Psych
The process of converting incoming physical energy into a neural code that can be processed is called (A) transduction (B) sensory threshold (C) sensory adaptation (D) parallel processing (E) transferred excitation
A) transduction
A researcher uses debriefing when he (A) uses deception in a study (B) has a study approved by the Institutional Review Board (C) has a study approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (D) explains the purpose of a study before the study begins (E) explains the true purpose of a study immediately after the study is complete
A) uses deception in a study
John B. Watson is best known as the founder of (A) behaviorism (B) functionalism (C) rationalism (D) structuralism (E) mechanism
Behaviorism
drug that has the effect of intensifying or mimicking a particular neurotransmitter can be characterized as (A) a hallucinogen, because it has the reverse effect of an agonist (B) an agonist, because it intensifies the effects of a particular neurotransmitter (C) an antagonist, because it intensifies the effects of a particular neurotransmitter (D) a reuptake inhibitor, because it increases activity of the central nervous system (E) a stimulant, because it increases activity of the central nervous system
B) an agonist, because it intensifies the effects of a particular
People who are color blind most likely have deficiencies in their rods (B) cones (C) lens (D) optic nerve (E) occipital lobe
B) cones
Eleanor Gibson and her colleagues have used the visual cliff to measure an infant's ability to perceive (A) patterns (B) depth (C) size constancy (D) shape constancy (E) different hues
B) depth
The reversible figure above illustrates the Gestalt organizing principle of (A) proximity (B) figure-ground (C) closure (D) common fate (E) simplicity
B) figure-ground
At the beginning of the school year, Juan had trouble paying attention in class because he was distracted by posters in the classroom. Midway through the semester, he could pay attention more easily because he no longer noticed the posters. His decreased attention to the posters is most likely related to signal detection (B) habituation (C) perceptual set (D) the cocktail party effect (E) visual capture
B) habituation
The part of the endocrine system that is responsible for overseeing and regulating the release of hormones across the entire body is the (A) pancreas (B) hypothalamus (C) adrenal glands (D) pineal gland (E) thyroid
B) hypothalamus
Emma has lost the ability to understand language. She has most likely suffered damage to the (A) left frontal lobe (B) left temporal lobe (C) cerebellum (D) right occipital lobe (E) right temporal lobe
B) left temporal lobe
The brain's ability to adapt after it is damaged is known as (A) integration (B) plasticity (C) polarization (D) lateralization (E) specificity
B) plasticity
An image projected to the left visual field of a split-brained person will be processed in the (A) left visual cortex (B) right visual cortex (C) right side of the left retina (D) left side of the right retina (E) sensory cortex
B) right visual cortex
When a pair of lights flashing in quick succession seems to an observer to be one light moving from place to place, the effect is referred to as (A) stroboscopic movement (B) the phi phenomenon (C) autokinetic motion (D) binocular vision (E) induced displacement
B) the phi phenomenon
Ivan (A) Conditioning dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell Pavlov was most well known for which of the following? (B) Studying what factors led to attachment in infant monkeys (C) Studying the different cognitive developmental stages of infants and children (D) Teaching pigeons to peck at specific stimuli (E) Placing cats in puzzle boxes
A) Conditioning dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell
Kaori is traveling on an airplane for the first time. As the plane takes off, she watches the automobiles driving on the freeway below. Even though the automobiles seem to get smaller as the airplane gains altitude, Kaori does not perceive the cars as shrinking but still perceives them to be their normal size. Which perceptual principle best describes this phenomenon? (A) Constancy (B) Absolute threshold (C) Saturation (D) Contrast (E) Illusion
A) Constancy
In terms of the effect on the central nervous system, alcohol is most accurately classified as which of the following types of drug? (A) Depressant (B) Narcotic (C) Psychoactive (D) Stimulant (E) Hallucinogen
A) Depressant
Martin fell off his skateboard and badly bruised his elbow. He immediately began rubbing the area around the bruise until the pain subsided. This method of reducing pain can be explained by which of the following? (A) Gate-control theory (B) Opponent-process theory (C) Trichromatic theory (D) Expectancy theory (E) Phantom pain
A) Gate-control theory
In adult humans, which of the following is typically true of REM sleep? (A) It is correlated with dreaming. (B) It leads to a marked increase in muscle tone. (C) It alternates with NREM sleep in 30-minute cycles. (D) It occurs during the first half of an individual's sleep cycle. (E) It involves decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
A) It is correlated with dreaming.
