Unit 02: Biological Psychology

Question 1

The chemical units that provide instructions on how specific proteins are to be produced are called ________.

a) chromosomes
b) autosomes
c) genomic
d) genes

Answer 1

d)

Question 2

If a researcher wanted to identify how someone’s life experiences could affect the expression of specific genes and thus put that person at risk for developing depression, she would most likely use which of the following methods?

a) a comparison of monozygotic and dizygotic twins in different parts of the world
b) behavioral genetics
c) epigenetics
d) an adoption study

Answer 2

c

Question 3

For a trait to evolve, it must have a _________ basis.

a) learned
b) social
c) developmental
d) heritable

Answer 3

d

Question 4

Evolutionary psychologists have made some claims that sex differences in cognitive abilities are genetically determined. Which of the following is not an alternative explanation for such claims?

a) technological limitations prevent the accurate study of sex differences
b) different educational experiences affect performance
c) sociocultural history affects performance
d) hormone levels affect performance

Answer 4

a

Question 5

A technique used to edit an organism’s genome is

a) behavioral genetics
b) behavioral genomics
c) CRISPR-Cas9
d) a longitudinal study

Answer 5

c

Question 6

A positive electrical charge that is carried away from the cell body and down the length of the axon is a(n) ______.

a) dendrite
b) refractory period
c) action potential
d) resting potential

Answer 6

c

Question 7

A neuron will fire when the ions inside the cell body are

a) in the refractory period
b) in the resting potential
c) shifted to a threshold more positive than the resting potential
d) shifted to a threshold more negative than the resting potential

Answer 7

c

Question 8

Sensory and motor nerves differ in that

a) only sensory neurons have dendrites
b) sensory neurons carry messages away from the brain, and motor neurons vary info towards the brain
c) sensory neurons carry messages towards the brain, and motor neurons vary info away from the brain
d) only motor neurons have axons

Answer 8

c

Question 9

To reverse the effects of neurotoxic venom from a snakebite, which of the following actions would likely be most effective?

a) give the patient an AcH antagonist
b) give the patient a substance that would allow the body to resume the transmission of AcH
c) give the patient a drug that would INC GABA transmission
d) give the patient a high dose of dopamine

Answer 9

b

Question 10

An advertisement claims that we need to take care of our brains because, once we are born, we will never be able to grow new neurons, and that all the changes that take place in our brains are caused by the formation and loss of synaptic connections. What is a scientifically accurate response to this claim?

a) It is false. With the help of new drugs, it is possible to create new neurons in the human brain.
b) It is true, but only for people with behavioral problems.
c) It is false, as neurogenesis occurs in several brain regions after we are born.
d) It is true. All changes that occur in the brain after birth are caused by formation and loss of synaptic connections.

Answer 10

c

Question 11

Which division of the peripheral nervous system is responsible for countering much of the activity associated with the sympathetic nervous system?

a) pseudosympathetic nervous system
b) somatic nervous system
c) parasympathetic nervous system
d) central nervous system

Answer 11

c

Question 12

The central nervous system consists of which of the following?

a) the brain and the nerves controlling digestion and other automatic functions
b) the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
c) the brain and the spinal cord
d) the somatic and autonomic systems

Answer 12

c

Question 13

Why would a person who has undergone a split-brain operation be unable to name an object presented to her left visual field, yet be able to correctly point to the same object from an array of choices?

a) Because pointing is something done with the right hand.
b) Because the right hemisphere of the brain is where objects are seen.
c) Because the image was processed on her left hemisphere, which is required for naming objects.
d) Because her right hemisphere perceived the object, but does not house the language function needed for naming it.

Answer 13

d

Question 14

Damage to the somatosensory cortex would most likely result in which of the following impairments?

a) impaired vision
b) impaired mathematical ability
c) inability to point to an object
d) lost or distorted sensations in the region of the body corresponding to the damaged area

Answer 14

d

Question 15

Which of the following statements best summarizes the results of experiments on exercise and brain functioning?

a) Both human and animal studies show cognitive benefits of exercise.
b) Exercise only benefits older people.
c) Exercise benefits mood but not thinking.
d) Animal studies show benefits from exercise, but the results of human studies are unclear.

Answer 15

a

Question 16

Why do researchers often use the lesion method instead of studying humans with brain damage?

a) Brain damage doesn’t vary enough between people.
b) Brain damage is usually too localized.
c) The lesioning method allows for a smaller sample size.
d) The lesioning method allows for greater experimental control.

