Intro to Psych (Chapter 2)

Acetylcholine

is a neurotransmitter that controls muscle contractions.

First-degree

relatives have a genetic overlap of about 50%.

Those with Wernicke's aphasia usually speak freely and with proper syntax.

In the context of the brain's language functions, identify the correct statement.

People with hippocampal damage cannot permanently store new information.

In the context of the limbic system, which of the following statements is true?

corpus callosum

People with severe cases of epilepsy have split-brain operations in which much of the - - is severed.

prefrontal cortex

Some researchers consider the _________ to be the "executive center" of the brain, where decisions are made to keep information in working memory and to solve problems.

amygdala

Studies show that the - - is connected with aggressive behavior in monkeys, cats, and other animals.

It is involved in general arousal and learning and memory.

Which of the following is a function of norepinephrine?

Epinephrine

_________ intensifies most emotions and is central to the experience of fear and anxiety.

Heredity

defines one's nature, which is based on biological structures and processes.

heredity

defines one's nature, which is based on biological structures and processes.

They feel tired and sluggish and may put on weight.

Which of the following is a likely consequence of low thyroxin secretion in adults?

Serotonin

Which of the following neurotransmitters is involved in emotional arousal and sleep?

The Adrenocorticotrophic hormone

Which of the following pituitary hormones regulates the adrenal cortex?

Melatonin

Emily suffers from insomnia. When she went to see a doctor, she was told that her sleeplessness was caused by the deficiency of a particular hormone. The doctor then gave her sleeping pills containing the same. Which is the hormone in question?

instinct

is a stereotyped pattern of behavior that is triggered in a specific situation.

synapse

A neuron relays its message to another neuron across a junction called a(n)

phenotype

Allen was adopted at an early age by a Japanese-American couple. As a result, he grew up speaking both Japanese and English fluently. In terms of genetics, this manifestation of Allen's ability to speak is called

hypothalamus

Among lower animals, stimulation of various areas of the - - can trigger instinctual behaviors such as fighting, mating, or nest building.

afferent neurons

Bobby was standing in line to purchase a movie ticket. All of a sudden, the man in front of him took a few steps back and stepped on Bobby's foot. Bobby had an immediate sensation of pain. This sensation was transmitted via the spinal cord to the brain through _____.

cretinism

Thyroxin deficiency in children can lead to - - , which is a condition characterized by stunted growth and mental retardation.

A refractory period

Which of the following refers to a time when a neuron is insensitive to messages from other neurons and does not fire?

The phenotype

Which of the following represents an interaction of one's nature and nurture?

Computerized axial tomography

is a method of brain imaging that passes a narrow X-ray beam through the head and measures the structures that reflect the beams from various angles, enabling a computer to generate a three-dimensional image.

glial cells

remove dead neurons and waste products from the nervous system, nourish and insulate neurons, and form myelin

To confine seizures to one hemisphere of the cerebral cortex

What is the purpose of a split brain operation?

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not primarily involved in sensation or motor activity

Which of the following best describes association areas?

The presence of an extra chromosome on the 21st pair

Which of the following causes Down syndrome?

The thalamus serves as a relay station for sensory stimulation, whereas the hypothalamus controls the regulation of body temperature, concentration of fluids, storage of nutrients, and motivation and emotion.

Which of the following is a difference between the thalamus and the hypothalamus?

pons

The - - is a bulge in the hindbrain that lies forward of the medulla and transmits information about body movement.

synapse

A neuron relays its message to another neuron across a junction called a(n) _________.

pituitary gland

The - - lies below the hypothalamus and is dubbed the "master gland."

dyslexia

Being left-handed has been associated with an above average probability of having _____.

pituitary gland

The _________ lies below the hypothalamus and is dubbed the "master gland."

all-or-none principle

The _________ refers to the fact that a neuron fires an impulse of the same strength whenever its action potential is triggered.

Heredity is apparently involved in psychological disorders ranging from anxiety and depression to personality disorders.

In the context of behavioral genetics, identify the correct statement.

dopamine

Nicotine, alcohol, and many other drugs are pleasurable because they heighten levels of

acetylcholine

Paul is a fifty-five-year-old man who has been having some difficulty recalling important details. On visiting a doctor, he was told that he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The deficiency of - - is most likely to be linked to Paul's condition.

Broca's aphasia

Phoebe recently suffered a major fall in which she sustained brain injuries. Since then, she has had immense difficulty in communicating with others. She appears to understand what is said to her, but her responses are slow and laborious. Her sentences are always incomplete with important grammatical words missing. Which of the following conditions best reflects Phoebe's case?

polygenic

Traits such as sociability and aggressiveness are thought to be

The genetic code

Which of the following terms best describes the nucleotides found along just one of the rungs of a molecular ladder?

Nature

Which of the following terms is related to one's genotype?

It regulates maternal behavior in lower mammals such as rats.

Which of these is a function of prolactin?

It plays roles in sleeping, sneezing, and coughing.

Which of these is a function of the medulla of the brain?

Epinephrine

Will was driving down a road one night. Suddenly, he noticed a man trying to cross the road just a little away from the car. Will felt an intense fear and immediately became alert and slammed the breaks down hard, missing the man by inches. Which hormone was responsible for this reaction?