PSY 111: Homework questions Module 1

Damage to which of the following areas would likely result in impaired decision-making and planning?

Prefrontal region

A psychologist would use_____ to study the social behavior of wild African hunting dogs in the field.

naturalistic observation

Airborne molecules are inhaled through the nostrils and bind to receptor neurons located in the

olfactory membrane

The axons of the ganglion cells form the

optic nerve

Nociceptors transmit information about

pain

Your friend Roberto is a dichromat. This means he is

partially color-blind

The resting potential of the neuron is about _____.

-70 millivolts

Excess neurotransmitters are broken down or reabsorbed by the axon terminal, via a process called _____.

reuptake

People's responses to inkblots tell us a great deal about their personalities and propensities toward mental disorders

False

Which principle of perceptual organization refers to the tendency to perceive a series of points or lines as having unity?

Continuity

Psychoanalysis is still used today, and a lot of cartoons, television shows, and books make reference to it. Which one of the following statements best defines psychoanalysis in everyday language?

A type of therapy for mental disorders that involves exploration of conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings.

The change in the electrical charge that provides the basis for the conduction of a neural impulse along an axon is called the _____.

Action Potential

The division of the autonomic nervous system that inhibits the digestive system during times of emergency or crisis is the _____.

sympathetic

Which methodology would a psychologist use to determine if the length of time individuals have been in a committed relationship is associated with an increase or decrease in the quality of the relationship?

Correlation

Subliminal messages can be used to persuade others to purchase products

False

Which brain structure regulates blood pressure?

Medulla

Which three structures comprise the hindbrain?

Medulla, pons, and cerebellum

What is the brain's central processing unit called?

Central Nervous System

Which neurotransmitter is involved in the regulation of movement and the ability to experience pleasure?

Dopamine

Which methodology would a psychologist use to determine whether the type of music (classical, country, or hip-hop) someone listened to while exercising caused a change in the intensity of the workout?

Experiment

During sleep, your brain rests

False

Eyewitness testimony is always reliable

False

If you're unsure of your answer while taking a test, its best to stick with your initial hunch

False

Which school of psychology posits that learning is active and purposeful, and not just responsive and mechanical?

Gestalt

Which psychologist would most likely work with an individual on a behavioral program to quit smoking?

Health psychologist

The rods and cones are found in which structure of the eye?

Retina

Which of the following states that perception of sensory stimuli involves the interaction of physical, biological, and psychological factors?

Signal-detection theory

Which structure consists of muscles that regulate the amount of light that enters the eye?

Iris

Which sense provides information about the body's position relative to gravity?

Vestibular

What is the neurotransmitter responsible for producing muscle contraction?

Acetylcholine

Most people only use 10% of their brains

False

Which structure is associated with stereotypical aggressive response?

Amygdala

Which perspective would study intrusive thoughts that are thoughts that become stuck in one's mind?

Cognitive

We experience stress even when good things happen to us

True

When is it acceptable for a psychologist to use deception in their research?

When the benefits of the research outweigh the potential harms

The smallest amount of energy that can produce a sensation is called

absolute threshold.

Anita walked into her home after a long day at work. She immediately noticed the delicious smell of onions and garlic coming from the kitchen, where Joseph was cooking. After putting down her bag, she sat at the dining table. A few minutes passed, and she no longer noticed the smell of the onions and garlic. Anita's experience of no longer noticing the smell is explained by

desensitization

The sensory receptor cells, located in the organ of Corti, that are specialized for detecting vibrations are called

hair cells

The wavelength of light determines its

hue

The Greek philosopher_____ believed that humans differed from other animals in their ability to engage in rational thought.

Aristotle

Which part of the neuron transmits information away from the cell body?

Axons

Which part of a neuron receives information from other neurons?

Dendrite

Immediate contact between a mother and infant after birth is critical for bonding

False

Individuals can learn information, such as the content for this course while asleep

False

Opposites attract: people tend to have relationships with individuals who differ from them in their personality, interests and attitudes

False

Which psychologist would most likely work with a law firm on issues concerning jury selection?

Forensic psychologist

What deficits would an individual with damage to Wernicke's area likely have?

Impaired comprehension of spoken language

The ethical standard that corresponds to providing individuals with information about the nature of the study before they agree to participate is called

Informed Consent

Which of the following statements best represents the idea of neuroplasticity in everyday language?

Over time, new connections form among neurons, some established connections are strengthened, and some connections weaken or disappear.

Which theory states that the pitch of a sound is associated with the section of the basilar membrane that vibrates in response to the sound?

Place Theory

If a fortune teller claims she can tell you the person you will meet and marry in 5 years, what ability is she proclaiming to have?

Precognition

Which of the following is caused by activation of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Slowing of heartbeat

A psychologist is interested in studying whether high school students who eat dinner with their families most weeknights are more introverted than high school students who eat dinner with their social group of friends most weeknights. What perspective most likely influenced this psychologist?

Sociocultural

Which division of the nervous system would transmit visual information to the CNS?

Somatic nervous system

Which ESP ability is the ganzfeld procedure designed to test?

Telepathy

Which lobe is involved in auditory processing and language?

Temporal

Which monocular depth cue is based on the perception that closer objects appear to have rougher or more detailed surfaces?

Texture gradient

Psychology can be defined as_____

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

What is the function of myelin sheaths?

They allow for faster transmission of the neural impulse

The cerebral cortex covers the _____.

cerebrum

The amplitude of a sound wave is associated with which perceptual dimension?

loudness

The school of psychology that focuses on three basic elements- sensations, feelings, and images- that combine to form experience is known as

structuralism