Deck 8: The Anatomy and Physiology of Personality

Question 1

What term refers to brain regions that have been injured, removed, or destroyed?

A) lesions
B) afferent areas
C) tomographs
D) efferent areas

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What term refers to images of very thin slices of the brain?

A) X-rays
B) tomographs
C) magnetic images
D) sonographs

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What is the best description for the mind-body problem?

A) the degree to which all aspects of human nature are understood in terms of our physical brains and bodies
B) the dispute among psychologists as to whether human nature is a product of biological or environmental influences
C) the philosophical argument for the physical basis of the mind
D) the degree to which neurotransmitters or hormones affect our personality and behavior

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which brain structure is responsible for an individual's capacity to remember large amounts of information in preparation for an exam?

A) basal ganglia
B) hypothalamus
C) thalamus
D) hippocampus

Question 5

What is the oldest brain-imaging technique?

A) electroencephalography (EEG)
B) magnetoencephalography (MEG)
C) positron emission tomography (PET)
D) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Question 6

What neurotransmitter is NOT typically associated with the substantia nigra?

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

Question 7

The projections from nerves that receive stimulation are called ________ and ________ pass this message on to the next nerve cell.

A) axons; synapses
B) dendrites; axons
C) afferents; axons
D) efferents; synapses

Question 8

The MOST important thing scientists gain by studying animal models for the biological basis of personality is

A) learning how to modify our behavior to lower our risk of animal attack.
B) an understanding of our own anatomy by studying animals with similar brain structures as our own.
C) learning how to better communicate with them via sign language.
D) taming animals to adjust in the wild.

Question 9

Which brain region secretes several hormones and is located just above the roof of the mouth?

A) cingulate
B) hypothalamus
C) brain stem
D) hippocampus

Question 10

Recent feedback regarding fMRI research suggests that results from such studies might be misleading and exaggerated due to

A) fraudulent data collection practices.
B) questionable analytic techniques.
C) unreliable machine hardware.
D) uncooperative subject participation.

Question 11

What technique can be used to temporarily "knock out" regions of the brain without having to create lasting lesions?

A) electroencephalography
B) magnetoencephalography
C) transcranial magnetic stimulation
D) encephalographic stimulation

Question 12

What brain region is responsible for both an individual's ability to plan ahead, anticipate consequences, and consistently do the morally right thing?

A) basal ganglia
B) amygdala
C) frontal lobes
D) hippocampus

Question 13

Nerve fibers that organize and regulate transmissions between nerves are called

A) afferent nerves.
B) efferent nerves.
C) interneurons.
D) extraneurons.

Question 14

The ________ signal shows differences in brain activity levels in one condition versus another condition in an fMRI experiment.

A) electroencephalographic (EEG)
B) transcranial differential (TD)
C) blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD)
D) perfusion imaging (PI)

Question 15

Nerves that send messages from the body to the brain are called ________, whereas nerves that carry messages from the brain to the body are called ________.

A) afferent nerves; efferent nerves
B) efferent nerves; afferent nerves
C) interneurons; extraneurons
D) extraneurons; interneurons

Question 16

Which of the following brain imaging techniques would be MOST useful to a researcher interested in brain blood flow activity associated with fear after viewing pictures of spiders?

A) positron emission tomography (PET)
B) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
C) computed tomography (CT)
D) electroencephalography (EEG)

Question 17

As surgeons stimulated a particular part of her brain, Lisa experienced symptoms of depression. According to the text, surgeons are MOST likely stimulating the central region of the left

A) frontal cortex.
B) substantia nigra.
C) amygdala.
D) ascending reticular activating system.

Question 18

________ is a phenomenon that explains the tendency for the function of one part of the brain to depend on the activity of another.

A) Neural context
B) Inhibitory activity
C) Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD)
D) Perfusion imaging (PI)

Question 19

What part of the human brain seems to be the MOST distinct from the brains of nonhuman animals?

A) hypothalamus
B) amygdala
C) hippocampus
D) neocortex

Question 20

What is NOT a challenge associated with the advancement of neural imaging technology?

A) The signal is sensitive to outside interference.
B) It is extremely expensive to acquire and operate.
C) There is not much evidence supporting its use to assess brain activity.
D) It requires expert attention in its operation and statistical analysis.

Question 21

What piece of evidence best suggests that the frontal lobes are associated with the experience of emotion?

A) The left frontal lobe seems to be more active when a person is approaching something pleasant.
B) Dopamine has been linked to novelty-seeking behavior.
C) Stimulating the hippocampus causes individuals to remember past events.
D) Serotonin has been shown to inhibit feelings and impulses.

Question 22

Which of the following was NOT one of Galen's bodily humors that influenced one's personality?

