AP Psych: Biological Bases of Behavior

A common psychological effect of alcohol intake is

reduced inhibition

Dr. Naum is studying the function of the medial temporal lobe of the brain by examining the case study of J.S., an individual who incurred damage in this area during a motor vehicle accident. Dr. Naum administers a battery of tasks multiple times over the course of several weeks to assess J.S.'s cognitive abilities. The graph below shows J.S.'s performance on three different tasks. The bar on the left shows his accuracy forming new memories in a lab context, the middle bar shows his accuracy on a driving course, and the bar on the right shows his accuracy on a third task.

remembering events that occurred shortly before his accident

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the neuron after it fires is called

reuptake

The right occipital lobe receives visual information from the

right half of both retinas

An image projected to the left visual field of a split-brained person will be processed in the

right visual cortex

Dr. Frishkoff is studying how participants' brain activity changes when they read sentences in which the last word is either expected ("The pizza was too hot to eat") or unexpected ("The pizza was too hot to cry"). While participants are reading, Dr. Frishkoff measures their brain activity. The results of her experiment are shown below.

showed a negative-going peak in brain wave activity approximately 400 milliseconds after the unexpected word was presented that the participants did not show in response to the expected word

Which part of the nervous system is most immediately activated by sudden fear?

Sympathetic

Which of the following are NOT part of a neuron?

Synapses

What hormone seems to be most closely linked with aggressive behavior?

Testosterone

Reuptake of a neurotransmitter refers to

absorption of the neurotransmitter into the terminal buttons of the sending neuron

The network of structures involved in emotion, motivation, and memory is the

limbic system

People who have experienced severe damage to the frontal lobe of the brain seldom regain their ability to

make and carry out plans

The result of the evolutionary process that preserves traits that enhance the adaptation of an organism and suppresses traits that do not is called

natural Selection

The brain's ability to adapt after it is damaged is known as

plasticity

Malia is 10 years of age, and her grandmother, Anna Rosa, is 60 years old. Which statement is likely to be true concerning their sleep patterns?

Anna Rosa sleeps fewer hours per day than Malia does.

Which of the following brain structures is most associated with the emotion of fear?

Amygdala

Which of the following correctly describes the firing of neurons?

An all-or-none response

The function of dendrites is to

receive information from other neurons

Which of the following correctly pairs subdivisions within the major divisions of the human nervous system?

Autonomic . . sympathetic and parasympathetic

The area labeled X in the drawing above denotes which of the following structures?

Axon terminals

Which of the following neurotransmitters has been linked to Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia?

Dopamine

Which of the following neurotransmitters is most closely associated with schizophrenia?

Dopamine

After an electrode implanted in a cat's brain stimulates the cat's amygdala, the cat will most likely do which of the following?

Immediately withdraw in fear

Significant damage to which of the following parts of the brain will most likely cause a person to fall into a deep coma from which the person will be unable to awaken?

Reticular formation

Which of the following assertions is best supported by empirical evidence?

The two cerebral hemispheres are specialized to process different types of cognitive tasks.

Which of the following is an explanation of why travelers suffer from jet lag?

There is a disruption in their circadian rhythm.

Treating a patient for Parkinson's disease includes administering a chemical that will lead to increases in the patient's

dopamine

The limbic system is most closely associated with

emotions

The diagram above depicts the human body's

endocrine system

Painkilling substances produced by the brain are known as

endorphins

A child's sex is genetically determined by the

father

The hypothesis that intelligence is in part inherited is best supported by the fact that the IQ correlation for

pairs of identical twins is greater than for pairs of fraternal twins

Joseph has blue eyes and brown hair and is tall. These characteristics are best described as

phenotypic traits

The sequence of shifts in the electrical charge of a neuron is called

the action potential

During neuronal firing, the part of the neuron that acts as an insulator and conductor to speed the electrical impulse as it travels down the axon is

the myelin sheath

Abnormalities in calcium regulation are most likely to arise from problems with

the parathyroid gland

The occipital lobes contain

the primary visual cortex

Damage to the occipital lobe would most likely affect a person's

vision

The occipital lobe of the human brain contains the centers for

vision

Damage to a small part of the occipital lobe would most likely result in a

visual deficit

Getting a headache from not having a morning coffee after substantial daily coffee consumption for several months is most likely due to

withdrawal

The painful experience associated with termination of the use of an addictive substance is known as

withdrawal

Information is relayed to the spinal cord or the brain by

afferent neurons

Lucid dreaming occurs when people

have dreams in which they are aware that they are dreaming

Stimulation of portions of the left temporal lobe of the brain during surgery will cause the patient to

hear sounds

The area of the brain stem that is important in controlling breathing is the

medulla

Dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine are all

neurotransmitters that excite or inhibit a neural signal across a synapse

Metabolic activity in different areas of the brain can best be visualized by means of

positron emission tomography (PET)

Damage to the cerebellum would most likely result in which of the following problems?

