PSYC 100 Exam #1 Study Questions

_____ plays an important role in the production of speech, whereas _____ plays an important role in the comprehension of language. A. Broca's area/Wernicke's area B. Wernicke's area/Broca's area C. The hippocampus/the occipital lobe D. The occipital lobe/the hippocampus

A. Broca's area/Wernicke's area

Dr. Cardinale is interested in the effects of heredity and environment on intelligence. She compares the similarity of IQ scores of identical twins to the similarity of IQ scores of fraternal twins. In this case, Dr. Cardinale is studying heredity's influence on behavior using A. behavior genetics B. selective breeding C. molecular genetics D. human genome

A. behavior genetics

Melanie is learning how to read Spanish by sounding out each word one letter at a time. Melanie is engaging in _____. A. bottom-up processing B. sensory adaptation C. subliminal perception D. top-down processing

A. bottom-up processing

Inmates at a correctional facility take part in an experiment on social development. Once the experiment is over, the correctional officer goes home and tells his roommates about the results of the study and about the inmates who did not perform well. In this scenario, which ethical guideline of psychological research has been violated by the correctional officer? A. confidentiality B. limited deception C. freedom from coercion D. informed consent

A. confidentiality

Which of the following statements about correlational research is FALSE? A. correlational methods are useful for establishing cause-and-effect relationships between two variables B. correlational methods involve the study of relationships among two variables C. the degree of relationship between two variables is expressed as a numerical value called a correlational coefficient D. correlational methods rely on observing and measuring

A. correlational methods are useful for establishing cause-and-effect relationships between two variables

The ___ lobes are involved in personality, intelligence, and the control of voluntary muscles. A. frontal B. temporal C. parietal D. occipital

A. frontal

Joe has suffered a massive stroke. Since then, he finds it difficult to remember names of new people whom he meets or even to recognize them. This is because he is unable to retain any new memories after the stroke. In the context of the organization of the brain, these symptoms are most likely due to a damaged ______. A. hippocampus B. amygdala C. thalamus D. hypothalamus

A. hippocampus

The _______ senses provide information about movement, posture, and orientation, whereas the _______ senses provide information about balance and movement. A. kinesthetic; vestibular B. limbic; thalamic C. thalamic; limbic D. vestibular; kinesthetic

A. kinesthetic; vestibular

Molly's natural hair color is brown but she has had it dyed blonde. Molly changed her A. phenotype B. genetic heritage C. chromosomes D. genotype

A. phenotype

J. B. Watson and B. F. Skinner believed that _________. A. psychology should focus on an organism's visible interactions with the environment—that is, behaviors. B. psychology should study both outwardly observed behaviors and inborn mental motivations. C. consciousness should always be investigated through the process of individual introspection. D. psychological methods could be developed to study the process of human cognition.

A. psychology should focus on an organism's visible interactions with the environment—that is, behaviors.

If a psychologist studies about the behavioral differences between people from two religions, he or she is most likely following the ______ approach to psychology. A. sociocultural B. cognitive C. psychodynamic D. humanistic

A. sociocultural

_____ is about making sure experimental and control groups are equivalent, and _____ is about selecting participants from a population so that the selected group is representative of that population. A. Random sampling/random assignment B. Random assignment/random sampling C. Internalization/externalization D. External validity/internal validity

B. Random assignment/random sampling

Professor Izadi is interested in the association between sleep and cognitive performance. He surveyed his students about the number of hours they slept the night before the exam and then correlated these scores with their test grades. He found a +.81 correlation between these two variables. What does this result mean? A. There is a weak positive correlation between sleep and exam performance. B. There is a strong positive correlation between sleep and exam performance. C. There is a weak negative correlation between sleep and exam performance. D. There is a strong negative correlation between sleep and exam performance.

B. There is a strong positive correlation between sleep and exam performance.

Which of the following is a true statement about dendrites? A. They encase and insulate most axons B. They are treelike fibers projecting from a neuron C. They contain the nucleus of a neuron D. They direct the manufacture of substances required for growth of neurons

B. They are treelike fibers projecting from a neuron

Linda is studying while listening to her iPod. She notices that when she raises the volume 5 decibels when the volume is initially low, the change is very noticeable. However, when the volume is initially high, increasing the volume by 5 decibels doesn't result in as noticeable of a change in sound. This phenomenon is best explained by_______. A. the volley principle B. Weber's law C. perceptual constancy D. selective attention

B. Weber's Law

According to the science of psychology, a behavior is a(n) ______. A. feeling that is acknowledged B. action that can be directly observed C. attitude that can be changed D. goal for life

B. action that can be directly observed

________ depth-vision cues depend on the combination of the images in the left and right eyes and on the way the two eyes work together. A. gradient B. binocular C. parallel D. monocular

B. binocular

The term plasticity refers to the _____________. A. ability to connect electrical impulses and chemical messengers B. brain's special capacity for modification and change C. ability of people to adapt to new surroundings D. flexibility of the endocrine system

