Physiological Psych
All of the following biological developmental milestones that change the brain occur during the adolescent years EXCEPT: Codification of neural networks for basic motor skills
Neural network development for motor skills is part of early brain development and is essentially complete for basic motor skills (such as crawling, walking, jumping, and writing) before adolescence (choice D does not occur during adolescence and is therefore correct). ================= Neural network development for motor skills = early brain development
Nicotine belongs to which class of psychoactive drugs? Stimulants
Nicotine is a stimulant; its overall effect is to speed up bodily functions (choice B is correct). Opiates belong to the class of psychoactive drugs called depressants. These work by slowing down bodily activity (choices A and C are wrong). Hallucinogens cause perceptual distortions, such as seeing colors that are not present in the environment or feeling moods of euphoria or terror (choice D is wrong). =================== stimulant = speed up bodily functions (Nicotine) depressants = slowing down bodily activity (Opiates)
Where is oxytocin produced and released, respectively? Hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland
Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus (choice C and choice D are wrong). However, oxytocin is not secreted by the hypothalamus. Rather, the hypothalamus links the autonomic nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, which is responsible for releasing the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin (choice A is correct). The adrenal gland is also responsible for the secretion of hormones, but is primarily responsible for the secretion of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, as well as some androgens (choice B is wrong). The amygdala is part of the limbic system and plays a role in the regulation of emotion. ========================== Oxytocin = produced in the hypothalamus = secreted via post-pituitary
Based on the data in Figure 1, which of the following is true regarding the members of groups A and B? There was a greater concentration of acetylcholine in the cardiac muscles of the group A members than was the case for the group B members. Group A members had a lower BPM when they re-entered the shopping center than did the individuals of group B. Acetylcholine has an inhibiting effect on cardiac muscle and therefore would cause a decrease in heart rate. Thus, group A members would have a greater concentration of acetylcholine present around their cardiac tissue since they had a lower heart rate (choice A is correct).
> Acetylcholine has an inhibiting effect on cardiac > heart rate (decrease )
The episodic buffer allowed participants to: apply experience learned in prior games in order to generate options
According to Baddeley, the working memory system is composed of four parts. The visuospatial sketchpad is a short-term visual store, the phonological loop is a short-term auditory store, the central executive is responsible for task-switching, and the episodic buffer integrates information from the other three systems and from long-term memory. An example of the contribution of the episodic buffer, therefore, is the recollection and application of prior game experience (choice C is correct). The episodic buffer is not directly responsible for the internal organization of experience (choice D is wrong). Rehearsal of verbal instructions would be the province of the phonological loop (choice A is wrong), while short-term visual memory of the video clips would be the province of the visuospatial sketchpad (choice B is wrong). =========================== visuospatial sketchpad = short-term visual store phonological loop = short-term auditory store central executive = task-switching episodic buffer = integrates information from the other three systems and from long-term memory
All of the following are true about photoreceptors in the retina EXCEPT: rods are highly sensitive to visual detail.
Although rods are more sensitive to lower levels of light than are cones, rods are not sensitive to detail and instead are generally involved in peripheral vision in normal or bright light (choice B is false and therefore correct). Due to their sensitivity to photons, rods do most, if not all, of their photoreception in dark situations (choice A is true and therefore wrong). Cones process color information in all settings, including bright light (choice C is true and therefore wrong). The fovea, the middle section of the retina on which images are generally focused, contains only cones (choice D is true and therefore wrong). ================== fovea = cones only
All of the following are involved in proprioception, EXCEPT: A. muscle spindles. B. baroreceptors. Correct Answer C. Golgi tendon organs. D. joint capsule receptors.