A loss of motor coordination

During the high-wire act, Grace walks along a rope suspended 30 feet above the circus floor. Which of the following is most involved in helping Grace coordinate her movements and maintain her balance during the performance?

Cerebellum

Caffeine and nicotine are in the same class as which of the following drugs?

Cocaine

Which letter indicates the synaptic cleft?

D

REM sleep, generally an "active" state of sleep, is accompanied by which of the following paradoxical characteristics?

Lowered muscle tone

Which of the following brain regions is the part of the cerebral cortex that is most responsible for the processing of visual stimuli?

Occipital lobe

The person most strongly associated with identifying deficits in the motor speech area and in the ability to produce speech is

Paul Broca

Item 17 An individual who drinks alcohol daily finds it necessary to drink increasing amounts to achieve the state of well-being attained in the past. This individual is showing

alcohol tolerance

Which chemical is most closely associated with sleep?

Melatonin

Assume that R represents a dominant gene in rats for normal running and that r represent a recessive gene in rats for an abnormal gait called waltzing. Mating a female Rr rat with a male RR rat will produce offspring that are

100% runners

Which of the following is a circadian rhythm?

A cycle of biological functioning that lasts about 25 hours

Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system results in which of the following?

A decrease in heart rate

Which of the following would most likely result from an injury to the medulla?

A life-threatening disruption of heartbeat and breathing

Which scenario best exemplifies Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection?

A mutation in a species of lizards that allows them to better blend into their surroundings leads to greater survival and more offspring possessing this mutation in a later generation.

Sally says that her dream about going to a circus is just her brain attempting to make sense of random stimulation from the brain stem. Sally's explanation is consistent with which of the following theories of dreaming?

Activation-synthesis

Electrically stimulating a rat's amygdala would most likely produce which of the following?

Aggression

Which letter indicates the postsynaptic membrane?

C

James was born with a condition that makes it impossible for him to metabolize certain proteins. Due to early screening and a special diet, he was able to avoid developing potentially serious symptoms. Which of the following disorders does James have?

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Which of the following are involved in regulating circadian rhythms?

Photoreceptors, hypothalamus, pineal gland

In the figure above, a patient has been asked to draw a slash through each circle. The pattern of responses suggests that the patient has most likely experienced damage in which of the following areas?

Right hemisphere

If an individual has lost the ability to feel pain in the left arm, there is most likely damage to what area of the brain?

Right parietal lobe

The drugs that block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters in the synapse during neural transmission are

SSRIs

Professor Janeja is studying which brain regions are involved in learning to correctly navigate a maze task. She randomly assigns half of a group of mice to get a lesion in one area of the brain. The other half does not get a lesion. Based on the following graph, where in the brain is the most likely site of the lesion?

The hippocampus

An individual was admitted to the hospital after experiencing a mild tingling on the right side of the face and a sudden inability to speak. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a doctor would likely find

an abnormality in the brain tissue of the left hemisphere

Activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system results in

an increase in respiratory rate

The autonomic nervous system is most directly involved in

digesting food

When people consume large amounts of alcohol, they are often unable to recall what they did and said while they were drinking. This occurs because alcohol interferes with the brain's ability to form new memories in the

hippocampus

Ben was enjoying a walk in the woods on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. As he went around a curve, he noticed a bear walking toward him. Immediately his pupils dilated, he began to perspire, and his heart accelerated. These changes are most closely related to the function of the

sympathetic nervous system

Nervousness can result in faster and more shallow breathing as well as a racing heart. This is due to activation of the

sympathetic nervous system

Which of the following brain regions is indicated by the arrow?

Pons (same as 121)

Which of the following is classified as an antagonist?

A tricyclic antidepressant, because they block serotonin and norepinephrine transporters.

Researchers looking to create a drug to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease would most likely focus their efforts on which of the following neurotransmitters?

Acetylcholine

The depletion of which of the following neurotransmitters is most closely associated with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

Acetylcholine

A certain drug reduces the activity of the central nervous system, including the hippocampus and cerebellum. It affects several neurotransmitters, most notably gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which of the following is most like the drug in question ?