B. brain's special capacity for modification and change

The _____ approach to psychology relies on concepts such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection when explaining human behavior. A. behavioral B. evolutionary C. psychodynamic D. humanistic

B. evolutionary

In the context of sensory receptors, the intensity of the stimulus is communicated to the brain by varying the _____ of the action potential sent to the brain. A. lucidity B. frequency C. depth D. strength

B. frequency

Which of the following theories of vision can best explain the occurrence of afterimages (i.e., sensations that remain after a stimulus is removed)? A. trichromatic theory B. opponent-process theory C. frequency theory D. place theory

B. opponent-process theory

Psychology began as a science in the discipline of ______. A. chemistry B. philosophy C. sociology D. physics

B. philosophy

Jerome knows that his legs are crossed and that his hands are on top of his head. This is a demonstration of _________. A. perceptual constancy B. proprioceptive feedback C. sensory adaptation D. central feedback

B. proprioceptive feedback

During a therapy session, Mrs. Brown's therapist, Donald, asks Mrs. Brown about her dreams because he believes that they are a key to her unconscious mind. In this scenario, Donald is most likely using the _____ approach to psychology. A. behavioral B. psychodynamic C. sociocultural D. cognitive

B. psychodynamic

As you walk barefoot in the park, your nose conveys to your brain the smell of the freshly cut grass, your skin sends information about the feel of the gentle breeze and your ears transmit the sound of children laughing on the playground to your auditory cortex. This process of acquiring "raw data" about the stimuli in the environment is called _____. A. selective attention B. sensation C. cognition D. sensory adaptation

B. sensation

Derek is watching an airplane fly by. The plane seems to get smaller as it goes farther away. Which of the following aspects of perceptual constancy allows Derek to understand that the airplane is not getting smaller? A. apparent movement B. size constancy C. shape constancy D. pattern recognition

B. size constancy

Resting potential is the ________. A. stable, positive charge of an inactive neuron B. stable, negative charge of an inactive neuron C. amount of time a neuron must "rest" in between firing episodes D. amount of time a signal travels through the central nervous system

B. stable, negative charge of an inactive neuron

You are walking to school when you encounter a barking dog. You start sweating and contemplate whether you should run away. Which nervous system is primarily responsible for this "fight-or-flight" reaction? A. parasympathetic B. sympathetic C. somatic D. central

B. sympathetic

Gary is watching a movie. He can hear the dialogue at all times except when the actors are whispering in a scene. This is because the actors' whispers are too soft for Gary to hear. In other words, the whispers are most likely below the level of Gary's _______. A. expectation B. arbitrary value C. absolute threshold D. upper limit

C. absolute threshold

You are listening to a lecture. Then the bell rings in the hallway. In order to hear this stimulus, _____ nerves must carry electrochemical messages from your ears to your brain. A. olfactory B. pyramidal C. afferent D. efferent

C. afferent

Marshal's cerebellum was damaged in a car accident. Marshal is likely to have problems with ________. A. breathing and heart rate B. seeing and hearing C. balance and muscle coordination D. talking and understanding

C. balance and muscle coordination

The iris is the ________. A. light-sensitive surface at the back of the eye that records what we see and converts it to neural impulses for processing in the brain B. white outer part of the eye that helps to maintain the shape of the eye and to protect it from injury C. colored part of the eye that contains muscles that control the size of the pupil D. clear membrane just in front of the cornea through which light first passes through

C. colored part of the eye that contains muscles that control the size of the pupil

Which of the following parts of the eye are most likely to be affected for an individual who is color blind? A. blind spots B. rods C. cones D. optic chiasms

C. cones

When sound waves move through the auditory canal to the middle ear, they first cause the _______. A. cochlea to vibrate B. oval window to move C. eardrum to vibrate D. hammer to vibrate

C. eardrum to vibrate

Dr. Grant is conducting research on stress management. Group A received progressive relaxation training prior to test taking, while Group B received no training. Group A is the _____, while Group B is the _____. A. treatment group/placebo group B. placebo group/control group C. experimental group/control group D. control group/treatment group

C. experimental group/control group

Which of the following research methods allow(s) researchers to determine causality? A. case study B. survey method C. experimental studies D. observations

C. experimental studies

Which of the following is true of neuroscience as a contemporary approach to psychology? A. it emphasizes that behavior can only be understood through direct observation B. it focuses on natural selection as the method of evolution for any species C. it emphasizes that the brain is central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion D. it focuses on the unconscious elements of behavior, thought, and emotion

C. it emphasizes that the brain is central to understanding behavior, thought, and emotion

Professor Wong measured the intelligence and temperament of a group of preschoolers. He plans to follow the same group of participants over time and collect similar data when the children are in 3rd grade, 6th grade, and 9th grade. This is an example of which type of research design? A. experimental design B. double-blind experiment C. longitudinal design D. sampling design

C. longitudinal design

Tamika hypothesizes that women are more helpful than men. She decides to conduct a study to see if she's right. During lunchtime, she goes to the crowded food court and deliberately drops her notebook. She then notes whether the person standing closest to her helps her pick up her papers and whether the person is male or female. What is the operational definition of "helpful" in Tamika's study? A. establishing eye contact B. the person asking Tamika if she dropped her notebook C. making an effort to gather the papers D. the gender of the person