Baroreceptors are a type of mechanoroceptor located within the blood vessels sensitive to the stretch of the vessel itself. Baroreceptors detect changes in blood pressure, and are not involved in proprioception (choice B is correct). Muscle spindles are mechanoreceptors sensitive to the stretch of muscles, and are thus involved in movement and proprioception (choice A is wrong). Similarly, the Golgi tendon organs monitor the amount of tension in the tendons and are also involved in movement and proprioception (choice C is wrong). Joint capsule receptors sense pressure, movement, and tension in the joints and are also involved in movement and proprioception (choice D is wrong). ========================= Baroreceptors = blood pressure ------------------------------------- > proprioception (involved in movement ) mechanoreceptors = muscles Golgi tendon organs = tendons Joint capsule receptors = joints
Suzanne was in the middle of deep sleep and was suddenly jolted awake and alert by her alarm clock. Suzanne's brain wave state has most likely quickly shifted from: delta wave to beta wave. This question calls for knowledge of four brain wave states. Beta waves are associated with alert wakefulness, while alpha waves are associated with relaxed wakefulness or drowsiness. Theta waves are active during drowsiness or sleep, and delta waves are associated with deep sleep. The question described Suzanne as being jolted from deep sleep to alert wakefulness, which corresponds to a shift from delta wave to beta wave activity (choice B is correct; choices A, C, and D are wrong).
Beta waves are associated with alert wakefulness alpha waves are associated with relaxed wakefulness Theta waves are associated with deep sleep ================================== Beta = alert alpha = relaxed Theta = deep
Which of the following could explain why a patient is blind in his left eye? His left optic nerve is severed.
Blindness in the left eye is different from blindness in the left visual field. Blindness in the left eye could only be due to damage to the eye itself or to the left optic nerve, the part of the visual pathway that spans from the retina to the optic chiasm (choice D is correct). Damage to either the V1 in the right hemisphere or the right optic tract would cause blindness in the left visual field, as these are parts of the pathway that receive information from both eyes about the left half of the world (choices A and C are wrong). If the left optic tract were severed, the individual would be blind in his right visual field but still receive information about the left half of his world from both eyes (choice B is wrong).
If a person went to a sold-out baseball game that was very noisy and was still able to hear her name yelled out from many seats away, this would be an example of: the cocktail party effect.
C. The cocktail party effect occurs when one is suddenly able to hear one's name, or another piece of information of personal importance, from previously unattended to channels (choice C is correct). Treisman's attenuation model tries to account for selective attention by explaining that the brain "turns down the volume" on unwanted or unnecessary sensory data. This would not explain why one would hear one's name in a crowded and noisy stadium (choice A is wrong). The Broadbent filter model suggests that unwanted or unnecessary sensory input is filtered out before it can be stored in short-term memory. This would not explain why one would hear one's name in a crowded stadium either (choice B is wrong). Selective priming occurs when one encounters particular sensory data very frequently or is expecting to encounter that particular data. While one does encounter one's name frequently, one would not expect to hear it at a stadium, so this choice does not fully explain why one would be able to pick out one's name in a noisy stadium (choice D is wrong). ========================= cocktail party effect = suddenly able to hear Treisman's attenuation model = selective attention Broadbent filter model = unnecessary sensory input is filtered out Selective priming = particular sensory data very frequently
If researchers wanted to include a participant with severe damage to her lateral geniculate nucleus, they would need to revise the procedure by: reading the problems aloud rather than providing the participants with the text.
C. The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) is the area behind the retina that serves as an intermediate way station for electrochemical signals passed from the retina to the visual cortex of the brain. Accordingly, the vision of a participant with damage to the LGN would be impaired, requiring that the problems be read aloud rather than presented in text form (choice C is correct). Using a visuospatial problem or having participants write their responses would not address the basic deficit in vision caused by a damaged LGN (choices B and D are wrong). Even in its original form, the experiment entailed a verbal problem, not an auditory problem (choice A is wrong). ============================ lateral geniculate nucleus = read
Which of the following physiological responses is NOT associated with the psychological stress of lying?Pupil constriction
During the fight-or-flight response the pupils dilate, not constrict; therefore, pupil constriction is not associated with the psychological stress of lying (choice A is correct). ============================ fight-or-flight = pupils dilate
The association of language production with the left hemisphere suggests that damage to this half of the brain would most likely cause:expressive aphasia, the loss of the ability to produce spoken or written language.