Alcohol

Damage to which of the following brain structures may cause the inability to detect the emotional significance of facial expressions, especially those demonstrating fear?

Amygdala

Which of the following will NOT increase behavioral and mental activity?

Barbiturates

Areas that have a large prevalence of malaria, such as Africa, have a high frequency of children who have sickle cell anemia or are carriers of the trait. What role does the concept of natural selection play in this trend?

Being a carrier of, or having sickle cell anemia is adaptive in this region, because it protects against malaria. Subsequently, children born with sickle cell anemia are less likely to die from malaria.

Brain damage that leaves a person capable of understanding speech but with an impaired ability to produce speech most likely indicates injury to which of the following?

Broca's area

In the figure above, where do selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have their initial effect?

C

Which of the following parts of the brain is most active in decision-making?

Cerebral cortex

Which of the following psychoactive drugs increases nervous system activity?

Cocaine

Which of the following allows the examination of living brain tissue visually without performing surgery?

Computerized axial tomography

In terms of the effect on the central nervous system, alcohol is most accurately classified as which of the following types of drug?

Depressant

A person with damage to Broca's area would most likely demonstrate which of the following symptoms?

Difficulty with speech production

Which of the following is reduced during a fight-or-flight reaction?

Digestion

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of which neurotransmitter?

Dopamine

Which of the follow scenarios is the best example of natural selection?

During a drought, the foliage in a region turns brown. More brownish moths than whitish moths from a particular breed survive predation and produce more offspring. Subsequent generations of moths have a higher percentage of brownish moths than the generation before.

In the figure above, where does the neurotransmitter dopamine have its effect?

E

Joel's pupils become dilated, his digestion is reduced, and his skin becomes cold. Which system is controlling his bodily changes?

Sympathetic

Most glands in the human body are a part of which system?

Endocrine

Which of the following systems produces, circulates, and regulates levels of hormones in the body?

Endocrine system

In extreme cases, surgically severing the corpus callosum is a treatment for which of the following conditions?

Epilepsy

Which of the following regions of the body has the largest area of sensory cortex devoted to it?

Face

Which of the following groups of characteristics best describes the REM sleep stage?

Fast breathing, relatively high heart rate, relatively high blood pressure

Which of the following brain structures has the strongest influence on hunger and satiety?

Hypothalamus

Which of the following structures is most closely associated with communication between the central nervous system and the endocrine system?

Hypothalamus

Which of the following statements concerning sleep is valid?

Individuals do not typically act out their dreams.

The nature-nurture issue is best exemplified by which of the following questions?

Is level of intelligence the result of one's environment and specific learning, or is it a result of biological maturation?

Which of the following statements best describes the effect of alcohol on human functioning?

It depresses the central nervous system.

In adult humans, which of the following is typically true of REM sleep?

It is correlated with dreaming.

Which of the following is true about the pons?

It is the region of the brain that is most closely associated with sleep and arousal.

Which of the following is true of the reticular activating system?

It regulates levels of arousal.

Juana accidentally touched a hot iron. She immediately drew back her hand. Which of the following is true about the withdrawal of her hand?

It was initiated in the spinal cord.

Which of the following areas of the body has the largest number of sensory neurons?

Lips

Which of the following is brain-imaging technique that produces the most detailed picture of brain structure?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Which of the following is a disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin of neurons in the central nervous system?

Multiple sclerosis

Rafael has a sleep disorder for which he takes medically prescribed amphetamines. For which of the following sleep disorders is Rafael most likely being treated?

Narcolepsy

Which of the following is a genetic disorder that results in a deficiency of a liver enzyme which, if not treated soon after birth, may eventually lead to profound mental retardation?

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

It is well established that certain autonomic responses such as heart rate, perspiration, and respiration change under stress. In view of the fact that people generally have stronger autonomic responses when lying than when telling the truth, it follows that the polygraph would be a foolproof approach to lie detection. Which statement best explains why the polygraph is not more widely used in courtrooms and in testing of job applicants?

Physiological arousal is much the same for several emotions, so the polygraph cannot always reliably distinguish guilt from other reactions.

Which of the following provides information regarding brain function by monitoring the brain at work through metabolism of glucose?

Positron emission tomography (PET)

In which of the following techniques do researchers inject a harmless, radioactive substance into the living human brain to examine activity?

Positron-emission tomography (PET)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the neural chain of events set in motion by an environmental stimulus?