C. making an effort to gather the papers

After finishing a psychology test, you try to relax by engaging in some meditation techniques. Doing these exercises should increase the response of the _____ nervous system, which results in a slower heart and respiration rate and less muscular tension. A. sympathetic B. somatic C. parasympathetic D. central

C. parasympathetic

The _____ connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. A. limbic system B. endocrine system C. peripheral nervous system D. central nervous system

C. peripheral nervous system

The multilayered light-sensitive surface in the eye that records electromagnetic energy and converts it to neural impulses for processing in the brain is known as the ______. A. sclera B. optic nerve C. retina D. iris

C. retina

Which of the following statements is true of the rods in the eye's retina? A. rods are very useful for color vision B. rods do not function well under low illumination C. rods are found everywhere except in the fovea D. rods are not hard at work at night

C. rods are found everywhere except in the fovea

Professor Stenson is examining the effects of color on patients' anxiety levels. She randomly assigns patients to either a room painted white or a room painted black, and then records their blood pressure. In this case, the independent variable is the ______. A. participant's anxiety level B. building type C. room color D. participant's blood pressure

C. room color

Which of the following statements related to the scientific method is FALSE? A. A hypothesis derives logically from a theory. B. A hypothesis is a testable prediction. C. A theory gains credibility when the related hypotheses turn out to be true. D. A theory can generate only one hypothesis.

D. A theory can generate only one hypothesis.

Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? A. High levels of oxytocin—Alzheimer disease B. High levels of serotonin—Depression C. Low levels of acetylcholine—Schizophrenia D. Low levels of dopamine—Parkinson disease

D. Low levels of dopamine—Parkinson disease

In the context of brain-tissue implants, what is unique about stem cells? A. They survive for extended periods outside of the body B. They are insusceptible to the effects of plasticity C. They transfer genetic information into human cells D. They can develop into most types of human cells

D. They can develop into most types of human cells

Michael has schizophrenia. His doctor prescribed a new drug that blocks or interferes with the activity of dopamine. Michael's doctor is using _____ to treat his disorder. A. an agonist B. a brain lesion C. a lobotomy D. an antagonist

D. an antagonist

In the context of descriptive research methods in psychology, _____ are performed mainly by clinical psychologists when, for either practical or ethical reasons, the unique aspects of an individual's life cannot be duplicated and tested in other individuals. A. correlational studies B. experiments C. surveys D. case studies

D. case studies

Which of the following sensory processes is most activated when a person is tasting food that is extremely salty? A. mechanoreception B. thermoreception C. photoreception D. chemoreception

D. chemoreception

In the human cell, threadlike structures that come in 23 pairs, one member of each pair originating from each parent, and that contain DNA are called __________. A. ribosomes B. ergosomes C. polysomes D. chromosomes

D. chromosomes

Dr. Amani is interested in investigating why women are more able to correctly interpret emotional expressions than men. In this case, he is most interested in the scientific goal of _____ behavior. A. describing B. predicting C. deciding D. explaining

D. explaining

Each key on a touch-tone telephone makes a slightly different sound when touched. This difference is due to the pitch of the sound produced by each key. The difference in pitch is determined by the ________ of the sound waves coming from each key. A. decibel B. timbre C. intensity D. frequency

D. frequency

Jane was in a car accident, which caused severe damage to her head. As a result, Jane's vision was affected. Although her eyes are able to detect visual stimuli and form images on her retina, her brain is not receiving the visual information. This problem with Jane's vision is most likely due to improper functioning of the _______. A. lens B. sclera C. blind spot D. optic nerve

D. optic nerve

Gregory is an excellent basketball player. He is always able to gauge the distance between himself and the basket correctly, and he never misses a shot. Which of the following regions of the cerebral cortex should function most efficiently to help him use this spatial location skill? A. temporal lobe B. prefrontal cortex C. somatosensory cortex D. parietal lobe

D. parietal lobe

You arrive at your friend's apartment for a big party at the end of the semester. When you first arrive, the music is so loud that it almost hurts your ears. After a couple of hours, even though the music is still at the same volume, it no longer bothers you or seems that loud. This change in you sensations describes the process of _____________. A. transduction B. auditory adjustment C. sensory deprivation D. sensory adaptation

D. sensory adaptation

The left hemisphere of the brain plays an important role in managing or regulating A. movement in the left side of the body B. visual recognition C. spatial perception D. speech and grammar

D. speech and grammar

Wilhelm Wundt's approach to discovering the basic elements of mental processes is called ________. A. functionalism B. behaviorism C. humanism D. structuralism

D. structuralism

Which of the following refer to tiny spaces between neurons? A. axons B. basal ganglia C. dendrites D. synapses

D. synapses

You touch a baby's forehead and realize that he feels warm and must have a fever. What type of sensory receptors relayed information about the baby's temperature to your brain? A. rods B. endorphins C. cones D. thermoreceptors

D. thermoreceptors