A) blood
B) black bile
C) phlegm
D) marrow

Question 23

Which of the following would NOT be a pronounced symptom in a patient who suffers frontal lobe damage?

A) impaired language abilities
B) problems with decision making
C) flattened emotional responses
D) self-control difficulties

Question 24

According to Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis, damage to the right frontal lobes impairs a person's ________, which then impairs his or her ________.

A) emotional reactions to events and thoughts; ability to make decisions about what is and is not important
B) primary visual and auditory cortexes; ability to distinguish real sensory stimulation from hallucinations
C) reptilian brain; ability to perform creative activities as opposed to simple responses and fixed patterns of behavior
D) ability to experience pain; fear of consequences

Question 25

Early reports about personality and emotional changes in Phineas Gage after his accident likely contributed to

A) an increased appreciation for substantia nigra.
B) an increased appreciation for the difficulties with neurosurgeries.
C) neurosurgeons performing lobotomies to control maladaptive behavior.
D) a better understanding of how oxytocin functions in the brain.

Question 26

Which of these brain structures is thought to play a role in judging whether stimuli offer threats or rewards?

A) amygdala
B) hippocampus
C) ventromedial cortex
D) neocortex

Question 27

If damaged, which of the following areas of the brain would result in a flattening out of emotional responses?

A) frontal lobe
B) corpus collosum
C) amygdala
D) nucleus accumbens

Question 28

In 1966, Charles Whitman killed his wife, his mother, and 14 more people at the University of Texas before police killed him. An autopsy revealed that a tumor affecting Whitman's ________ was likely the cause for the motivation behind his killing spree.

A) frontal lobe
B) amygdala
C) ventromedial cortex
D) cerebellum

Question 29

What brain region connects the two halves of the brain?

A) brain stem
B) frontal lobes
C) corpus callosum
D) hippocampus

Question 30

What part of Phineas Gage's brain was damaged in his accident?

A) hippocampus
B) brain stem
C) cerebellum
D) frontal lobes

Question 31

One reason why the results of psychosurgeries are often erratic is that

A) different brain structures have different functional roles in different people.
B) brain systems might be more important for functioning than discrete areas.
C) tools designed to lesion the brain are not very sophisticated.
D) the infections that often accompany these surgeries further damage the brain.

Question 32

Chemicals that facilitate communication between neurons are called

A) synapses.
B) hormones.
C) neurotransmitters.
D) inhibitory communicators.

Question 33

Capgras syndrome arises from damage to the

A) amygdala.
B) brain stem.
C) right frontal lobe.
D) left frontal lobe.

Question 34

Someone inflicted with Capgras syndrome would likely

A) spontaneously produce curse words.
B) have wild emotional swings in response to loved ones.
C) be unable to experience fear.
D) fail to feel an emotional response to loved ones.

Question 35

Evidence from brain imaging research and brain damage case studies suggests that the ________ is/are the location of cognitive control, serving to anticipate and plan the future and help to regulate emotions in response to it.

A) frontal lobes
B) amygdala
C) brain stem
D) hippocampus

Question 36

Galen suggested that there were ________ basic types of personality, each linked to an excessive amount of a different ________.

A) five; hormone
B) three; neurotransmitter
C) four; bodily humor
D) two; inhibitory neural mechanism

Question 37

Before brain surgery, Elliott was a good father and held a responsible job. After removal of portions of his frontal lobe, what prediction about Elliott's personality is likely to come true?

A) He will experience visual hallucinations.
B) He will experience auditory hallucinations.
C) His emotional reactions and decision-making abilities will be impaired.
D) He will be even more driven and focused on his work.

Question 38

The case of railroad worker Phineas Gage illustrates that

A) brain injuries affect physical but not psychological functioning.
B) injuries to the brain can affect personality and behavior.
C) the amygdala has important effects on fear and anger.
D) the right hemisphere is the province of image-oriented, intuitive thinking.

Question 39

Which brain region is important for detecting a discrepancy between the actual world and expectations about the world?

A) hippocampus
B) amygdala
C) anterior cingulate
D) right frontal lobe

Question 40

According to Galen, an excess of yellow bile would cause a person to MOST likely

A) isolate themselves from others.
B) be thoughtlessly rude and cold.
C) be friendly and cheerful at a party.
D) hold a grudge after an argument.

Question 41

Thomas is known to be very social and dominant at parties. He most likely has high levels of which hormone?

A) dopamine
B) testosterone
C) oxytocin
D) serotonin

Question 42

What is the best description of the role that testosterone plays in personality?

A) It acts as a direct cause of frustration.
B) It acts as an energizing factor that accentuates existing behavioral tendencies.
C) It acts as a dampening factor that reduces existing behavioral tendencies.
D) It seems to directly influence levels of agreeableness in men but not in women.

