Behavior/Learning Flashcards
The treatment of patients with multiple neurological or psychiatric disorders is complicated by the fact that some disorders have opposing roots in the underlying brain chemistry. Administration of dopaminergic antagonists to schizophrenic patients can result in side effects resembling which of the following neurological disorders?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Parkinson’s disease
C. Alzheimer’s disease
D. Autism spectrum disorder
B. Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is tied to abnormally low levels of dopamine in the substantia nigra, triggering difficulties with movement. A dopamine antagonist would reduce this region’s sensitivity to dopamine; this has been known to cause side effects when administered to some schizophrenic patients.
Which of the following neurotransmitters is NOT a catecholamine?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Epinephrine
D. Acetylcholine
D. Acetylcholine
In Huntington’s disease, cells produce a defective form of the protein huntingtin (Htt) that contains a long “tail” of glutamine residues. This tail causes aggregation of Htt into plaques, which interfere with normal neural activity and lead to cell death. However, some types of neurons (such as those in the basal ganglia) are more vulnerable to this damage than others; their deaths often trigger the first visible signs of Huntington’s disease. Based on the information given above, an early indication of this disease might be provided by:
I. working memory deficits.
II. clumsiness or lack of coordination.
III. numbness in the extremities.
A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. II and III only
B. II only
Cortisol, a stress hormone, plays multiple homeostatic roles relating to glucose and glycogenmetabolism. In what way does cortisol likely differ from Substance H, a peptide hormone?
A. As a glucocorticoid, cortisol probably diffuses directly through plasma membranes.
B. As a mineralocorticoid, cortisol probably floats freely in the bloodstream without a carrier protein.
C. As a derivative of cholesterol, cortisol likely triggers a second messenger cascade in target cells.
D. Cortisol is a peptide, so the two hormones are probably similar.
A. As a glucocorticoid, cortisol probably diffuses directly through plasma membranes.
What is the main functional difference between the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex?
A. The adrenal medulla is part of the sympathetic nervous system, while the adrenal cortex is part of the parasympathetic division.
B. The adrenal cortex releases compounds that also act as neurotransmitters, while the adrenal medulla releases hormones alone.
C. The adrenal medulla releases compounds that also act as neurotransmitters, while the adrenal cortex releases hormones alone.
D. The adrenal medulla is connected to the hypothalamus via a hypophyseal portal system, while the adrenal cortex is directly attached via nerve fibers.
C. The adrenal medulla releases compounds that also act as neurotransmitters, while the adrenal cortex releases hormones alone.
The adrenal medulla secretes two catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine. While these molecules are technically hormones, they also act as sympathetic neurotransmitters to promote the fight-or-flight response. In contrast, the cortex releases steroid hormones, including aldosterone and cortisol.
An animal behaviorist learns that a gene of particular interest in a species of ape is especially prone to methylation. What is the likely consequence of this epigenetic modification?
A. That portion of DNA is subject to upregulated transcription.
B. That portion of genetic material tends to be spliced out of mRNA transcripts.
C. That portion of DNA is more heavily expressed than it would be if unmodified.
D. That portion of DNA is less heavily expressed than it would be if unmodified.
D. That portion of DNA is less heavily expressed than it would be if unmodified.
DNA methylation is a major epigenetic change with which you should be familiar. By methylating DNA, our cells reduce the frequency of transcription of that region, thereby “silencing” it. Remember, epigenetic modifications are long-term genetic changes that are generally not passed on to the next generation.
Methylation decreases, rather than increases, transcription
A sociologist uses adoption studies to examine the prevalence of criminal behavior in young adults. She finds that children born to incarcerated offenders but raised in a different household have a higher chance of committing a felony than members of a control group. What can we conclude from this information, if the researchers find that p < 0.05?
A. Genetics certainly plays a role in the determination of future criminal behavior.
B. Genetics probably plays a role in the determination of future criminal behavior.
C. Genetics and environment appear to contribute equally to a child’s likelihood of engaging in criminal activity.
D. None of the above; the results are not statistically significant.
B. Genetics probably plays a role in the determination of future criminal behavior.
Most people lack conscious memories from prior to the time when they were approximately 3.5 years old. Which term is given to this phenomenon?
A. The Moro reflex
B. Baby dementia
C. The recency effect
D. Infantile amnesia
D. Infantile amnesia
Freud’s psychoanalytic theory separates human personality into three main “structures,” or components. Which of these choices accurately describes one of these components?
A. The superego drives the individual to accomplish moral aims, and in doing so, often counteracts the id.
B. The id balances input from the ego and the superego and tends to dominate in day-to-day adult life.
C. The ego is more unconscious in nature than either the id or the superego.
D. The ego represents the most base, aggressive, and pleasure-seeking aspect of personality.
A. The superego drives the individual to accomplish moral aims, and in doing so, often counteracts the id.
Which of the following is NOT one of Goldberg’s five factors or scales along which personality can vary?
