AP Psych Brain Test

Johanna, a high school senior, starts experiencing disruptions in her movement when she cannot contract certain muscles. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most likely involved in this disruption of the muscle contraction? A Acetylcholine B GABA C Serotonin D Endorphins

A Acetylcholine

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? Responses A Cerebellum B Hypothalamus C Hippocampus D Sympathetic nervous system

A Cerebellum

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the reflex arc of events set in motion by an environmental stimulus? Responses A Receptors, sensory neurons, interneurons, motor neurons B Receptors, motor neurons, interneurons, sensory neurons C Interneurons, receptors, sensory neurons, motor neurons D Receptors, sensory neurons, motor neurons, interneurons

A Receptors, sensory neurons, interneurons, motor neurons

Which of the following is a testable hypothesis using operational definitions about people who have undergone split-brain surgery to help control severe epilepsy? Responses A Split-brain patients will not be able to name an object placed in their left visual field. B Split-brain patients will no longer appreciate art following the surgery. C Split-brain patients will have very vivid dreams following the surgery. D Split-brain patients will be more amused by jokes following the surgery.

A Split-brain patients will not be able to name an object placed in their left visual field.

Which of the following is true of a neuron in the resting state? Responses A The inside of the cell membrane is negative compared to the outside. B The outside of the cell membrane is negative compared to the inside. C The concentration of sodium ions is equal inside and outside of the cell membrane. D The neuron is not polarized.

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

Curare blocks action at acetylcholine synapses and causes paralysis. This drug is an example of an Responses A antagonist B agonist C inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) D excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

A antagonist

Research on environmental enrichment and the brain suggests that the environment Responses A influences both brain structure and functioning throughout the life span B influences both brain structure and functioning only through infancy C influences both brain structure and functioning only through childhood D influences brain functioning but not brain structure

A influences both brain structure and functioning throughout the life span

A common psychological effect of alcohol intake is Responses A reduced inhibition B anxiety C psychosis D heightened creativity

A reduced inhibition

Information is relayed to the spinal cord or the brain by which of the following? Responses A sensory neurons B dopamine neurons C refractory neurons D motor neurons

A sensory neurons

Dimitri and Dominic are identical twins who were separated at birth and raised by different families. When they found each other through DNA tracking, they were surprised to see how different they were. Which research method would a psychologist most likely use to document their behavioral differences? Responses A Experiment B Correlation C Case Study D Meta-analysis

B Correlation

Which of the following findings provides the strongest evidence for the role of heredity in intellectual performance? Responses A Identical twins reared together have more similar intelligence test scores than do identical twins reared apart. B Identical twins reared apart have more similar intelligence test scores than do fraternal twins reared together. C Nontwin siblings reared together have more similar intelligence scores than do nontwin siblings reared apart. D Fraternal twins reared together have more similar intelligence test scores than do fraternal twins reared apart.

B Identical twins reared apart have more similar intelligence test scores than do fraternal twins reared together.

Juana accidentally touched a hot iron. She immediately drew back her hand. Which of the following is true about the withdrawal of her hand? Responses A It was initiated in the motor cortex. B It was initiated in the spinal cord. C It was due to instructions from the brain. D It was an operantly conditioned response.

B It was initiated in the spinal cord.

Which of the following activities most directly relies on the hippocampus? A Remembering events specific to one's life B Memorizing the layout of a neighborhood C Using short-term memory to recreate a picture when drawing a copy of the picture D Rehearsing a fact to remember it for a short period of time

B Memorizing the layout of a neighborhood

Kara thinks she sees a spider on the floor of her bathroom. She is extremely afraid of spiders. Upon further inspection, though, she realizes the "spider" is only a ball of hair. Which of the following nervous systems would be responsible for calming her down after she realizes the ball of hair is not a spider? A Somatic nervous system B Parasympathetic nervous system C Sympathetic nervous system D Central nervous system

B Parasympathetic nervous system

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for helping Responses A David become aware of his thirst while running a marathon B Riaesha get ready to fight or flee when seeing a bear C Anthony calm down after watching a scary movie D Jamika pull her hand back when she touches a hot stove

B Riaesha get ready to fight or flee when seeing a bear

Which of the following is a primary function of the nervous system depicted in the figure? Responses A Breaking down food to process into energy B Sending and receiving sensory and motor signals C Receiving chemical signals from the outside world D Secreting hormones that regulate body temperature

B Sending and receiving sensory and motor signals

What is the primary function of the brain region indicated by the arrow? Responses A Memory formation B Sleeping, waking, and dreaming C Regulation of body temperature D Emotional responses

B Sleeping, waking, and dreaming

In right-handed individuals, which of the following abilities is predominantly a function of the right hemisphere of the brain? Responses A Writing B Spatial reasoning C Reading comprehension D Language comprehension

