Psychology Test 1

Mrs. Fine is highly interested in learning about the emotions of her fourth graders. Which of the following journal articles would be a good fit for her interests? a) "The Tricky Thalamus" b) "Your Hyped Hypothalamus" c) "Your Cryptic Cerebellum" d) "The Amazing Amygdala"

"The Amazing Amygdala"

Which of the following best summarizes the main function(s) of your nervous system? a) It allows the right side of your brain to communicate with the left side of your brain. b) It regulates the oxygen in your blood, protects you from pain, and helps your body eliminate waste. c) It allows you to receive sensory information, process that information, and then respond to it. d) It produces vital bodily fluids such as bile and regulates the body's secretion of these fluids.

It allows you to receive sensory information, process that information, and then respond to it.

Johnny wants to show that watering his crop more in the spring causes a larger harvest in the fall. Which type of study should Johnny use? a) descriptive study b) correlational study c) an experiment d) a case study

an experiment

The psychological approach that emphasizes the role of the environment in influencing behavior is a) humanism. b) cognitive. c) behaviorism. d) Gestalt theory.

behaviorism.

"Friendly skepticism" means a) finding flaws in an argument or claim. b) being open to new ideas, while also being careful before accepting them. c) asking a scientist to make his or her findings public so that they can be better evaluated. d) accepting all claims, as long as they are based on the scientific method.

being open to new ideas, while also being careful before accepting them.

Hypnosis, meditation, and drug use all allow people to a) change the states of their consciousness. b) achieve a sense of flow. c) consciously change their behaviors. d) spend longer time in REM sleep.

change the states of their consciousness

Which of the following words means "about a day" and refers to biological patterns that include sleep? a) diurnal-complex b) circadian c) narcolepsy d) melatonin

circadian

The psychologist who would be mostly likely to focus on mental functions, such as problem solving and decision making, would be a a) behaviorist. b) cognitive psychologist. c) psychoanalyst. d) humanistic psychologist.

cognitive psychologist.

Psychologists from which school of thought are concerned with functions that behaviorism cannot explain, such as intelligence and problem solving? a) Gestalt psychology b) social psychology c) cognitive psychology d) psychoanalysis

cognitive psychology

If a researcher publicly discussed a participant's responses and named the participant, that researcher would be guilty of violating the ethical principle of a) confidentiality. b) risk. c) privacy. d) deception.

confidentiality.

Sasha takes a drug that is a type of stimulant while at a nightclub. What experience might Sasha have had after consuming the stimulant? a) feeling bright and vivid perceptual and cognitive distortions b) feeling a rush of intense pleasure followed by a relaxed stupor c) feeling a wave of confidence and then feeling alert, energetic, and social d) feeling sluggish and clumsy and then blacking out Question 151 / 1 point

feeling a wave of confidence and then feeling alert, energetic, and social

Insomnia is more frequently observed among ________, whereas sleep apnea is more common among ________. a) females with anxiety disorders; elderly males with neurological deficits b) adolescents with anorexia nervosa; elderly males with neurological deficits c) females with anxiety disorders; middle-aged males with obesity d) adolescents with anorexia nervosa; females with anxiety disorders

females with anxiety disorders; middle-aged males with obesity

Pierre believes that no single area of the brain is responsible for consciousness, and that instead specific areas process certain types of information. Pierre most likely believes in the ________ model of consciousness. a) dissociation b) materialism c) dualism d) global workspace

global workspace

While shoveling snow after a blizzard, Donzel slipped on the ice and struck his head. Doctors found that the part of his brain responsible for his basic survival functions was swelling and that his life was in danger. The part of Donzel's brain that was most likely hurt in the accident was the a) midbrain. b) hindbrain. c) forebrain. d) transbrain.

hindbrain.

A researcher believes that presenting possible suspects in a lineup one at a time instead of in a group would lead to more accurate identification of the true suspect. This belief represents a(n) a) hypothesis. b) independent variable. c) correlation. d) theory.

hypothesis.

The action of neurotransmitters is ________ by agonists and is ________ by antagonists. a) increased; decreased b) decreased; increased c) increased; not affected d) not affected; decreased

increased; decreased

The variable that a researcher manipulates in an experiment is called the a) independent variable. b) dependent variable. c) third variable. d) experimental group.

independent variable.

Marta is driving down the highway when she sees traffic slow down in front of her. She steps on the brake pedal to bring her car to a stop. This process of slowing something down is similar to the function of __________ in neurons.

inhibitory signals

Which step of neural communication involves a neuron assessing the signals that it is receiving from other sources? a) integration b) interpolation c) transmission d) reception

integration

The fact that the brain acts as an interpreter refers to the ability of the ________ hemisphere to ________. a) right; construct a world that makes sense b) left; construct a world that makes sense c) right; organize spatial relationships d) left; organize spatial relationships

left; construct a world that makes sense

In the nervous system, each neuron communicates with a) one or two other neurons. b) a random subset of the other neurons in the nervous system. c) many other neurons in an organized network. d) all of the other neurons in the nervous system.

many other neurons in an organized network.