A. Conformity
B. Neuroticism
C. Openness to experience
D. Conscientiousness
A. Conformity
Goldberg’s five dimensions are
agreeableness (the degree to which one values getting along with others),
extraversion (the degree to which one engages with people and the external world)
conscientiousness (a person’s level of self-discipline and focus on achievement)
neuroticism (the degree to which one experiences negative emotions like anxiety, depression, or anger) and
openness to experience (the amount of value placed on novelty, creativity, and variety of experiences).
Of the individuals described below, who is / are extrinsically motivated?
I. Robert, a student who reviews practice tests for several hours each day in the hopes of scoring well on the MCAT
II. Phil, a teacher who goes to work because he truly loves providing for his wife and children
III. Bella, a young girl who draws and paints because she enjoys how she feels when engaging in those activities
A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II only
D. I and II only
A second-grade boy loves playing soccer outside, even when alone. He originally found a soccer ball in his family’s garage and began kicking it around the yard entirely of his own accord. If the boy’s parents want to reinforce this behavior, which action should they NOT take?
A. Ignore the boy entirely – not offer excessive praise, but also not punish him in any way.
B. Offer occasional praise, but mainly leave him alone with the ball.
C. Give the boy $5 whenever they see him take the ball outside.
D. Purchase the boy athletic equipment when he asks for it, but not offer it up on any sort of condition.
C. Give the boy $5 whenever they see him take the ball outside.
You are extremely hungry after a day without eating, so you feel a strong urge to consume food. For the moment, in fact, this desire to eat becomes your primary goal. This scenario best relates to which theory of motivation?
A. Drive augmentation theory
B. Incentive theory
C. Drive reduction theory
D. Arousal theory
C. Drive reduction theory
The opponent-process theory has often been cited in cases similar to those of which individual?
A. A man who spots a bear in the woods and subsequently becomes afraid
B. A heroin addict who cannot seem to quit
C. A young boy who is more interested in tasks when he is not given a reward
D. A toddler who has recently gained a grasp of object permanence
B. A heroin addict who cannot seem to quit
A bus driver who was in a traumatic car accident as a teenager never exceeds 30 miles per hour, even on streets where the speed limit is 40 mph. Which component of his attitude toward driving is represented by the fact that he never travels faster than this speed?
A. The affective component
B. The cognitive component
C. The behavioral component
D. The associative component
C. The behavioral component
Which of these parents would be most influenced by his or her own behavior to believe that private school is the best choice for his or her children’s future?
A. The mother who speaks out against the pitfalls of public education and hosts fundraisers for private schools
B. The parent who habitually watches a news program about crime in public schools
C. The father who works for a private elementary school
D. The parent who attended private school herself
A. The mother who speaks out against the pitfalls of public education and hosts fundraisers for private schools
Which of the below theories posits that a persuasive message may be processed via either a peripheral or a central route?
A. Expectancy-value theory
B. Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development
C. The elaboration likelihood model
D. Drive reduction theory
C. The elaboration likelihood model
Of the pairings below, which properly matches the type of learning with the broader category in which it is placed?
A. Operant conditioning – a type of observational learning
B. Classical conditioning – a type of operant conditioning
C. Muscle fatigue – a type of nonassociative learning
D. Sensitization – a type of nonassociative learning
D. Sensitization – a type of nonassociative learning
A guest speaker in Davy’s social studies class uses the word “basically” multiple times in every sentence. At first, Davy doesn’t notice it, but after about ten minutes, each new utterance of the word “basically” makes him grind his teeth and feel frustrated. How can this phenomenon best be categorized?
A. It is a type of learning, but it is not associative.
B. It is a type of learning, but it is not nonassociative.
C. It is a type of observational learning.
D. It is not a type of learning at all.
A. It is a type of learning, but it is not associative.
All of the following techniques can be used to solve a complex problem EXCEPT:
A. using a heuristic.
B. using trial and error.
C. using the method of loci.
D. using an algorithm.
C. using the method of loci.
A yoga instructor teaches a class of adult students. When about to transition into the most difficult, physically exhausting part of the class, she always looks around at the students and says “You got this!” Unfortunately, the students soon begin to hyperventilate and become very nervous whenever they hear the phrase “You got this!” In this anecdote:
A. the phrase “You got this!” is an aversive primary reinforcer.
B. the physical pain produced by the exercises is an aversive secondary reinforcer.
C. the students’ nervousness and hyperventilation is an unconditioned response.
D. the teacher’s action of looking around and saying “You got this!” is a conditioned stimulus.
D. the teacher’s action of looking around and saying “You got this!” is a conditioned stimulus.
