Deck 3: Biological Psychology

Question 1

Genes are organized along ________________, structures in the cellular nucleus that are lined with all of the genes an individual inherits.

A) genotypes
B) proteins
C) amino acids
D) chromosomes

Answer 1

D

Question 2

People who experience a loss of pain sensation in the middle of exercise are likely having a rush of ______.

A) adrenaline
B) norepinephrine
C) pituitary
D) endorphin

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Research suggests which of the following is true regarding the nature-nurture debate?

A) Psychological traits are mostly determined by genes.
B) Psychological traits are mostly determined by environmental factors.
C) Genes and environment both independently influence traits, but do not interact.
D) Some psychological traits are more influenced by genes, while others are more the result of environment.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In general, the _____ of a neuron receives messages from other cells. The neuron can then pass the message onto another neuron via its _____.

A) axon; dendrites
B) dendrites; axon
C) myelin; cell body
D) cell body; myelin

Question 5

Producing words generally involves the ______ cerebral hemisphere region call ____ area.

A) right; Broca's
B) left; Broca's
C) right; Wernicke's
D) left; Wernicke's

Question 6

Approximately how many genes do humans have?

A) 500
B) 30,000
C) 900,000
D) 10,000,000,000

Question 7

When behavioral geneticists use adoption studies to estimate the heritability of a behavior, the adoptive family can be thought of as representing _____, while the biological family can be thought of as representing _____.

A) adaptive behavior; maladaptive behavior
B) maladaptive behavior; adaptive behavior
C) nature; nurture
D) nurture; nature

Question 8

Dr. Stearns is studying what happens behaviorally when she temporarily inactivates a brain region. Which method is she most likely to be using?

A) Functional MRIs
B) PET scans
C) Transcranial magnetic stimulation
D) Brain lesioning

Question 9

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

A) the somatic nervous system controls involuntary responses, and the autonomic nervous system controls voluntary movement.
B) the somatic nervous system is located in the brain, and the autonomic nervous system is located peripherally.
C) the somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement, and the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary responses.
D) the somatic nervous system controls involuntary movement, and the autonomic nervous system controls voluntary responses.

Question 10

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

A) magnetic resonance imaging.
B) functional magnetic resonance imaging.
C) PET scan.
D) transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Question 11

Which of the following best reflects the modern scientific approach to the nature-nurture question?

A) Why does environment have so little influence over behavior compared to genes?
B) How do genes and environment interact to produce behavior?
C) Why do genes have so little influence over behavior compared to genes?
D) Is nature or nurture more important for determining behavior?

Question 12

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for quick action in an emergency in the _____ division.

A) central
B) secondary
C) sympathetic
D) parasympathetic

Question 13

What is a synapse?

A) The site where a "message" is transmitted from one nerve cell to another
B) A chemical substance that is released by a transmitting neuron
C) A fatty coating that increases the rate at which messages travel through neurons
D) The part of the neuron that keeps it alive

Question 14

If a researcher wanted to identify an actual gene that put people at risk for developing depression, she would most likely use which of the following methods?

A) Behavioral genomics
B) A comparison of monozygotic and dizygotic twins
C) An adoption study
D) Calculation of heritability

Question 15

A person who is homozygous for a trait:

A) always has two dominant copies of a gene.
B) always has two recessive copies of a gene.
C) has identical copies of the gene.
D) has different copies of the gene.

Question 16

Imagine 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) Fifty percent of individual difference of trait X within a population are due to genetic factors.
B) Only half of a population has the trait.
C) The trait is homozygous.
D) More than 50% of similarities of trait X within a population are the result of genetic factors.

Question 17

Reggie suffered brain damage in a car accident. As a result, he can no longer breathe on his own and needs the help of a respirator. Which structure of his brain was most likely damaged?

A) Pons
B) Medulla
C) Cerebellum
D) Reticular formation

Question 18

The most basic units of heredity that regulate development and physiological processes are called

A) proteins.
B) genes.
C) phenotypes.
D) amino acids.

Question 19

Which of the following is a function of glial cells?

A) Glial cells slow down the activity of nerve cells.
B) Glial cells manufacture myelin.
C) Glial cells suppress the immune system response.
D) Glial cells contain the nucleus that houses the cell's genetic material.

Question 20

Sensory and motor nerves differ in that:

A) only sensory neurons have dendrites.
B) only motor neurons have axons.
C) sensory neurons carry messages away from the brain, and motor neurons carry information toward the brain.
D) sensory neurons carry messages toward the central nervous system and motor neurons carry information away from the central nervous system.