When Ralph and Linda's children were born, they were described as "identical" twins because the babies shared the exact same genetic makeup. The technical name for this is __________ twins.

monozygotic

George is looking for a research project. To get started, he could make use of an existing theory because a) theories are shown to be true, so subsequent research is successful. b) one of the benefits of theories is that they lead to testable hypotheses. c) a theory can be successfully replicated by researchers. d) theories lead to successful research.

one of the benefits of theories is that they lead to testable hypotheses.

For the past three days, Mandy has not been able to get enough hours of sleep. Today, Mandy will most likely have trouble a) performing well in her athletic training session. b) experiencing fewer microsleeps. c) maintaining her physical strength throughout the day. d) paying attention in class and remembering the information.

paying attention in class and remembering the information.

Which of the following is NOT a factor in the development of addiction? a) attraction to novelty and risk taking b) poor relationships with parents c) inherited tendency to seek out strong sensation d) personal beliefs that addiction is a choice

personal beliefs that addiction is a choice

Penelope has been drinking coffee for the past 10 years. She says she needs the caffeine just to get through the day. Today, she has not had any coffee and has a severe headache, fatigue, and shakiness. Penelope is most likely ________ dependent on caffeine. a) psychologically b) socially c) behaviorally d) physically

physically

After suffering trauma to his brain, Jack experienced profound alterations in his personality. Prior to his accident he was a prudent, responsible employee. Afterward, he was childlike in mental capacity, impulsive, and unable to control his emotions. Jack's injuries were most likely located in which area of the brain? a) prefrontal cortex b) hippocampus c) amygdala d) parietal lobe

prefrontal cortex

A psychologist wants to create two groups that are as similar as possible at the beginning of an experiment. To do this, the psychologist should use a) random sampling. b) random assignment. c) self-report methods. d) participant observation.

random assignment.

If Mike wants to use the scientific method, he would use all of the following elements EXCEPT a) focusing on a theory. b) stating a hypothesis. c) using a research method. d) recalling his personal experiences.

recalling his personal experiences.

Rhianna had been asleep for 45 minutes when she was awakened by her roommate screaming at her to pick up the phone. Rhianna was extremely confused, so she grabbed her shoe and said "Hello?" Before she was awakened, Rhianna was most likely in ________ sleep. a) REM b) stage 1 c) stage 2 d) slow-wave Question 18

slow-wave

If your hand were to automatically jerk back after accidentally touching a hot kettle, which of the following nervous systems would be responsible for this moment?

somatic

Sumeeta recently fell down the stairs, injuring her right arm. As a result, her thumb, index, and middle fingers began to numb. The part of the nervous system that may be responsible for this numbness is the ________ nervous system. a) central b) somatic c) autonomic d) parasympathetic

somatic

The part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for sending sensory and motor signals between the central nervous system and the skin, muscles, and joints is the ________ nervous system. a) autonomic b) somatic c) descending d) ascending

somatic

Lucy's parents are worried about the fact that she regularly gets up in the middle of the night and walks around the house while she is still asleep. They take her to the pediatrician, who tells them that they should gently wake Lucy up and take her back to bed when she experiences these bouts of a) sleep apnea. b) somnambulism. c) narcolepsy. d) insomnia.

somnambulism.

Which of the following is part of the central nervous system? a) glands b) organs c) spinal cord d) muscles

spinal cord

While dreaming that she is riding a bicycle, Millie actually moves around in bed making arm and leg motions similar to those of a cyclist. Millie is most likely experiencing a) narcolepsy. b) sleep apnea. c) REM behavior disorder. d) somnambulism

REM behavior disorder.

When Marcus goes to play golf, he steps up to his ball and swings the club without thinking at all about his technique. Due to years of practice and repetition Marcus has most likely begun to use __________ processes when swinging his golf club. a) unconscious b) preconscious c) conscious d) subliminal

unconscious

The purpose of psychology is to a) understand and predict human behavior. b) verify personal beliefs. c) help us to respond to the world around us. d) interpret memories, thoughts, and dreams.

understand and predict human behavior.

Psychologists work in many settings. Which are the two main areas? a) business and government b) health care settings and private practice c) government and private practice d) universities and health care settings

universities and health care settings

Which of the following gives psychologists the best confidence that the conclusions they draw from research are accurate? a) making sure not to repeat studies that have already been conducted b) ensuring that their hypotheses are confirmed by their research c) getting their research results published in a major academic journal d) using the scientific method in their research

using the scientific method in their research

If a researcher created two groups by assigning the first 30 people to the experimental group and the last 30 people to the control group, this process would a) lead to a directionality problem. b) lead to a third variable problem. c) violate the principle of random assignment. d) violate the principle of random sampling.

violate the principle of random assignment.