Answer 16

d

Question 17

Dr. Cerveau performed a TMS lesion study in her lab. She found that applying a pulse to the parietal lobes prevented people from pressing a keypad in response to a suddenly appearing image. She concluded that the lesion affected attention. Why should we be cautious of her claim?

a) All answer choices are valid concerns.
b) The TMS lesion covered a large area and may have affected other functions that might have slowed participants’ responses.
c) Response times are not a valid measure of how people pay attention.
d) TMS is not a valid method of lesioning brain areas.

Answer 17

b

Question 18

The brain-imaging technique that involves measuring blood flow in active regions of the brain is called

a) PET scan.
b) magnetic resonance imaging.
c) transcranial magnetic stimulation.
d) MEG scan.

Answer 18

a

Question 19

Dr. Gillis studies how stress impacts electrical activity in the brain during sleep. Which technique will Dr. Gillis MOST likely be using to collect her data?

a) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
b) PET scan
c) fMRI
d) MRI.

Answer 19

a

Question 20

A drawback of PET scans compared to newer techniques, such as magnetoencephalography, is that

a) PET is slower, which means it is more difficult to measure moment-to-moment changes in brain activity.
b) PET is too expensive for research use.
c) PET is faster, which makes it difficult to figure out how brain activity relates to what someone sees or hears.
d) PET is slower, and it does not provide a picture of the brain.

Answer 20

a

Question 21

A person who is homozygous for a trait

a) always has two recessive copies of a gene.
b) has different copies of the gene.
c) has identical copies of the gene.
d) always has two dominant copies of a gene.

Answer 21

c

Question 22

magine you hear a report about a heritability study that claims trait X is “50% genetic.” Which of the following is a more accurate way of stating this?

a) Half of that trait is dependent upon genetics.
b) Fifty percent of individual differences of trait X within a population are due to genetic factors.
c) Only half of a population has the trait.
d) More than 50% of similarities of trait X within a population are due to genetic factors.

Answer 22

b

Question 23

Evolution is best defined as

a) a progression toward a complex human brain.
b) solving the challenge of survival by adapting.
c) change in gene frequency over generations.
d) a gradual increase in complexity.

Answer 23

c

Question 24

Which of the following is a function of glial cells?

a) Glial cells suppress the immune system response.
b) Glial cells help form myelin.
c) Glial cells contain the nucleus that houses the cell’s genetic material.
d) Glial cells slow down the activity of nerve cells.

Answer 24

b

Question 25

A(n) _________ is a drug that blocks the actions of a neurotransmitter.

a) stop agent
b) endorphin
c) antagonist
d) agonist

Answer 25

c

Question 26

People who experience a loss of pain sensation during physical exercise are likely having a rush of ________.

a) adrenaline
b) endorphin
c) norepinephrine
d) pituitary

Answer 26

b

Question 27

A major difference between the somatic and autonomic branches of the nervous system is that

a) the somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement, and the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary responses.
b) the somatic nervous system controls involuntary responses, and the autonomic nervous system controls voluntary movement.
c) the somatic nervous system controls sensation, and the autonomic nervous system controls movement.
d) the somatic nervous system is located in the brain, and the autonomic nervous system is located peripherally.

Answer 27

a

Question 28

The ability to hear is based in which of the cerebral lobes?

a) Temporal
b) Frontal
c) Hypothalamus
d) Parietal

Answer 28

a

Question 29

The control group in a typical lesion study is called the

a) pseudo-incision group.
b) static group.
c) metacranial group.
d) sham group.

Answer 29

d

Question 30

A neuroscientist was interested in identifying the precise brain areas involved when women see photographs of their loved ones. Which functional neuroimaging technique would be the most useful in identifying these regions?

a) fMRI
b) MRI
c) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
d) CT scan

Answer 30

a

Question 31

Charles Darwin theorized ___________________ is the mechanism by which favourable traits become increasingly common in a population of interbreeding individuals, while unfavourable traits become less common.

a) heritability
b) behavioural genetics
c) behavioural genomics
d) natural selection

Answer 31

d

Question 32

If you were developing a thesis for your master’s degree in behavioural genetics, which of the following would be most useful for studying the influence of genetics on personality?

a) documenting the patterns of development and difficulties of psychiatric patients
b) administering paper and pencil or computerized questionnaires to hundreds of people
c) examining heritability in twins and adopted individuals
d) interviewing people who have known others who were particularly odd or unique

Answer 32

c

Question 33

Evolutionary psychologists hypothesize men and women have different problem-solving abilities because

a) of cultural factors in different societies.
b) each had to solve different sets of problems in order to survive and reproduce.
c) they have different opinions about what is the “right way” to solve a problem.
d) of differences in brain anatomy.

Answer 33

b

Question 34

Lanai often wonders if there is a specific gene that causes extreme shyness. Her research will include learning more about

a) psychobehavioural genetics.
b) eugenics.
c) DNA phenotyping.
d) behavioural genomics.