Question 21

A heritability of .37 indicates what about a trait?

A) 0.37% of individual differences in the trait can be attributed to environmental factors.
B) 0.37% of individual differences in the trait can be attributed to genetic factors within the population.
C) 37% of individual differences in the trait can be attributed to environmental factors within the population.
D)) 37% of individual differences in the trait can be attributed to genetic factors within the population.

Question 22

Suppose a researcher is studying twins where at least one twin suffers from depression. The researcher finds that both twins are much more likely to share the disorder if they are monozygotic and not dizygotic twins. What should the research conclude?

A) depression is entirely genetic
B) the heritability of depression is high
C) the heritability of depression is low
D) monozygotic twins are at a higher risk for depression than non-twins

Question 23

Having a dimple on your chin is determined by a single gene pair. If you inherited one dimple gene and one non-dimple gene from your parents, you could be described as ____________ for this trait.

A) heterozygous
B) homozygous
C) phenotypical
D) genotypical

Question 24

Which of these sibling pairs will share the greatest number of genes?

A) two brothers who were born of the same two parents 18 months apart
B) a brother and sister who are fraternal twins
C) two brothers who develop from the same fertilized egg
D) two sisters who are fraternal twins

Question 25

Behavioral genetics is the study of how

A) specific phenotypes influence genotypes.
B) different behaviors lead to changes in the genetic code.
C) genes and environment influence behavior.
D) monozygotic twins are created.

Question 26

Yani inherited the gene for blue eyes from his mother, but he actually has brown eyes. What is his eye color phenotype?

A) brown
B) blue
C) both blue and brown
D) Yani does not have a phenotype because he is not heterozygous.

Question 27

What is the maximum value for heritability?

A) 0.1
B) 1.0
C) 10
D) 100

Question 28

Kendra (female) and Robert (male) are the biological parents of a male child. Which of the following correctly describes how their son inherited his genes?

A) All of them were contributed by Robert.
B) All of them were contributed by Kendra
C) Half came from Kendra and the other half came from Robert.
D) Two-thirds came from Robert and one-third came from Kendra.

Question 29

Which of these research methods would a behavioral geneticist be likely to employ to study the influence of genetics on personality?

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

Question 30

If two corresponding genes at a given location on a pair of chromosomes are the same, they are referred to as

A) genotyped.
B) homozygous.
C) phenotyped.
D) heterozygous.

Question 31

Suppose for a particular personality trait, dizygotic twins both share the trait 13% of the time while monozygotic twins share the trait 14% of the time. The heritability for this trait would be close to

A) 0
B) )13
C) )14
D) 1

Question 32

Which of the following is a limitation associated with behavioral genomics?

A) Most traits are not controlled by single genes.
B) Technology is not yet sufficiently advanced to identify single genes.
C) The Human Genome Project has not been completed yet.
D) Laws prevent researchers from sequencing the genes of individuals.

Question 33

A researcher is studying factors that influence political philosophy (conservative or liberal). She finds that adopted children are more likely to share their political philosophy with their adoptive parents than their biological parents. Which of the following should she conclude?

A) Genes have no influence on political philosophy.
B) Adoptive parents are more likely to be liberal.
C) Political philosophy has high heritability.
D) Political philosophy has low heritability.

Question 34

What is the minimum value for heritability?

A) 0.1
B) 1.0
C) 0
D) 100

Question 35

Ginny works in a laboratory that identifies which genes are present among individuals with particular traits that are not present in others. The goal of the lab is to understand how specific genes are related to behavior. Ginny works in which field?

A) eugenics
B) DNA phenotyping
C) behavioral genomics
D) psychobehavioral genetics

Question 36

The sequence of amino acids in DNA represents a code that cells can use to create

A) amino acids.
B) chromosomes.
C) proteins.
D) genes.

Question 37

For a simple trait with one dominant and one recessive gene, a person will display the recessive trait

A) if they are heterozygous or homozygous for the recessive trait.
B) only if they are homozygous for the recessive trait.
C) only if they are heterozygous.
D) as long as they inherit one copy of the recessive trait.

Question 38

If a trait has a high heritability, then adopted children are more likely to share the trait with

A) their biological parents.
B) their adoptive parents.
C) schoolmates.
D) other adopted children.

Question 39

The term phenotype refers to

A) the observable characteristics that result from genotype expression.
B) the genetic makeup of an organism.
C) the unobservable characteristics that result from genotype suppression.
D) the genes that are heterozygous.

