Gen Psych Chapter 2 Quizzes
Evolutionary psychologists would be most likely to attribute the human tendency to fear spiders and snakes to
genetic predispositions
Evolutionary psychology most clearly suggests that human behavioral and biological similarities arise from our shared
genome
A neuron is best described as a(n)
Cell
The endocrine system consists of
Glands
The limbic system's hippocampus
Helps process explicit memories for storage
The limbic system structure that regulates hunger is called the
Hypothalamus
The vast majority of neurons in the body's information system are
Interneurons
The prevalence of genetically predisposed traits that have a reproductive advantage is best explained in terms of
Natural selection
Following massive damage to his frontal lobes, Phineas Gage was most strikingly debilitated by
irritability
Research with split-brain patients suggests that the ________ typically constructs the theories people offer to explain their own behaviors.
left cerebral hemisphere
The right hemisphere of Julie's brain is better than her left hemisphere at recognizing facial expressions of emotion. This best illustrates
Lateralization
In emphasizing that heredity's effects on behavior depend on a person's home environment, psychologists are most clearly highlighting the importance of
Nature-nurture interactions
While listening to operatic solos, musicians process the lyrics and the tunes in separate brain areas. This most clearly illustrates the functioning of different
Neural networks
Which hormone enables contractions associated with birthing and milk flow during nursing
Oxytocin
Adoptive parents are LEAST likely to influence the ________ of their adopted children
Personality traits
Although Ron has no genital sensations, he is capable of an erection if his genitals are stimulated. Ron's experience is most indicative of a(n)
severed spinal cord
Compared with fraternal twins, identical twins are
More similar in their risk of developing autism spectrum disorder and more similar in risk of being emotionally unstable
The brain devotes more tissue within the ________ for body areas requiring the most precise movement control such as the fingers
Motor cortex
Which of the following is a major source of genetic diversity
Mutations
Which of the following would be particularly useful for detecting the brain areas that are most active as a person performs mathematical calculations
A PET scan
The release of ________ to muscle cell receptors triggers muscle contractions.
ACh
Botox injections smooth facial wrinkles because botulin is a(n)
ACh antagonist
Which of the following is most clearly characterized by a temporary inflow of positively charged sodium ions through an axon membrane
An action potential
The regions of the parietal lobes that are involved in mathematical and spatial reasoning are known as
Association areas
The brain's oldest region is the
Brainstem
After suffering an accidental brain injury, Kira has difficulty walking in a smooth and coordinated manner. She has probably suffered damage to her
Cerebellum
To monitor the electrical activity in the brain that is triggered by hearing one's own name, researchers would make use of a(n)
EEG
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control are called
Endorphins
The study of molecular mechanisms by which environments can trigger or block gene expression is called
Epigenetics
Which portion of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in making plans and formulating moral judgments
Frontal lobes
If you lose a foot, the somatosensory cortex that received its input will begin to pick up signals from the formerly adjoined leg. This best illustrates the value of
Plasticity
As needed, the sympathetic nervous system ________ blood sugar levels and ________ the pupils of the eyes
Raises; dilates
Dmitry Belyaev and Lyudmila Trut successfully domesticated wild foxes by means of
Selective mating
Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin will thereby increase the concentration of serotonin molecules in the
Synaptic gaps
Which brain structure relays information from the eyes to the visual cortex
Thalamus
A drug molecule that increases the release of a neurotransmitter into the synaptic gap is a(n)
agonist
Which neural center in the limbic system plays an important role in emotions such as fear and rage?
amygdala
Adopted children are especially likely to have similar ________ if raised in the same home.
attitudes
An axon transmits messages ________ the cell body and a dendrite transmits messages ________ the cell body.
away from; toward
The autonomic nervous system most directly controls
bladder contractions
Chromosomes are composed of
deoxyribonucleic acid
Researchers studying mice have found that in utero exposure to certain chemicals can cause genetically identical twins to have different colored fur. This is best explained by the fact that genetically linked traits can be modified by
epigenetic marks
Two individuals are most likely to differ in personality if they are
fraternal twins who were raised apart
Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in controlling the facial muscle movements necessary for speaking?
frontal
Depressed mood states are linked to ________ levels of serotonin and ________ levels of norepinephrine.
low; low
Your life would be most immediately threatened if you suffered destruction of the
medulla
The visual cortex is located in the
occipital lobes
Brain scans indicate that well-practiced pianists have a larger-than-usual auditory cortex area that encodes piano sounds. This best illustrates the impact of
plasticity
The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine ________ blood pressure and ________ blood sugar levels.
raises; raises
The peripheral nervous system consists of
sensory and motor neurons
Stimulation of the reticular formation will cause a
sleeping cat to awaken
Research has suggested that a reward deficiency syndrome may contribute to
substance use disorders
To excite or inhibit an action potential in a receiving neuron, a neurotransmitter must cross the
synaptic gap