Which of the following is the correct sequence of the neural chain of events set in motion by an environmental stimulus? (A) Receptors, afferent neurons, interneurons, efferent neurons, effectors (B) Receptors, efferent neurons, interneurons, afferent neurons, effectors (C) Interneurons, effectors, receptors, afferent neurons, efferent neurons (D) Effectors, interneurons, receptors, afferent neurons, efferent neurons (E) Effectors, receptors, afferent neurons, efferent neurons, interneurons
A) Receptors, afferent neurons, interneurons, efferent neurons, effectors
Luis successive images of the cat, the cat appeared to move. Which of the following concepts does the example illustrate? constructed a flip-book with 30 different still images of a cartoon cat. When Luis quickly flipped through (A) Stroboscopic movement, because the book is a series of images presented at separate time intervals. (B) Perceptual constancy, because Luis still views the cat as a cat even though it appears as a moving picture. (C) Depth perception, because Luis needs both eyes to view the movement. (D) Color constancy, because the cat does not appear to change color. (E) Interposition, because the pictures are in a sequence that is logical.
A) Stroboscopic movement, because the book is a series of images presented at separate time intervals.
The change in the curvature of the lens that enables the eye to focus on objects at various distances is called (A) accommodation (B) adaptation (C) conduction (D) convergence (E) consonance
A) accommodation
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 (A) electroencephalography (EEG) (B) computed tomography (CT) (C) positron-emission tomography (PET) (D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (E) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
A) electroencephalography (EEG)
Many common antidepressants ease symptoms of depression by (A) inhibiting serotonin reuptake, which makes serotonin more available (B) inhibiting serotonin reuptake, which makes serotonin less available (C) releasing endorphins, which makes endorphins more available (D) inhibiting dopamine reuptake, which makes dopamine more available (E) inhibiting dopamine reuptake, which makes dopamine less available
A) inhibiting serotonin reuptake, which makes serotonin more available
The thalamus processes information for all of the following senses EXCEPT (A) smell (B) hearing (C) taste (D) vision (E) touch
A) smell
Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates a context effect? (A) Carol performs better in her recital when she practices in short sessions, several times a day. (B) Edgar solves his jigsaw puzzles faster when he completes the edges first. (C) Rosemarie shoots more accurately at her archery competition when other people are around. (D) Vernon is more social at parties when he has had caffeine. (E) Jeannette does better on her exam when she takes it in the same room where she studies.
E) Jeannette does better on her exam when she takes it in the same room where she studies.
