Exam Questions Flashcards
Explain why someone in a comatose state with severe brain damage may still be able to remain alive for a prolonged period without artificial life support.
(2 marks)
- The ANS is a relatively self-regulating system that functions continuously to maintain the functioning of vital bodily organs and systems (1)
- This occurs regardless of our state of consciousness (1)
When considered from a neuronal perspective, no two human brains are identical. Explain why, with reference to neural change associated with learning and memory formation.
(2 marks)
- Neurological changes occur in the brain during learning and memory formation (1)
- Most life experiences are unique and are therefore associated with unique neurological changes (1)
Matilda takes her dog, Biscuit, for a walk along the same route every day. Children often stop Matilda so they can pat Biscuit.
Identify which subdivision of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for the movement to pat Biscuit and explain the sequence of biological processes that occurs.
(5 marks) VCAA 2021, Section B, Q.1
The somatic nervous system is involved. Sensory neurons in the children’s eyes detect the dog and send the information to the brain via affarent neurons. The brain processes this information and send motor messages via efferent neurons to skeletal muscles in their hand/arm to pat the dog.
It is hypothesised that many people who experience anxiety disorders have difficulty producing, releasing, or receiving GABA. What is the role of GABA and why might a GABA dysfunction contribute to the experience of anxiety disorders?
(3 marks) Edrolo
- GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain (1)
- A GABA dysfunction may lead to lowered levels of neural inhibition in the brain (1)
- With lower neural inhibition, it may be difficult to regulate its activity and restore the brain to a state of calm when an individual is anxious (1)
Julia learned Italian in primary school but is now learning Spanish in high school. At first, when she learns new Spanish terms she finds herself mixing them up with Italian terms, however, the more she practices her Spanish the less she makes these kinds of mistakes. Explain Julia’s process of learning Spanish in terms of neural plasticity.
(5 marks) Edrolo
- Learning a language is an example of adaptive neural plasticity (1)
- The more Julia practices Spanish, the more the synapses responsible for this information are coactivated (1)
- Thus, these synapses strengthen and experience LTP (1)
- Practicing Spanish also means that her synapses responsible for Italian terms are not coactivating (1)
- These synapses weaken and experience LTD, helping her stop saying the Italian terms by accident (1)
Outline two differences between the sympathetic nervous system response and the spinal reflex.
(4 marks)
- The sympathetic nervous system can bring about change in visceral muscles, organs and glands (1), whereas the spinal reflex brings about change in skeletal muscles (1)
- The spinal reflex is controlled by the somatic nervous system (1), whereas the sympathetic nervous system is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (1)
Travis is currently undertaking his first year of university. He is feeling pressured by his family’s expectation that he should score high marks. Travis also works part-time stacking frozen vegetables in the coolroom of his local supermarket to save money to go out with his new girlfriend, who he wants to impress.
Identify an external factor in the scenario above and describe how it may exacerbate Travis’s physiological response to stress.
(2 marks) VCAA 2016 Psychology, Section B, Q.10
- An external factor is working in the very low temperatures of the coolroom (1)
- This could increase the functioning of Travis’s sympathetic nervous system, exacerbating the stress response (1)
Annie is stressed about her driving test scheduled for today. With reference to the physiological aspects of Annie’s stress response, give two reasons why this level of stress may be helpful when Annie takes her driving test.
(4 marks)
- Release of adrenaline (1) makes her more alert and able to concentrate on the road (1)
- Redistribution of blood supply to muscles (1) gives her more energy (1)
- Dilated pupils enable her to see better and foresee hazards
- Increased glucose secretion gives her increased energy
NOTE: Any two of the above points would be required to gain full marks.
Identify what stage of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Bob was in when he started frequently catching colds. Justify your response.
(3 marks) VCAA 2021, Section B, Q.1
- Bob is likely in the resistance stage of GAS (1)
- The ongoing stress from his work resulted in his body releasing cortisol over a period of time to help overcome the stressor (1)
- This suppressed his immune system, making him more vulnerable to catching a cold (1)
Watson and Rayner conditioned 11-month-old ‘Little Albert’ to produce an emotional response to a white rat. During conditioning, Little Albert’s response to the white rat was to startle and breathe heavily. After conditioning, he trembled and cried in fear every time he saw a white rat and, later, in response to other white, furry objects.
