon a reward center.

hypothalamus

Information is transmitted along the axon:

in the form of a brief electrical impulse

Wilhelm Wundt used the research method known as:

introspection

Willhelm Wundt used the research method known as:

introspection

One strength of the case study method is that:

it suggests hypotheses for future study

Ivan Pavlov pioneered the study of:

learning

This technique measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity.

magnetoencephalography (MEG)

An organism's inherited traits that increase its likelihood to reproduce and survive are the traits it will most likely pass on to the generations that follow. This pattern can be explained by the principle of:

natural selection

Professor Carter observes and records the behavior of grocery shoppers as they select items to purchase. Which type of research is Professor Carter using?

naturalistic observation

Professor Frank has asked students to create a study to examine the behavior of coyotes in a nearby nature preserve. If they are only interested in observing and recording behavior, and not exploring cause and effect for those behaviors, which method would they choose?

naturalistic observation

Scientists hope that by using master stem cells they will someday be able to help the body create new neurons for damaged areas of the brain through the process of:

neurogenesis

It is 1965, and Professor Skinner is lecturing in your introductory course. He defines psychology as "the scientific study of _____."

observable behavior

The empirical approach relies on:

observation and experimentation

As you stand in line for coffee, you scan the faces of other customers to spot your friend. This visual information is being processed in your:

occipital lobes

Dr. Aba is conducting a study to see whether there is a relationship between birth order and shyness. Before conducting this study, Dr. Aba needs to develop an operational definition of:

operational definitions for both shyness and short stature

Theresa works for a large pharmaceutical company that is planning a study of a new drug, and Dr. Aba is aware that some college students may just seem shy in an interview setting even if they are not usually shy. Before conducting this study, Dr. Aba needs to develop:

operational definitions for both shyness and short stature.

In order to determine if a finding from one study can be applied to other populations, it is necessary for the researchers to _______ variables, this making it possible for other researchers to try to replicate the study.

operationally define

Botox injections smooth facial wrinkles because botulin is an ACh antagonist that:

paralyzes underlying facial muscles

In drug-treatment studies, researchers often use double-blind procedures to minimize the chance that _______ are responsible for differences between experimental and control conditions.

placebo effect

In drug-treatment studies, researchers often use double-blind procedures to minimize the chance that ______ are responsible for differences between experimental and control conditions.

placebo effects

After suffering a severe brain injury in a dirt-bike accident that permanently damages much of his right cortex, 9-year-old Amir was partially paralyzed on the left side of his body. Amazingly, after several months of intensive physical therapy, he partially regained the use of his left leg and left arm. This is an example of:

plasticity

The brain's ability to change function and structure is referred to as:

plasticity

To obtain a scan using this technique, a patient is injected with (or ingests) a low and harmless dose of a short-lived radioactive glucose.

positron emission tomography (PET)

Thomas was in a serious bike accident in which the front of his head slammed into a tree. Since the accident he is irritable and has trouble controlling his behavior and planning future activities. Thomas likely damaged his:

prefrontal cortex

One common thinking error is the assumption that a strong correlation:

proves causation

Leroy wants to provide medical treatment, including prescribing psychoactive drug, to help individuals with psychological disorders. Leroy wants to be _______.

psychiatrist

_______ are medical doctors who can provide medical treatment and psychological therapy.

psychiatrists

If Professor Thomas electrically stimulates the ____ in a sleeping animal, the animal will immediately wake up and be alert.

reticular formation

The process of _____________ occurs when the sending neuron normally reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules.

reuptake

A number of antidepressant medications work to increase this neurotransmitter since low levels of it are linked to depression.

serotonin

By organizing isolated facts, one of the things a theory does is:

simplify

A scientist who begins by doubting and who analyzed all scientific claims while asking "how does it work?" is exemplifying which scientific attitude?

skepticism

A focus on the different marriage rituals practiced by members of different ethnic groups is more relevant to the _______ perspective.

social-cultural

A clinician who is primarily observing how the presence of others affects the behavior of the individual and peer and other group influences, is focusing on

social-cultural influences

A clinician who is primarily observing how the presence of others affects the behavior of the individual and peer and other group influences, is focusing on:

social-cultural influences

Tarik actively studies for his psychology exam for several days in advance. Although this requires that he carefully manage his time, his grades have improved since starting this practice. Tarik is using ________ as a method of studying.

spaced practice

Information processing in the brain involved neurons communicating with each other at their:

synapses

The areas of the motor cortex responsible for precise movements, for example, of the fingers and the mouth,:

take up a larger area of the motor cortex.

A hypothesis is a prediction that is:

testable

Tamika is having difficulty scoring as well as she believes she should on her psychology exams. The class teaching assistant suggests that Tamika may be overestimating what she knows about the terms and concepts in each chapter. Tamika may be familiar with the terms and concepts but may not always be able to apply them during an exam. The teaching assistant suggests that after studying, Tamika should spend more time _____ her knowledge of the content.

testing

Months after Tina's left index finger was severed in a factory accident, she noticed an increase in the sensitivity of the fingers near the missing one. The increased sensitivity is caused by:

the area in the somatosensory cortex once occupied by the missing index finger now receiving input from the adjacent fingers

Professor Ming is conducting a study for which it is critical that the findings be representative of the population of interest. What research method runs the greatest risk that its findings may be unrepresentative of what is generally true?

the case study

Which part of the neuron receives messages from other neurons?

the dendrites

An evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation is known as:

the empirical approach

In order to assess whether sexual arousal affects sense of humor, researchers exposed married couples to either erotic or non-erotic movie scenes. The couples then watched a comedy skit, and the researchers measured how much they laughed. In this research, the independent variable consisted of:

the exposure to erotic material

In order to assess whether sexual arousal affects sense of humor, researchers exposed marries couples to either erotic or non-erotic movie scenes. The couples then watched a comedy skit, and the researchers measured how much they laughed. In this research, the independent variable consisted of:

the exposure to erotic material

Which area of the limbic system has considerable influence on the secretion of hormones throughout the body?

the hypothalamus

Which area of the limbic system regulates thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior, and also help maintain a steady (homeostatic) internal state)?

the hypothalamus

Which lobes of the cerebral cortex are most directly involved in vision?

the occipital lobes

A medical equipment company is thinking of expanding by developing a higher tech version of the presently used lie-detection machines that measure perspiration, cardiovascular, and respiration changes. On which of the following biological systems should their research focus?

the sympathetic nervous system

Which area is NOT a part of the limbic system?

the thalamus