Which of the following is one way to determine if a piece of information is a pseudofact? a) Determine if the information is true by asking your friends and peers. b) Locate the source of the claim while remaining skeptical of unreliable sources, like the Internet. c) If the information feels like it is true and it aligns with your opinion, then it is not a pseudofact. d) There is no way to tell if a piece of information is a pseudofact.

Locate the source of the claim while remaining skeptical of unreliable sources, like the Internet.

Meghan is under the influence of a drug. She feels energized and is also experiencing altered visual perception. Meghan most likely took the drug a) MDMA. b) cocaine. c) heroin. d) methamphetamine.

MDMA

According to the consolidation theory of why sleep is important, which of these activities would be a particularly bad idea? a) Meredith's plan to pull an all-nighter studying for her Chinese exam b) Clarice's plan to go hiking in the woods at night c) Ryan's plan to stay up all night after competing in a tough wrestling match d) Pedro's plan to go on a late-night pizza run

Meredith's plan to pull an all-nighter studying for her Chinese exam

Which of the following options is a significant disadvantage of self-report research techniques? a) It does not allow you to perform any statistical analyses of the data you gather. b) There are few ways to ensure that the research has been conducted ethically. c) You cannot control the impact of confounding variables on the dependent variable. d) People can introduce bias into their answers.

People can introduce bias into their answers.

Patient N.K., who has a split brain, is shown a fork in her right visual field. Which of the following is most likely to be true? a) She can pick up the fork and use it effortlessly with her left hand, but she will not be able to name it. b) She will not be able to name the fork or pick it up since both language and spatial abilities are housed in the left hemisphere of the brain. c) She can name the fork but will not be able to pick it up and use it with her left hand. d) She will be able to both name and pick up the fork because both language and spatial abilities are housed in the right hemisphere of the brain. Question 111 / 1 point

She can name the fork but will not be able to pick it up and use it with her left hand.

Angela accidentally ingested an acetylcholine antagonist. Which of the following statements accurately describes the most likely effect of the drug? a) Angela will develop symptoms similar to those found in schizophrenia. b) The drug may cause deficits in Angela's memory. c) The drug may improve Angela's short-term memory. d) Angela will experience increased motor behavior. Question 51 / 1 point

The drug may cause deficits in Angela's memory

Because nicotine increases how the neurotransmitter acetylcholine functions, it is an a) inhibitory neurotransmitter. b) excitatory neurotransmitter. c) antagonist. d) agonist.

agonist.

Which of the following is a specific, testable prediction? a) a theory b) a hypothesis c) a correlation d) introspection

a hypothesis

If a researcher wants to be able to generalize about a population using data pulled from a sample, it is best to use

a random sample.

Ryan is a linebacker for his school's football team, and gets injured when he falls to the ground and hits his head during a game. His coach calls him off the field and he is then diagnosed with his third concussion in the past 5 months. Ryan's parents should be concerned that he might develop a) a learning disability. b) a traumatic brain injury. c) multiple sclerosis. d) the warning signs of a stroke.

a traumatic brain injury

Imagine you are at a rock concert listening to your favorite songs and cheering with the crowd. The moment-to-moment subjective experience you have, along with your mental activity, is called a) materialism. b) REM. c) consciousness. d) subliminal perception.

consciousness

To be considered a depressant, a drug must ________ mental activity and ________ physical activity. a) increase; increase b) decrease; decrease c) increase; decrease d) decrease; increase

decrease; decrease

In general, siblings of different ages raised together have a) the same genes but different environments. b) the same environment but different genes. c) different genes and different environments. d) the same genes and the same environment.

different genes and different environments

The communication system in your body by which hormones influence thoughts, behaviors, and actions is the ________ system. a) somatic nervous b) sympathetic c) parasympathetic d) endocrine

endocrine

You are running a 5K race and suddenly you experience an adrenaline rush. Your body releasing the neurotransmitter ________ causes this burst of energy. a) acetylcholine b) epinephrine c) glutamate d) dopamine

epinephrine

During the integration phase of neural communication, the type of signal that increases the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential is called a(n) ________ signal. a) excitatory b) sensory c) inhibitory d) enzyme degradation

excitatory

When a researcher manipulates a variable to see what effect the manipulation has on another variable, the research design is a(n) a) correlational study. b) experiment. c) observational study. d) case study.

experiment.

After a bad fall while rock climbing, Charisa experienced profound alterations in her ability to initiate voluntary movements, such as moving her eyes or reaching for a cup of water. Which brain structure did Charisa's injuries most likely affect? a) amygdala b) thalamus c) hippocampus d) substantia nigra

substantia nigra

Sienna is giving an oral presentation in her political science class where she must talk to her classmates. When she is speaking during her presentation it is most likely that her ________ lobe in her ________ hemisphere is very active. a) temporal; right b) temporal; left c) parietal; right d) parietal; left

temporal; left