Question 40

Our genetic code usually determines whether we have typically male or female bodies. Occasionally however, individuals are born who are genetically male, but who physically appear female. These children are ______________ male, but __________________ female.

A) heterozygous; homozygous
B) homozygous; heterozygous
C) phenotypically; genotypically
D) genotypically; phenotypically

Question 41

Evolutionary change is gradual. However, the genetic influence of the lactase enzyme has shown that

A) culture and genetic adaptations have influenced one another.
B) lactose intolerance is not genetic nor cultural.
C) Europeans tend to be most lactose intolerant.
D) Asians have included increasing amounts of milk in their diet.

Question 42

Which of the following is the most clearly adaptive for humans?

A) hiccups
B) the fight-or-flight response
C) schizophrenia
D) red hair

Question 43

Which best describes the current understanding of gender differences in cognitive abilities?

A) There are no gender differences in cognitive abilities.
B) There is currently a debate about whether these differences are genetic or the result of cultural and environmental factors.
C) There is no evidence that these differences are biological.
D) There is no evidence that cultural and environmental factors can affect these differences.

Question 44

Which part of the neuron is responsible for manufacturing proteins?

A) axon
B) cell body
C) dendrite
D) membrane

Question 45

Which of the following is true?

A) Most traits are controlled by a single gene.
B) Each gene can only affect one trait.
C) A single gene can often be a risk factor for several disorders.
D) No trait is determined by a single gene.

Question 46

Researchers have found that the female math scores are related to

A) cultural factors.
B) estrogens.
C) testosterone levels.
D) educational factors.

Question 47

The structures at the far end of the axon (i.e., furthest from the cell body) are called

A) axon terminals.
B) dendrites.
C) glial junctions.
D) spines.

Question 48

Male and female preference for symmetrical faces in potential mates is thought to be due to the fact that

A) mating cues are often completely arbitrary.
B) people with symmetrical faces are less likely to be unfaithful.
C) people don't want their children to inherit an asymmetrical face.
D) symmetry suggests that a potential mate is genetically healthy.

Question 49

Aaron is working at his job as an editor of a science magazine when a reporter places an article on his desk entitled "Gene for Optimism Found." To avoid confusing the readers about what the scientists most likely found, what could Aaron change the title to?

A) "Pessimists are Missing a Crucial Gene"
B) "Scientists Find Gene's Purpose is to Increase Optimism"
C) "Scientists Find the Single Gene for Optimism"
D) "Gene Found to be a Factor in Optimism"

Question 50

Which part of a neuron transports information from the neuron to other neurons through an electrochemical reaction?

A) soma
B) axon
C) dendrite
D) cell membrane

Question 51

Neurons are

A) cells in the brain that are believed to help clean and feed brain cells.
B) cells that send and receive information.
C) bundles of nerves.
D) chemical transmitters found in the hypothalamus.

Question 52

The branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons are called

A) axons.
B) nerve bundles.
C) dendrites.
D) synapses.

Question 53

The ___________ is the central region of the neuron that contains genes that synthesize proteins that comprise the chemicals and structures that allow the neuron to function.

A) neuronal membrane
B) dendrite
C) axon
D) cell body

Question 54

Which part of the neuron acts like an antenna to receive messages from other neurons?

A) cell body
B) dendrite
C) axon
D) glia

Question 55

______ are responsible for sending and receiving messages throughout the body.

A) Glial cells
B) Neurons
C) Nodes of Ranvier
D) Reuptake inhibitors

Question 56

Which of the following correctly describes an adaptation?

A) any heritable trait, both physical and behavioral, that can pass from one generation to the next
B) a change in the frequency of genes within a population
C) a heritable trait that contributes to the survival, health, or sexual behavior of an organism
D) any gene pasted from one generation to another

Question 57

The tiny space between the axon terminal of one cell and the dendrites of the next cell is called the

A) receptor site.
B) synapse.
C) dendrite knob.
D) axon terminal.

Question 58

"Natural selection" is a process by which

A) favorable traits become increasingly common in a population of interbreeding individuals, while traits that are unfavorable become less common.
B) animal breeders select animals in each generation that have the most "natural" traits to breed the next generation.
C) favorable traits become increasingly common in a population over the course of a single generation.
D) genetic mutations lead to random changes within a population of organisms.