Answer 34

d

Question 35

How would an evolutionary psychologist explain the fact that neither men nor women rate physical attractiveness as being among the most important characteristics in a potential long-term partner?

a) In previous generations, attractiveness was negatively correlated with parenting skills, so it is adaptive to be more interested in people who are not as physically attractive so that children can be produced and raised safely.
b) More attractive partners will have more options for finding other mates, so rating attractiveness as a highly important characteristic actually compromises the stability of a long-term relationship.
c) Attractiveness, which was synonymous with extreme thinness in past generations, is not associated with women who are the most physically able to sustain multiple pregnancies, and thus it was not genetically adaptive to be drawn to such potential mates.
d) Qualities other than attractiveness are critical for reproduction and survival of offspring.

Answer 35

d

Question 36

The endocrine system is made up of a series of glands that secrete hormones directly into

a) the neural cell body.
b) the brain.
c) the bloodstream.
d) nerve endings.

Answer 36

c

Question 37

Which of the following is one of the important jobs of the myelin sheath of a neuron?

a) to monitor neural activity
b) to produce neurotransmitters
c) to speed up the neural impulse
d) to serve as a structure for neurons

Answer 37

c

Question 38

A lock-and-key analogy is sometimes used to explain neurotransmitters and receptors because

a) the axon terminals lock out neurotransmitters.
b) the neurotransmitters fit in a particular receptor like a key in a lock.
c) the synapse locks neurotransmitters to its receptors.
d) the neurotransmitters unlock the receptor.

Answer 38

b

Question 39

Ursula snorts cocaine because she loves that brief feeling of euphoria, which is caused by

a) a decrease in the availability of serotonin in the synapse and a decrease of serotonin’s effect on other neurons.
b) an increase in the availability of serotonin in the synapse and an increase of serotonin’s effect on other neurons.
c) a decrease in the availability of dopamine in the synapse and a decrease of dopamine’s effect on other neurons.
d) an increase in the availability of dopamine in the synapse and an increase of dopamine’s effect on other neurons.

Answer 39

d

Question 40

If the hypothalamus is damaged or malfunctioning, which of the following is a likely effect?

a) loss of expressive language skills
b) difficulty with decision making
c) loss of receptive language skills
d) deregulation of hormones

Answer 40

d

Question 41

Regarding the relationship between testosterone and aggressive behaviour, which of the following is the most accurate statement?

a) High testosterone levels are the main cause of physical aggression in males.
b) Testosterone may facilitate aggression, but does not necessarily cause it.
c) Men from eastern Canada are more aggressive than western men because they have high testosterone levels.
d) Testosterone and aggression are not correlated.

Answer 41

b

Question 42

Which of the following illnesses is caused by the body attacking its own myelin cells?

a) early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
b) multiple sclerosis
c) epilepsy
d) Parkinson’s disease

Answer 42

b

Question 43

As your body cannot stay in a constant state of arousal once a threat has passed, it is essential that the _____________ nervous system returns your body to a baseline, nonemergency state.

a) somatic
b) sympathetic
c) central
d) parasympathetic

Answer 43

d

Question 44

Which of the following procedures involves severing the corpus callosum?

a) Broca’s aphasia
b) split-brain operation
c) transcranial magnetic stimulation
d) Wada testing

Answer 44

b

Question 45

This portion of the brain is important for movement and the processing of rewards.

a) basal ganglia
b) hippocampus
c) thalamus
d) amygdala

Answer 45

a

Question 46

Marta was in an automobile accident and suffered an injury to her brain resulting in impairment of her ability to produce meaningful speech. What part of Marta’s brain was injured?

a) Broca’s area
b) auditory cortex
c) somatosensory cortex
d) primary motor cortex

Answer 46

a

Question 47

Control subjects are often part of a(n) _________________, a set of animals that go through all the surgical procedures aside from the lesion itself to control for the effects of stress, anesthesia, and the annoyance of stitches.

a) isolation group
b) sham group
c) placebo group
d) pattern group

Answer 47

b

Question 48

In a method called ______________, a portion of the brain is intentionally damaged to see how it affects behaviour.

a) lesioning
b) positron emission tomography
c) magnetoencephalography
d) transcranial magnetic stimulation

Answer 48

a

Question 49

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan can show the metabolic activity in the brain because

a) it provides a moment-by-moment picture of brain activity.
b) active cells use up the injected glucose faster than resting cells.
c) it provides a three-dimensional image of the brain.
d) only active cells are visible.

Answer 49

b

Question 50

Liam’s doctor is concerned that he is suffering from epilepsy and has ordered a brain study. Which imaging technique will the study most likely include?

a) fMRI
b) TMS
c) PET
d) EEG

Answer 50

d