Expressive aphasia is the loss of the ability to produce spoken or written language. This ability would be directly affected by damage to Broca's area, the corresponding language production region in the left hemisphere (choice D is correct). Amusia, a defect in recognizing pitch or other aspects of music, is not localized in the left hemisphere (choice C is wrong). Dyslexia is characterized by difficulty in learning to comprehend written language, which is a receptive rather than productive skill (choice B is wrong); auditory verbal agnosia, the inability to comprehend speech, also concerns receptive language skills (choice A is wrong). ================================== Expressive aphasia = produce = Broca = left hemisphere receptive Dyslexia = comprehend written Amusia = defect in music auditory verbal agnosia = comprehend speech
A scientist wants to test the heritability of sexual attractiveness in college-age females. This could be best accomplished by: using monozygotic twin studies to measure the percentage of variation in sexual attractiveness attributable to genetics.
Heritability is best tested with monozygotic twin studies, since monozygotic twins share the same genes. Also, heritability is defined as the proportion of observable differences in phenotype attributable to genetic causes (choice D is correct). Heritability does not measure the percentage of an observable trait caused by genes, but only has meaning within the context of proportion attributable to variation (choice A is wrong).
In split-brain studies such as those mentioned in the passage, researchers presented sensory information to both hemispheres at the same time and the patients did not have difficulty responding to questions about this sensory information. This was because:unless the sensory information was blocked from one hemisphere both hemispheres could engage in processing, thus mitigating the effects of lateralization.
If sensory information was presented to both hemispheres then both hemispheres could engage in sensory processing, and thus lateralization effects would not be observed (choice A is correct). ========================== one blocked hemisphere = both hemispheres could engage in processing in hearing (not seeing) lateralization = specialized to one side of the brain
Suppose that a fifty-year-old man takes a polygraph as part of an insurance investigation. No deception is detected in response to any question, even when his answers are obviously and objectively false (e.g., he asserts that he was present at an event that took place before he was born). Assuming that the polygraph is in fact highly accurate at measuring the physiological indicators of stress associated with lying, which one of the following conditions, if established, would help to explain the results of this man's polygraph? Antisocial personality disorder
Item II is true: those with antisocial personality disorder clearly know full well that they are lying. However, since they experience little or no guilt about the lies, they may not show physiological signs of stress when they lie ========================== antisocial personality = may not show physiological signs of stress when they lie = clearly know full well that they are lying
While completing a ritual, such as repeated locking and unlocking of the front door, an individual with obsessive-compulsive disorder would most likely feel: distressed
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder often feel the need to perform certain rituals or routines repeatedly. These individuals are often compelled by intrusive thoughts. An individual compelled to perform behavior repeatedly, such as continually locking and unlocking a door, will often feel distressed by these intrusive thoughts and the need to perform these behaviors (choice A is correct). ===================== obsessive-compulsive disorder = compelled repeatedly
The myelin sheath is a dielectric that surrounds axonal membranes and facilitates electrical transmissions of neuronal signals. Demyelination is implicated in the exacerbation of Alzheimer's symptoms. Impairment of cognitive abilities due to demyelination most likely occurs because: decreased speed of processing results in impaired semantic memory.
Semantic memory refers to the memory of meanings and other concept-based knowledge. As demyelination occurs, neuronal signals that carry meanings slow down, damaging the memory of them (choice D is correct). Episodic memory is the ability to contextualize the memory of autobiographical events; increased speed of neuronal processing could result in improved episodic memory, but this would not impair cognitive abilities and is not what the question stem asks (choice A is wrong). Decreased speed of neuronal processing would not result in memory improvement, whether semantic or episodic (choices B and C are wrong).