Question 59

If neuronal communication were compared to radio, the _______________ would be the transmitter at the radio station and the _______________ would be the antenna on your car.

A) cell bodies; axons
B) dendrites; myelin sheaths
C) myelin sheaths; cell bodies
D) axons; dendrites

Question 60

Kerry works as a messenger for a business. His job is to carry messages between different buildings. Kerry's role for the company is similar to the function of ______________ for a neuron.

A) neurotransmitters
B) receptor sites
C) dendrites
D) somas

Question 61

What do we call the state of a neuron when it is not transmitting or receiving messages?

A) action potential
B) resting potential
C) neutral period
D) refractory period

Question 62

During an action potential, the electrical charge inside the neuron is _________ compared to the electrical charge outside the neuron.

A) positive
B) balanced
C) negative
D) neutral

Question 63

The voltage of a neuron's ______________ is typically around -70 millivolts.

A) postsynaptic potential.
B) resting potential.
C) action potential.
D) graded potential.

Question 64

Andy has decided to seek medical help for mood disturbances and appetite problems. Which neurotransmitter is most likely involved in the problems Andy is experiencing?

A) GABA
B) dopamine
C) serotonin
D) acetylcholine

Question 65

Elizabeth was driving on the freeway when a car passed abruptly in front of her and almost hit her vehicle. As a result of the stress produced by this incident, her heart rate increased and she feels "on edge." Which of the following neurotransmitters is likely responsible for Elizabeth's response?

A) serotonin
B) dopamine
C) GABA
D) norepinephrine

Question 66

What interesting discovery about the nervous system was made in the last 15 years or so?

A) Humans only use 10% of their neurons.
B) We are born with all of the neurons we will ever have.
C) New neurons are formed in some brain regions.
D) We are born with all of the glial cells we will ever have.

Question 67

The __________ speeds up the passage of electrical messages by acting as an insulator of the neuronal signal.

A) blood-brain barrier
B) terminal button
C) myelin
D) synaptic vesicles

Question 68

Kalika is told by her physician that her symptoms are caused by a loss of myelin. Her diagnosis would most likely be

A) Parkinson's disease.
B) multiple sclerosis.
C) early stage Alzheimer's disease.
D) epilepsy.

Question 69

Which structure is like a locked door that only certain neurotransmitter keys can unlock?

A) synapses
B) receptors
C) neural chiasms
D) response terminals

Question 70

"All or none" is the principle stating that

A) a neuron always fires at the same strength..
B) a neuron fires at full strength or half strength. There are no other "partial" firing options.
C) all the dendrites must be receiving messages telling the neuron to fire or it will not fire at all.
D) all somas must be receiving messages telling the neuron to fire or it will not fire at all.

Question 71

What type of cell in the nervous system is responsible for mounting immune responses in the brain, removing wastes, and is found in myelin?

A) endorphins
B) epithelial cell
C) glial cell
D) neuron

Question 72

Which type of cell is responsible for supporting the function of neurons?

A) GABA
B) glial
C) epithelial
D) dedrocytes

Question 73

Which neurotransmitter is associated with sleep, mood, and appetite?

A) GABA
B) serotonin
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine

Question 74

Mary put her hand on a hot stove. Which type of neuron is responsible for sending a pain message towards her spinal cord?

A) motor neuron
B) interneuron
C) sensory neuron
D) efferent neuron

Question 75

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

A) to serve as a structure for neurons
B) to monitor neural activity
C) to speed up the neural impulse
D) to produce neurotransmitters

Question 76

When a neuron is sufficiently stimulated it

A) becomes very negatively charged relative to outside of the cell.
B) initiates an action potential.
C) expands in size.
D) closes all of its membrane pores.

Question 77

________ is the creation of new neurons.

A) Neurogenesis
B) Neural plasticity
C) Long-term potentiation
D) Synaptogenesis

Question 78

After neurotransmitter molecules are released, they may be broken down by enzymes, or they may be re-absorbed back into the axon, a process known as

A) inhibition.
B) neurogenesis.
C) refraction.
D) reuptake.

Question 79

Which of the following neurotransmitters affects neurons involved in voluntary movement, processing rewards, and mood?

A) serotonin
B) dopamine
C) acetylcholine
D) GABA

Question 80

____________neurotransmitters make it more likely that a neuron will generate action potentials, whereas _____________ neurotransmitters make it less likely that a neuron will do so.

A) Excitatory; inhibitory
B) Inhibitory; excitatory
C) Augmentation; depletion
D) Depletion; augmentation