Question 43

According to research by modern health psychologists, the choleric, or chronically hostile, person seems to be at extra risk for

A) a heart attack.
B) cancer.
C) diabetes.
D) Alzheimer's disease.

Question 44

________ levels of testosterone have been observed in dominant males competing with other males for the attention of women, and ________ levels of testosterone have been observed for men entering fatherhood.

A) Low; high
B) High; high
C) Low; low
D) High; low

Question 45

In one study, male U.S. military veterans were asked about their past behaviors, and those with higher testosterone levels more often reported having assaulted others. This is evidence for testosterone's association with

A) erratic and aggressive tendencies.
B) having very many sexual partners.
C) depression.
D) delusions.

Question 46

What term describes the junction between two neurons?

A) neurotransmitter
B) synapse
C) axon
D) node

Question 47

Shortly after joining the cross-country team, Patrick's friends have noticed that he is irrationally aggressive and erratic. What is a reasonable conclusion Patrick's friends can draw about his behavior?

A) He has started taking an SSRI to help with his anxiety.
B) He's undergoing catharsis therapy.
C) He is going through puberty.
D) He has started using anabolic steroids.

Question 48

What brain structure in conjunction with dopamine works to form the Go system in Gray's model?

A) ascending reticular activating system
B) substantia nigra
C) nucleus accumbens
D) amygdala

Question 49

According to the text, which neurotransmitter is the foundation of stability?

A) oxytocin
B) monoamine oxidase
C) serotonin
D) dopamine

Question 50

According to the text, the chemicals that make up neurotransmitters are also important in determining the neurotransmitters' specific behavioral expression. An example of this is

A) monoamine oxidase's breakdown of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.
B) endorphin inhibition due to levels of certain other hormones.
C) the length of the neurotransmitter's axon determining the strength of its expression.
D) the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) affecting the speed of any neural impulse.

Question 51

Which hormone is associated with the fight-or-flight response?

A) epinephrine
B) serotonin
C) monoamine oxidase
D) dopamine

Question 52

The neurotransmitter dopamine is associated with systems that

A) respond to reward.
B) generate acute feelings of anxiety.
C) block the effects of opiates.
D) generate vertigo.

Question 53

Wayne tends to suffer from chronic pessimism, is hypersensitive to rejection, worries obsessively, and is prone to sudden bursts of irrational anger. He is exhibiting the symptoms of

A) high norepinephrine levels.
B) serotonin depletion.
C) hormonal imbalance.
D) low dopamine levels.

Question 54

The term ________ refers to the body's natural painkillers, which are chemicals that act in an ________ fashion.

A) monoamine oxidase; excitatory
B) dopamine; inhibitory
C) endorphins; inhibitory
D) serotonin; excitatory

Question 55

According to Jeffrey Gray's theory, dopamine is associated with the ________ system, which he argues produces and reinforces the motivation to seek ________.

A) behavioral activation; rewards
B) ascending reticular activating; interpersonal contact
C) behavioral activation; interpersonal contact
D) ascending reticular activating; rewards

Question 56

Brad has had substantially more sex partners and has demonstrated more excessive behavior than Todd. We can safely assume that Brad has ________ relative to Todd.

A) failure in dopamine reuptake
B) synaptic decay
C) high testosterone levels
D) an estrogen imbalance

Question 57

What is the technical name for drugs like Prozac?

A) selective serotonin depletion inhibitors
B) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
C) serotonin selection and reuptake facilitators
D) serotonin reuptake facilitators

Question 58

According the text, which neurotransmitter is the foundation of plasticity?

A) oxytocin
B) monoamine oxidase
C) serotonin
D) dopamine

Question 59

The chemicals that are released from the hypothalamus, the gonads, and the adrenal cortex are called ________, whereas the chemicals released by bioelectrical impulses throughout the brain are called ________.

A) synapses; hormones
B) hormones; neurotransmitters
C) neurotransmitters; synapses
D) inhibitory communicators; dendrites

Question 60

One problem researchers experience when attempting to directly link testosterone to aggression and sexuality is that

A) the relationships have never been studied in women.
B) testosterone seems to affect sexual desire in men but not in women.
C) it is difficult to determine the causal direction because aggression and sex can affect testosterone levels.
D) both sex and especially aggression are difficult to study in the lab.

Question 61

According to the text, what is one cause of many of the questionable research practices and controversies associated with fMRI research?

A) the lack of growth in fMRI research
B) the funding sources for fMRI research
C) the way fMRI research is taught to undergraduates
D) the rapid growth in fMRI research

Question 62

Electroencephalographies (EEGs) are good at determining ________ but not ________.