Which monocular depth cue is illustrated in the figure above? (A) Accommodation (B) Texture gradient (C) Relative size (D) Interposition (E) Linear perspective
E) Linear perspective
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? (A) Down syndrome (B) Tay-Sachs disease (C) Fetal alcohol syndrome (D) Toxoplasmosis (E) Phenylketonuria (PKU)
E) Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Rudy has chronic trouble staying awake in class. What part of the brain is most likely responsible for Rudy's drowsiness? (A) Thalamus (B) Hippocampus (C) Amygdala (D) Medulla oblongata (E) Reticular formation
E) Reticular formation
Ana is instructed by her doctor to wear a patch over one eye while an infection heals. While wearing the patch, Ana will lose her ability to use which of the following depth perception cues? (A) Relative size (B) Interposition (C) Texture gradient (D) Linear perspective (E) Retinal disparity
E) Retinal disparity
Which of the following is the correct path a neural impulse will follow through the different layers of the retina? (A) Ganglion cells, bipolar cells, rods and cones, optic nerve (B) Bipolar cells, ganglion cells, rods and cones, optic nerve (C) Optic nerve, ganglion cells, bipolar cells, rods and cones (D) Rods and cones, ganglion cells, bipolar cells, optic nerve (E) Rods and cones, bipolar cells, ganglion cells, optic nerve
E) Rods and cones, bipolar cells, ganglion cells, optic nerve
Hearing the word "ocean" makes Alice think of waves, surfboards, bathing suits, sharks, swimmers, boats, and the beach. The associations she has to the word "ocean" represent which of the following concepts? (A) Procedural memory (B) Sensory memory (C) Accommodation (D) Functional fixedness (E) Schema
E) Schema
When Rosa has a cold, she cannot taste the flavor of her pizza. Which of the following psychological terms describes Rosa's inability to taste? (A) Vestibular sense (B) Just-noticeable difference (C) Feature analysis (D) Optic chiasm (E) Sensory interaction
E) Sensory interaction
Brain lateralization refers to the (A) ability of the brain to process multisensory information (B) capacity of the brain to control basic motor movements (C) aptitude of the brain to produce speech (D) ability of the brain to control basic functions such as respiration and blood circulation (E) inclination for certain cognitive processes to be specialized to one hemisphere of the brain or the other
E) inclination for certain cognitive processes to be specialized to one hemisphere of the brain or the other
Dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine are all (A) hormones excreted by the endocrine glands (B) secretions of the exocrine glands (C) drugs used in the therapeutic treatment of memory disorders (D) enzymes involved with the degradation of interneuron signals (E) neurotransmitters that excite or inhibit a neural signal across a synapse
E) neurotransmitters that excite or inhibit a neural signal across a synapse
An individual's ability to focus on a particular conversation in a noisy and crowded room is called (A) auditory localization (B) dichotic listening (C) deep processing (D) divided attention (E) selective attention
E) selective attention
Balance is influenced by the (A) cochlea (B) basilar membrane (C) eardrum (D) auditory nerve (E) semicircular canals
E) semicircular canals
student has just failed a psychology exam. Which of the following explanations is LEAST likely to be evidence of the self-serving bias? (A) "My teacher hates me." (B) "That material was so hard that no one could have passed that class." (C) "I didn't study hard enough." (D) "I was having a pretty bad day when I took that test."
C) "I didn't study hard enough."
The area labeled X in the drawing above denotes which of the following structures? (A) Dendrites (B) Nodes of Ranvier (C) Axon terminals (D) Mitochondria (E) Glial cells
C) Axon terminals
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? (A) Hypothalamus (B) Frontal lobe (C) Reticular formation (D) Amygdala (E) Thalamus
C) Reticular formation
Dr. Grant insists that her students use clear operational definitions of the variables they are investigating. Why would Dr. Grant insist that her students do this? (A) To collect an adequate sample size (B) To control for the effects of the dependent variable (C) To ensure that the study can be accurately replicated (D) To ensure that their studies are double-blind (E) To adhere to the Belmont report
C) To ensure that the study can be accurately replicated
Dizziness is most closely associated with which of the following senses? (A) Kinesthetic (B) Auditory (C) Vestibular (D) Touch (E) Olfactory
C) Vestibular
A person displays a set of rare behaviors that psychologists had not known about previously, because nobody had ever shown them before. The best strategy to investigate the nature of those behaviors is (A) an experiment (B) a survey (C) a case study (D) cross-sectional research (E) correlational research
C) a case study
Difficulty in typing smoothly on a keyboard would most likely result from damage to the (A) amygdala (B) hippocampus (C) cerebellum (D) pituitary gland (E) lateral ventricle
C) cerebellum