Outline the role of a neurotransmitter involved in the conditioning of Little Albert’s response.
(3 marks) VCAA 2022, Section B, Q.1
- Glutamate (1) is involved as it makes the postsynaptic neuron more likely to fire an action potential (1), which strengthens neural pathways and thus increases the likelihood of Little Albert learning the fear response to the white rat (1)
- Adrenaline (1) is involved as when it is released it activates the amygdala in the brain (1), signalling a fear response and thus increasing the likelihood of Little Albert forming a memory of the fear response to the white rat (1)
NOTE: Either of the above points would be rewarded full marks.
Ben is feeling very stressed about an upcoming university Maths exam. After studying for two hours and feeling like he is getting nowhere, he calls his boyfriend Max and explains the situation. Max does not study Maths and so is not at all concerned about the exam. He is little support to Ben, and Ben hangs up the phone remaining stressed about his exam.
Explain Ben and Max’s different stress responses to the Maths exam in terms of Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.
(5 marks) Edrolo
- Ben has made the primary appraisal of the Maths exam as being stressful and a threat (1)
- He has then made the secondary appraisal that he does not have the resources to cope with the stressor (1)
- Consequently, he experiences distress (1)
- On the other hand, Max has made the primary appraisal that the Maths exam is irrelevant to him, as he does not do the subject (1)
- He does not need to make a secondary appraisal of the exam and he does not generate a stress response (1)
Joe has just started high school and goes to a week-long camp. When he first hops on the bus, he is initially overwhelmed by the prospect of the camp, but this feeling quickly turns to excitement. During the first four days of the camp, he feels like he has a lot of energy, even though he spends his days hiking and staying up late chatting to his friends. However, on the fifth day, he feels his energy levels start to decline and soon he is very tired. By the time he returns home he has developed a cold and is too tired to attend school the following week.
With reference to the general adaptation syndrome, explain why Joe is so run down and sick in the week following the camp.
(6 marks) Edrolo
- When he first encounters the stressor, he experiences shock (alarm reaction), involving an initial drop in his resistance (1)
- This is followed by countershock (increased resistance) involving the sympathetic NS increasing the activity of his internal muscles organs and glands (1)
- He then reaches resistance where his ability to cope with the stressor rises above normal, evidenced by his high energy (1)
- This is due to increased levels of cortisol being released into his bloodstream, which enhances his stress response (1)
- He then reaches exhaustion, where his resistance to stress falls far below normal (1)
- Prolonged cortisol release compromised his immune function, making him more susceptile to illness, hence why he was sick (1)
Mac’s dog, Raffi, barks excessively every time someone comes into the house. Mac finds this very annoying and yells at Raffi, but Raffi keeps barking.
Give three reasons why this scenario is an example of operant conditioning rather than classical conditioning.
(3 marks) VCAA 2013, Psychology, Section B, Q.17
- Raffi’s barking is a voluntary behaviour (1)
- Raffi and Mac are both active participants (1)
- Mac is providing a consequence for Raffi’s barking (1)
An advertisement for a new soft drink features people having a good time while consuming the product. This is intended to make potential customers experience positive emotions when thinking about the soft drink. What type of conditioning is used to generate positive emotions towards the new soft drink? Give two reasons to justify your response.
(3 marks) VCAA 2020, Psychology, Section B, Q.4a
- Classical conditioning (1)
- The drink (NS) is repeatedly paired and with images of people having fun (UCS) which elicits positive emotions and with repetition, the drink becomes a CS that produces positive feelings on its own (1)
- The experience of positive emotions is an involuntary response (1)
Patient HM had his hippocampus removed to treat severe epilepsy. After the operation, he suffered many memory impairments, but could still learn new motor skills. For example, after the surgery, he was able to learn how to trace a pattern while watching his hand movements in a mirror, which he could not do prior to the surgery. With reference to types of long term memory and brain areas, explain what memory impairments he suffered, and why HM was able to learn new motor skills after the surgery.
(3 Marks) Edrolo
- The removal of his hippocampus made him unable to form new explicit long-term memories (1)
- The brain structures responsible for implicit procedural LTM (such as his cerebellum) remained intact (1)
- Therefore, he was able to learn new motor skills, as these are a form of procedural memory, which was unaffected by the removal of his hippocampus (1)