A) where in the brain activity is concentrated; when the brain is active
B) links between personality and behavior; where the brain is damaged
C) when the brain is active; where in the brain activity is concentrated
D) where the brain is damaged; links between personality and behavior

Question 63

According to the text, which one of the following is the MOST appropriate way to interpret a strong relationship between levels of testosterone and sociability and aggression?

A) High levels of testosterone cause people to be more social and aggressive.
B) Individuals who are social and aggressive put themselves in situations that will always increase their testosterone levels.
C) There is evidence behind increases in testosterone being both cause and effect for increases in sociability and aggression, and so we cannot make a claim to know the directionality of this relationship.
D) There is not a strong enough relationship between testosterone and sociability and aggression to merit its interpretation.

Question 64

Gordon is walking down his street, sees an angry dog running toward him, and begins to run in the opposite direction. In addition to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, he would also display an increase in which glucocorticoid hormone?

A) serotonin
B) estrogen
C) progesterone
D) cortisol

Question 65

According to the textbook, which of the following is the best description of the causal link between biological processes and social behavior?

A) Biological processes cause social behavior but not vice versa.
B) Social behavior causes biological processes but not vice versa.
C) Biological processes and social behavior are both causes and effects of each other.
D) There is no evidence of a causal link between biological processes and social behavior.

Question 66

Which piece of evidence is LEAST relevant to Anne Campbell's theory concerning the function of oxytocin?

A) Oxytocin increases during childbirth.
B) Oxytocin is related to fight-or-flight behaviors.
C) Oxytocin is related to sexual activity and orgasm.
D) Oxytocin is related to breast feeding.

Question 67

The text describes a study that found men with wider, shorter faces, who were influenced by androgens during development, were more violent and antisocial. New research has discovered that these findings

A) are robust and replicable.
B) disappear when tested with representative samples.
C) only replicate with men in their sixties.
D) were made up by a fraudulent researcher.

Question 68

Which of the following is an example of the cause-and-effect nature of the relationship between biology and behavior?

A) Children with a large left frontal lobe and high levels of serotonin grow up to be angry adults.
B) Winning a game or exercising causes one's testosterone level to increase.
C) Drugs and psychotherapy can change brain activity.
D) There is no reliable relationship between biology and personality.

Question 69

According to one theory proposed by Australian psychologists, oxytocin is more than just a "love" hormone because it seems to

A) facilitate approach behavior.
B) accentuate all behavioral tendencies.
C) facilitate sex as well as bonding.
D) place individuals at risk for social phobias.

Question 70

Which of the following traits are associated with the metatrait of stability?

A) agreeableness and conscientiousness
B) extraversion and openness
C) emotional stability and extraversion
D) conscientiousness and openness

Question 71

High levels of cortisol appear to be associated with ________, and low levels of cortisol appear to be associated with ________.

A) stress, anxiety, and depression; impulsivity and sensation seeking
B) extraversion; introversion
C) extraversion; neuroticism
D) the left frontal lobe; the right frontal lobe

Question 72

Maren, a world-renowned chef, is fascinated by the ways different flavors of certain foods combine to change and enhance the taste of a dish. What statement best describes the link between Maren's fascination for flavor and her success as a chef?

A) Emotions motivate thinking and guide strategic decision making.
B) People high in conscientiousness also tend to be creative.
C) Hormones spread throughout the body in response to stress.
D) Biological processes affect personality and social behavior.

Question 73

We would expect a newlywed couple to have high levels of which hormone?

A) norepinephrine
B) serotonin
C) cortisol
D) oxytocin

Question 74

Low levels of cortisol are associated with which psychological disorder?

A) Type A personality
B) social phobia
C) post-traumatic stress syndrome
D) antisocial personality disorder

Question 75

Which approach is a relatively unobtrusive method for stimulating brain function that may be helpful for treating brain disorders such as migraine headaches, hallucinations, and depression?

A) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
B) electrode stimulation
C) psychosurgery
D) electroencephalography (EEG)

Question 76

Which trait is associated with the neurotransmitter serotonin and the brain structure middle frontal gyrus?

A) extraversion
B) openness
C) emotional stability
D) conscientiousness

Question 77

Lee tends to have high levels of endorphins. On what personality trait does he likely rate high?

A) agreeableness
B) emotional stability
C) extraversion
D) openness

Question 78

Match the neurotransmitter or hormone that is most closely associated with each disease or syndrome. (Note: options can be used more than once.)

-Parkinson's disease

A)Serotonin
B)Cortisol
C)Dopamine
D)Endorphins
E)Adrenalin

Question 79

According to the text, in such a rapidly developing area of research, the relationship between biology and personality should be regarded as

A) misleading and baseless.
B) interesting but tentative.
C) robust and replicable.
D) uninteresting but robust.

Question 80

Someone with excess cortisol production might be at risk for

A) heart disease.
B) sexual dysfunction.
C) aggression.
D) an increase in brain size.