A person is asked to listen to a series of tones presented in pairs, and asked to say whether the tones in each pair are the same or different in pitch. In this situation the experimenter is most likely measuring the individual's (A) sound localization ability (B) dichotic listening ability (C) difference threshold (D) echoic memory (E) attention span
C) difference threshold
In vision, transduction occurs within the (A) optic nerve (B) visual cortex (C) retina (D) lens (E) cornea
C) retina
An article in the newspaper states, "As ice cream consumption increases, so does the rate of accidental drownings." As a result, the city council passes a measure banning the sale of ice cream at local swimming pools in order to decrease the rate of accidental drownings. Which of the following did the city council fail to consider? (A) Debriefing (B) The wording effect (C) Experimenter bias (D) The placebo effect (E) Correlation versus causation
E) Correlation versus causation
A person with damage to Broca's area would most likely demonstrate which of the following symptoms? (A) Forgetfulness (B) Hearing difficulties (C) Difficulty controlling balance and coordination (D) Difficulty controlling emotions (E) Difficulty with speech production
E) Difficulty with speech production
In the figure above, where does the neurotransmitter dopamine have its effect? (A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D (E) E
E) E
Observers watch a group of people passing a basketball back and forth. A researcher asks the observers to count the number of passes made. As they count passes, many of the observers fail to notice a person in a gorilla costume walking through the basketball court. Which of the following is the most likely reason many of the observers do not notice the person in the gorilla costume? (A) Perceptual constancy (B) Bottom-up processing (C) The mere-exposure effect (D) Sensory adaptation (E) Inattentional blindness
E) Inattentional blindness
An important difference between humanistic and psychoanalytic approaches is that humanistic psychologists believe in the importance of (A) learning (B) free will (C) determinism (D) biological instincts (E) unconscious processes
free will
The brain scans of people with amnesia are most likely to show damage to the (A) hippocampus (B) hypothalamus (C) medulla (D) reticular formation (E) cerebellum
hippocampus
Gestalt psychology is concerned primarily with understanding which of the following? (A) Learning (B) Motivation (C) Development (D) Sensation (E) Perception
perception
The belief that human behavior is the result of unconscious drives and conflicts represents which of the following theoretical perspectives? (A) Behavioral (B) Biological (C) Cognitive (D) Humanistic (E) Psychoanalytic
psychoanalytic
A psychologist gives the same test to a class of students at the beginning of the day and again at the end of the school day. The extent to which test scores are similar across the two administrations demonstrates which of the following test properties? (A) Validity (B) Reliability (C) Standardization (D) Statistical significance (E) Utility
reliability
While at a crowded gathering, Zach realized that his attention was being drawn away from his conversation every time (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) a person nearby said the word "exactly." Zach's response is an example of the Gestalt principle of closure the cocktail party effect sensory adaptation bottom-up processing the just-noticeable difference
the cocktail party effect
In experimental psychology, a significant difference refers to a (A) difference not likely due to chance (B) difference not likely due to faulty design (C) result that indicates a correlation equal to 1.0 (D) result that departs from previous findings (E) result that proves a new theory
difference not likely due to chance
Caffeine and nicotine are in the same class as which of the following drugs? (A) Marijuana (B) Valium (C) Cocaine (D) Alcohol (E) Peyote
cocaine
Visual acuity is best in the (A) lens (B) iris (C) pupil (D) fovea (E) cornea
D) fovea
The area of the brain stem that is important in controlling breathing is the (A) suprachiasmatic nucleus (B) cerebellum (C) limbic system (D) medulla (E) hippocampus
D) medulla
Standard deviation is a measure of how much (A) a normal person's behavior changes in a given time (B) two sets of scores vary together (C) difference there is between the highest and the lowest score in a sample (D) scores in a group differ from the mean of that group (E) scores from a sample differ from that of the population
D) scores in a group differ from the mean of that group
Professor Ahad has forty-three students in section one of the psychology classes she teaches and fifty-two students in section two. Section one meets at eight a.m. and, section two meets at one p.m. Professor Ahad gives all of her students the same final exam, and those in section two score significantly higher than those in section one. Professor Ahad concludes that her section one students are academically inferior to students in section two. The biggest problem with Professor Ahad's conclusion is that (A) she did not randomly assign the students to her classroom. (B) she needs an equal number of students in each class in order to draw comparisons. (C) there is no dependent variable in this scenario. (D) time of day is a confounding variable in this scenario. (E) she should have used the single-blind method.