The vestibular sense detects motion and is involved in balance by way of what mechanism? The endolymph in the utricle, saccule, and ampullae contain hair cells that detect motion and the rotation of the head Correct Answer
The endolymph in the utricle, saccule, and ampullae—the semicircular canal of the inner ear—contain hair cells that detect motion and the rotation of the head. This aids in the sense of balance (choice C is correct). The pons in the hindbrain controls some autonomic functions and coordinates movement and thus is related to the sense of balance but that control of autonomic functions on its own is not the vestibular sense (choice A is wrong). The endolymph in the cochlea contains hair cells that are designed to transmit auditory vibrations for the sense of hearing, not proprioception or balance (choice B is wrong). The cerebellum coordinates complex movements and damage to that area results in difficulties in movement and balance, but again this is not the specific mechanism of the vestibular sense (choice D is wrong). ======================= inner ear = hair cells = movement vestibular(in ear) pons = hindbrain = movement cerebellum = movement cochlea = auditory
Studies have shown that the right hemisphere is often critical for the processing of pitch and melody. Based on the passage, which of the following offers a possible evolutionary explanation for right hemispheric processing of music?Prosody (or rhythm, stress, and intonation in speech) is also processed in the right hemisphere
The passage states that the right hemisphere is "critical for comprehending tone, inflection, and the emotional content of spoken language"; therefore, it makes logical sense that it would similarly process prosody, or rhythm, stress, and intonation in speech. Rhythm, stress, and intonation are also crucial elements of music, thus providing an explanation for music processing in the right hemisphere (choice A is correct). Spatial awareness, though processed in the right parietal lobe and important for playing many musical instruments, is not related to the auditory processing of music in the brain (choice B is wrong). The passage, although it discusses self-recognition, does not give an exact locus in the right hemisphere for this process. In addition, this would not provide an evolutionary link to music development (choice C is wrong). Even though auditory processing takes place in both hemispheres, this does not offer a possible evolutionary explanation for right hemispheric processing of music (choice D is wrong).
A stroke patient performs the task described in the passage. While he demonstrates awareness of the shapes 100% of the time, he is unable to produce speech in order to state which shape it is. Where did his stroke most likely occur? Broca's area
The patient is able to see the shapes and follow directions but cannot verbalize what he is seeing; therefore, his stroke likely occurred in Broca's area, the part of the brain devoted to speech production (choice C is correct). ===================================== Broca's area = production
Given that the McGurk Effect relies upon visual and auditory stimuli, which of the following brain structures is NOT involved in the processing of the information that produces the McGurk Effect? Postcentral gyrus
The postcentral gyrus is a prominent structure in the parietal lobe. The primary function of the postcentral gyrus is the processing of the sense of touch, not the senses of sound or sight, which are involved in the McGurk Effect (choice B is not involved in the processing of information that produces the McGurk Effect and is therefore correct). The occipital lobe is the visual processing center of the brain and contains the visual cortex, which would be involved in the visual processing of the McGurk Effect (choice A is wrong). The lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus is involved with the visual processing pathway of the brain. It is the primary relay center for visual information received from the retina of the eye, and therefore would be involved in the visual processing of the McGurk Effect (choice C is wrong). The cochlear nuclei are collections of neurons that receive input from the sound received by the cochlear nerve, and then output that information to the auditory cortex of the brainstem. As the cochlear nuclei are involved in auditory processing, they would be involved in the processing of the McGurk Effect (choice D is wrong). ==================== postcentral gyrus = parietal lobe = touch occipital = visual lateral geniculate nucleus = visual cochlear = sound
An individual suffers from a traumatic brain injury that causes severe damage to his right occipital lobe. How will he perform on the task described in the passage when a shape is presented in his right visual field? He will be aware of the stimulus and will be able to name it.
Though the question stem does not specify that damage to the right occipital lobe is specifically to the primary visual cortex, it doesn't matter, because anything presented in his right visual field is processed by his left occipital lobe (not his right), which is undamaged. Therefore, the individual should be able to both see and name the image in his right visual field (choice D is correct).
Which of the following is a symptom of major depressive disorder? "Flight of ideas", which involves a continuous change in thought content, and racing thoughts are commonly associated with bipolar disorder (a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania), as well as with certain other conditions. They are not associated with major depressive disorder (choice D is not a symptom of major depressive disorder and is therefore correct). A decreased interest in previously-enjoyed activities, a significant increase or decrease in weight or appetite, and impaired concentration or decision-making abilities are all symptoms of major depressive disorder (choices A, B, and C can be eliminated).
interest in previously-enjoyed activities （Decreased ） weight or appetite（Significant increase or decrease in） concentration or decision-making abilities （Decreased ）
Which of the following is NOT true regarding somnambulism (sleepwalking), a type of parasomnia? Individuals will often act out the dreams they are concurrently having while sleepwalking
therefore, since it occurs during non-REM sleep, it is not possible for sleepwalkers to be concurrently dreaming (which only occurs during REM sleep), so sleepwalkers cannot be acting out the dreams they are having (choice C is correct) ================= REM sleep = dream only