Receptors, afferent neurons, interneurons, efferent neurons, effectors

For most people, which of the following is an activity based in the right hemisphere of the brain?

Simple spatial reasoning

A patient reports constant sleepiness. A series of tests reveal that the patient's sleep is frequently disrupted by periods of interrupted breathing and brief awakenings. Which of the following diagnoses would account for such symptoms?

Sleep apnea

During the night, Alicia stops breathing repeatedly, frequently gasps for air, and snores loudly at regular intervals. Alicia is most likely suffering from which of the following conditions?

Sleep apnea

What is the primary function of the brain region indicated by the arrow?

Sleeping, waking, and dreaming

Which part of the brain represented above is indicated by A?

Somatosensory cortex

In right-handed individuals, which of the following abilities is predominantly a function of the right hemisphere of the brain?

Spatial reasoning

Which of the following characteristics is generally associated with the use of hallucinogens?

The experience of vivid, distorted images that are not based on sensory input

Which of the following is true of a neuron in the resting state?

The inside of the cell membrane is negative compared to the outside.

Which of the following occurs when a neuron is stimulated to its threshold?

The movements of sodium and potassium ions across the membrane creates an action potential.

George was involved in an accident and experienced head trauma. Although his eyes were functioning normally, he was unable to see. Which area of the brain was most likely affected by the accident?

The occipital lobe

Which of the following biological systems is most likely responsible for an increase in heart rate while experiencing anxiety?

The sympathetic nervous system

Neurotransmitters are typically stored in which of the following parts of a neuron?

The terminal buttons

A person will most likely develop aphasia as a result of damage to which of the following parts of the brain?

Wernicke's area

After sustaining a traumatic injury, Russ is having difficulty comprehending the meaning of words. Which of the following parts of his brain has most likely been damaged?

Wernicke's area

The biological clock that operates in human beings to adjust their functioning to night-and-day periodicity is referred to as

a circadian rhythm

The part of the neuron that is responsible for receiving signals from other neurons is called

a dendrite

Based on its effects on the central nervous system, alcohol can be classified as

a depressant

A person accidentally touches a hand to a hot stove and quickly pulls the hand away, even before sensory information about the hot stove reaches the brain. The person's reaction is most directly enabled by

a spinal reflex

The explanation that holds that dreams are merely the brain's attempt to make sense of meaningless patterns of brain activity during sleep is called the

activation-synthesis theory

A drug that has the effect of intensifying or mimicking a particular neurotransmitter can be characterized as

an agonist, because it intensifies the effects of a particular neurotransmitter

When a person is suffering from severe pain, the type of drug that will best help alleviate that pain is

an opiate

Curare blocks action at acetylcholine synapses and causes paralysis. This drug is an example of an

antagonist

A polygraph machine is often called a "lie detector," although it does not detect lies. Instead, it responds to changes in

autonomic arousal

Difficulty in typing smoothly on a keyboard would most likely result from damage to the

cerebellum

An individual with damage to Wernicke's area is most likely to have difficulty

comprehending a spoken request for information

During a psychology experiment, a researcher uses a probe to lesion the ventromedial nucleus of a rat's hypothalamus. After the procedure the rat most likely will

eat more and gain weight

A participant in a study of music perception listens to music with electrodes attached to her scalp while data are collected on the activity of her brain. This technique is called

electroencephalography (EEG)

The role of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is to

establish homeostasis after a fight-or-flight response

Sigmund Freud believed that dream analysis was a useful device for

gaining insight into unconscious motives

The brain scans of people with amnesia are most likely to show damage to the

hippocampus

The part of the endocrine system that is responsible for overseeing and regulating the release of hormones across the entire body is the

hypothalamus

The pituitary gland is controlled by the

hypothalamus

Sleep paralysis typically occurs in people who are

in REM sleep

Brain lateralization refers to the

inclination for certain cognitive processes to be specialized to one hemisphere of the brain or the other

The primary effect of the myelin sheath is to

increase the velocity of conduction of the action potential along the axon

Mary participates in an exercise program because she experiences an increase in energy and feelings of well-being at the end of each exercise session. The best explanation for Mary's perseverance in the program is that exercise

increases her level of endorphins

For most people, speech functions are primarily localized in the

left cerebral hemisphere

Immediately after firing, a neuron is incapable of responding to stimulation. This condition is referred to as

the absolute refractory phase

The time shortly after a neuron fires is referred to as

the refractory period

Damage to Wernicke's area is most likely to be associated with difficulty in

understanding language