D) time of day is a confounding variable in this scenario.
Luz, a difference in perception is an example of (A) synesthesia (B) stereotyping (C) stimulus variables (D) top-down processing (E) feature detection
D) top-down processing
Damage to Wernicke's area is most likely to be associated with difficulty in (A) tasting (B) hearing (C) seeing (D) understanding language (E) moving arms and legs
D) understanding language
A test has a mean of 80 with a standard deviation of 4. Which of the following scores is within one standard deviation of the mean? (A) 75 (B) 77 (C) 86 (D) 90
B) 77
Which of the following studies is from an evolutionary perspective? (A) A study to see if people who had a more congruent view of their real self and their ideal self were happier (B) A study to see if women were more attracted to men who liked children than men who did not like children (C) A study examining whether children wanted to marry their opposite-sex parent when they grew up (D) A study looking at how biological, psychological, and social factors affect development A study looking at how quickly a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement leads to extinction resistant behaviors
B) A study to see if women were more attracted to men who liked children than men who did not like children
Sensory transduction occurs in which of the following structures? (A) Lens (B) Cochlea (C) Pinna (D) Tympanic membrane (E) Pupil
B) Cochlea
Even though it was nearly dark outside, Kaci could still tell that the basketball she was playing with was orange. Which of the following concepts is best illustrated in this example? (A) Shape constancy (B) Color constancy (C) Perceptual adaptation (D) Interposition (E) Absolute threshold
B) Color constancy
John walks into art class and is overwhelmed by the smell of paint. However, the longer he stays in the room, the less noticeable the smell becomes. Which of the following appears to be operating in this instance? (A) Subliminal perception (B) Sensory adaptation (C) Absolute threshold (D) Signal detection (E) Perceptual set
B) Sensory adaptation
Darby had damage to his brain that resulted in impairment of multiple senses. He most likely experienced damage to which brain structure? (A) Hippocampus (B) Thalamus (C) Amygdala (D) Cerebellum (E) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
A researcher randomly assigned boys and girls to each of two groups. One group watched a violent television program while the other group watched a nonviolent program. The children were then observed during a period of free play, and the incidence of aggressive behavior was recorded for each group. 5. What is the independent variable in this study? (A) Incidence of aggressive behavior (B) Type of television program viewed (C) Sex of the children (D) Number of groups (E) Duration of free play
B) Type of television program viewed
The sociocultural perspective is best reflected in which of the following research findings? Shortly after young children were exposed to a bacterial streptococcal infection they began displaying symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Brain imaging studies show higher levels of activity in the limbic system of individuals with depression when responding to negative emotional information. In the United States individuals diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder switch identities upon (C) suggestion, while in India individuals diagnosed with the same disorder switch personalities only upon awakening. Individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder show weaker startle responses when shown unpleasant stimuli. As genetic relatedness increases so does the likelihood that a relative of a person with schizophrenia will also develop schizophrenia.