B Spatial reasoning

Joel's pupils become dilated, his digestion is reduced, and his skin becomes cold. Which system is controlling his bodily changes? Responses A Parasympathetic B Sympathetic C Somatic D Endocrine

B Sympathetic

Which part of the nervous system is most immediately activated by sudden fear? Responses A Parasympathetic B Sympathetic C Neostriatum D Somatic

B Sympathetic

The physiological changes in the table most clearly represent activation of which of the following? Responses A The parasympathetic nervous system B The sympathetic nervous system C A spinal reflex arc D The vestibular system

B The sympathetic nervous system

A person will most likely develop aphasia as a result of damage to which of the following parts of the brain? Responses A Occipital lobe B Wernicke's area C Auditory cortex D Parietal lobe

B Wernicke's area

Based on its effects on the central nervous system, alcohol can be classified as which of the following concepts? Responses A a hallucinogen B a depressant C an antagonist D a neurotransmitter

B a depressant

A brain tumor that results in obesity would most likely be located in the Responses A left frontal lobe B area of the hypothalamus C reticular activating system D somatosensory cortex

B area of the hypothalamus

The neurotransmitter that is primarily associated with the feeling of wanting something is Responses A oxytocin B dopamine C norepinephrine D serotonin

B dopamine

The brain's ability to adapt after it is damaged is known as Responses A integration B plasticity C polarization D lateralization

B plasticity

Trinna and Suzanne are identical twins who were the same length at birth. They were adopted by different families at birth and then reconnected in their early thirties. Trinna is two inches shorter and was a severely selective eater as a child. A researcher was conducting an investigation about twins separated at birth. What research method and explanation best fit this scenario? A longitudinal study, because heredity is much more important than environment in determining length and height. B A case study, because environment is much more important than heredity in determining length and height. C A case study, because both heredity and environment are important in determining length and height. D A longitudinal study, because environment is much less important than heredity in determining height in early childhood.

C A case study, because both heredity and environment are important in determining length and height.

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? A Methamphetamine B Cocaine C Alcohol D MDMA (Ecstasy)

C Alcohol

Which of the following correctly pairs subdivisions within the major divisions of the human nervous system? Responses A Somatic . . endocrine and exocrine B Central . . somatic and sympathetic C Autonomic . . sympathetic and parasympathetic D Peripheral . . central nervous system and the spinal cord

C Autonomic . . sympathetic and parasympathetic

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? Responses A The basal ganglia B Wernicke's area C Broca's area D The inferior colliculi

C Broca's area

Richard is in a substance abuse treatment center because of his addiction to stimulants. He is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, so he drinks several large caffeinated sodas throughout the day to curb his symptoms. Caffeine is in the same class as which of the following drugs? Responses A Marijuana B Heroin C Cocaine D Alcohol

C Cocaine

After surgery, Arjun experienced changes that were noticed during special testing in a laboratory setting by a researcher. In the laboratory, psychologists flashed different images or words to his left and right visual fields. Arjun could easily speak the names of items that were flashed to his right visual field. He could not easily speak the names of items that were flashed to this left visual field. Arjun was studied by a researcher for many years, and his experiences went unchanged. The researcher published the research with Arjun where he shared Arjun's experience and his first and last name. Which of the following parts of the brain was severed to address Arjun's epileptic seizures? Responses A Amygdala B Cerebellum C Corpus Callosum D Medulla

C Corpus Callosum

Research on human mating preferences suggests that men place greater value on physical attractiveness and youthfulness, whereas women place greater value on social status and financial resources. Which of the following psychological points of view best explains this behavior? A Individualistic B Psychoanalytic C Evolutionary D Humanistic

C Evolutionary

In their discussions of the process of development, the advocates of nature in the nature-nurture controversy emphasize which of the following? Responses A Socialization B Cognition C Maturation D Experience

C Maturation

The result of the evolutionary process that preserves traits that enhance the adaptation of an organism and suppresses traits that do not is called which of the following? A Habituation B Accommodation C Natural selection D Eugenics

C Natural selection

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 which of the following? Responses A Hippocampus B Parasympathetic nervous system C Sympathetic nervous system D Vestibular sense

C Sympathetic nervous system

Which psychological principle is represented in the area highlighted in the graph? Responses A The variable-interval schedule of reinforcement. B The forgetting curve. C The refractory period of the neural transmission process. D Spontaneous recovery of a classically conditioned response

C The refractory period of the neural transmission process.

Activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system results in Responses A an increase in salivation B an increase in digestion C an increase in respiratory rate D a decrease in heart rate

C an increase in respiratory rate

An individual with damage to Wernicke's area is most likely to have difficulty A identifying an object held in the hand but not seen B remembering the name of a person in a photograph C comprehending a spoken request for information D distinguishing between red and green

C comprehending a spoken request for information

The autonomic nervous system is most directly involved in Responses A driving a car B sensing painful stimuli C digesting food D experiencing pain

C digesting food

The area of the brain stem that is important in controlling breathing is the Responses A cerebellum B limbic system C medulla D hippocampus

C medulla

Nervousness can result in faster and more shallow breathing as well as a racing heart. This is due to activation of the Responses A somatic nervous system B parasympathetic nervous system C sympathetic nervous system D corpus callosum

C sympathetic nervous system

Damage to which of the following brain structures may cause the inability to detect the emotional significance of facial expressions, especially those demonstrating fear? Responses A Hippocampus B Thalamus C Hypothalamus D Amygdala

D Amygdala

The following item refers to a snake frightening Ted. Ted is hiking along a mountain trail when he sees a large snake slithering across the path ahead of him. Which of the following brain structures is most closely associated with Ted's fear response? Responses A Medulla B Occipital lobe C Hippocampus D Amygdala

D Amygdala

Researchers investigated the extent to which 30 pairs of identical and fraternal female twins shared with their twin a diagnosis for the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. Identical twins are genetically identical and share the same DNA pattern. Fraternal twins are only as genetically similar as any other sibling pair. Researchers found that 9 out of 16 pairs of the identical twins were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, while 1 out of 14 pairs of the fraternal twins were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Which of the following psychological perspectives would best help researchers answer questions about the relationship between heredity and the environment regarding the development of disorders such as anorexia nervosa? A Cognitive B Psychodynamic C Humanistic D Biological

D Biological

Beth received a surgery in which half of her cortex was removed to treat a seizure disorder when she was two years old. However, by the time she was five years old, her cognitive abilities were the same as those of a neurotypical five year old. Which of the following best explains her abilities? A Reuptake B Dual processing C Accommodation D Brain plasticity

D Brain plasticity

A person with damage to Broca's area would most likely demonstrate which of the following symptoms? Responses A Forgetfulness B Hearing difficulties C Difficulty controlling balance and coordination D Difficulty with speech production

D Difficulty with speech production

Which of the following research findings supports a strong biological basis for behavior? Responses A Presenting a loud sound just before presenting a neutral stimulus eventually produces fear of the neutral stimulus. B Including misinformation in a question about an event decreases the accuracy of memory for the event. C Observing an aggressive model leads to aggressive behavior by the observer. D Identical twins who are reared apart have similar levels of intelligence.

D Identical twins who are reared apart have similar levels of intelligence.

The nature-nurture issue is best exemplified by which of the following questions? Responses A Is perception accomplished by passive detection of images in the environment or by active detection of information? B Is language acquisition fairly complete by the early school years, or are most linguistic forms mastered only in adolescence? C Is gender identity most influenced by parental upbringing or by interaction with same-sexpeers? D Is level of intelligence the result of one's environment and specific learning, or is it a result of biological maturation?

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

Betty was just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Which of the following effects is she most likely to experience? Responses A The neurons in her body will not be able to reach threshold, leading to fatigue. B Depolarization in her neurons will not occur, causing sensory impairment. C Neurotransmitters will remain in the synapse for an extended period, causing memory loss. D Neural messages will travel slowly down the axon, leading to motor impairment.

D Neural messages will travel slowly down the axon, leading to motor impairment.

A survey shows that children who have encyclopedias in their home environment earn better grades in school than children whose homes lack encyclopedias. The researcher concludes that having encyclopedias in the home environment improves grades. Which of the following explains why the researcher has reached an erroneous conclusion? Responses A She failed to allow for experimenter bias. B She did not identify the independent variable. C She inferred correlation from causation. D She inferred causation from correlation.

D She inferred causation from correlation.

Tamara's coach reminds the team not to eat for several hours before the basketball game because the digestive process will be slowed down due to the intense activity. Which of the following aspects of the peripheral nervous system is directly responsible for slowing down digestive processes during the game? Responses A Somatic nervous system B Parasympathetic nervous system C Central nervous system D Sympathetic nervous system

D Sympathetic nervous system

Based on the bar graph above, which of the following conclusions is most accurate? Responses A Genes alone determine intelligence. B The environment alone determines intelligence. C Identical twins are more intelligent than fraternal twins. D The more genetically related people are, the more similar their intelligence scores.

D The more genetically related people are, the more similar their intelligence scores.

Consider the relationship between various body parts and the size of their corresponding somatosensory cortex areas in the brain. How does a body part relate to the devoted cortical area? Responses A The larger the body part, the larger the area of the somatosensory cortex. B The closer the body part is to the brain, the smaller the area of the somatosensory cortex. C The closer the body part is to the trunk, the larger the area of the somatosensory cortex. D The more sensitive the body part, the larger the area of the somatosensory cortex.

D The more sensitive the body part, the larger the area of the somatosensory cortex.

The graph depicts which of the following? Responses A Long-term potentiation B Brain plasticity C The sleep/wake cycle D The process of neural transmission

D The process of neural transmission