C) suggestion, while in India individuals diagnosed with the same disorder switch personalities only upon awakening
Damage to the occipital lobe would most likely affect a person's (A) balance (B) ability to develop plans (C) vision (D) fine motor movements (E) language processing
C) vision
Damage to the cerebellum would most likely result in which of the following problems? (A) Aphasia (B) Increased aggression (C) A loss of vision (D) A loss of motor coordination (E) A change in personality
D) A loss of motor coordination
Ted is hiking along a mountain trail when he sees a large snake slithering across the path ahead of him. 9. Which of the following brain structures is most closely associated with Ted's fear response? (A) Medulla (B) Pons (C) Hippocampus (D) Amygdala (E) Angular gyrus
D) Amygdala
The graph depicts which of the following? (A) Transduction (B) A reflex arc (C) An action potential (D) An absolute threshold (E) General adaptation syndrome (GAS)
D) An absolute threshold
double-blind control is essential for which of the following? (A) A study comparing the IQ test scores of children from different educational systems (B) A study of relationships among family members (C) An experiment to determine the effect of a food reward on the bar-pressing rate of a rat (D) Assessment of a treatment designed to reduce schizophrenic symptoms (E) A survey of drug use among teenagers
D) Assessment of a treatment designed to reduce schizophrenic symptoms
Which of the following scenarios is most likely to result in impairment of the kinesthetic sense? Severing of the corpus callosum (B) Destruction of part of the hypothalamus (C) Removal of a portion of the olfactory bulb (D) Damage to the cerebellum (E) A tumor in the somatosensory cortex
D) Damage to the cerebellum
Which of the following refers to the just-noticeable difference between two stimuli? (A) Absolute threshold (B) Sensation (C) Perception (D) Difference threshold (E) Subliminal stimulus
D) Difference threshold
person with a severe head injury subsequently acts irresponsibly, does not seem to be able to plan effectively, and is easy to anger. Which of the following brain areas is most likely injured? (A) Cerebellum (B) Hypothalamus (C) Parietal lobe (D) Frontal lobe (E) Corpus callosum
D) Frontal lobe
What is the correct chronological order of the following perspectives of psychology, from past to present? I. Behaviorism II. Psychoanalysis III. Structuralism IV. Humanism (A) I, II, III, IV (B) II, III, IV, I (C) I, IV, III, II (D) III, II, I, IV (E) III, II, IV, I
D) III, II, I, IV
The place in the retina where the optic nerve exits to the brain is called the (A) lens (B) sclera (C) fovea (D) blind spot (E) aqueous humor
D) blind spot
Information is relayed to the spinal cord or the brain by (A) afferent neurons (B) Schwann cells (C) T cells (D) efferent neurons (E) neuroglia
D) efferent neurons
What is the best way to ensure that results of a study are generalizable to a population? (A) By making sure to use as many participants as possible (B) By making sure the results are significant (C) By making sure to use an equal number of men and women (D) By using random assignment (E) By using a random selection of people in that population
E) By using a random selection of people in that population
Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system results in which of the following? (A) An increase in pupil dilation (B) An increase in respiratory rate (C) A decrease in digestion (D) A decrease in salivation (E) A decrease in heart rate
E) A decrease in heart rate
The ability to see a cube in the diagram above is best explained by which of the following? The resting potential of neurons in the optic nerve Gestalt principles of closure and continuity The inverted and reversed image that a visual stimulus produces on the retina The opponent process theory of vision The trichromatic theory of vision
Gestalt principles of closure and continuity
When Kaylee's friends discovered she was going to have her tonsils removed, they told her she was going to be in a great deal of pain. After the surgery Kaylee reported that she was in a lot of pain, although most of her pain should have been alleviated by her pain medication. Given this scenario, which of the following best explains Kaylee's reporting of pain? Top-down processing Change blindness Biological preparedness Opponent-process theory Sensory adaptation
Top-down processing
Drawing a random sample of people from a town for an interview study of social attitudes ensures that (A) each person in the town has the same probability of being chosen for the study (B) an equal number of males and females are selected for interviews (C) the study includes at least some respondents from every social class in town (D) the study will uncover widely differing social attitudes among the respondents (E) the sample will be large enough even though some people may refuse to be interviewed
each person in the town has the same probability of being chosen for the study
In a research study, informed consent is a concern of (A) replicability (B) ethics (C) statistical significance (D) practical applicability (E) cross-cultural representativeness
ethics
Jane Goodall lived among wild chimpanzees intermittently for decades, studying their social and family systems while keeping her interaction with the chimpanzees to a minimum. Her research method can most accurately be described as (A) survey (B) case study (C) experiment (D) correlational research (E) naturalistic observation
naturalistic observation
