Deck 2: Biology and Behavior

Question 1

Taking a holistic approach is the idea that __________.

A) reducing behavior to its most basic elements answers a lot of questions in psychology
B) the biological processes underlying behavior are critical to understanding the purpose of a behavior
C) the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts
D) understanding behavior requires an understanding of the genetics of the organism

Answer 1

the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts

Question 2

The biopsychosocial model was initially proposed by __________.

A) John Watson
B) Charles Darwin
C) George Engel
D) Phineas Gage

Answer 2

George Engel

Question 3

The biopsychosocial model is a(n) __________ model of human behavior.

A) epigenetic
B) reductionistic
C) holistic
D) evolutionist

Answer 3

holistic

Question 4

The "instruction manual" for your body, consisting of your genes, is called your __________.

A) phenotype
B) genome
C) genotype
D) epigenetics

Question 5

An architect builds a home from blueprints that contain the full plan for the layout of the house. In this case, the blueprints are like the __________ of the human, and the house is the __________.

A) homogenetics; epigenome
B) epigenome; phenotype
C) genotype; phenotype
D) homogenetics; genotype

Question 6

When a caregiver provides good nutrition, cuddling, and protection, babies are more resilient to stress. This is a great example of __________.

A) epigenetics
B) survival of the fittest
C) the human genome
D) genotypic variability

Question 7

The process of natural selection involves the inheritance of genes, the desire of organisms to survive, and the selective survival of those with characteristics that make them more resistant to dangers in the environment. What else is a critical component of natural selection?

A) Variation in appearance and behaviors
B) Mutations of the chromosomes
C) Epigenome defects
D) Epigenetic flaws

Question 8

Every neuron has five parts: __________.

A) myelin, glia, soma, appendage, and apex
B) dendrite, soma, axon, axon terminals, and nucleus
C) glia, dendrite, axon, hormones, and cell body
D) myelin, soma, dendrite, astrocytes, and apex

Question 9

Dendrites are covered in __________.

A) axon terminals
B) glia
C) myelin
D) receptors

Question 10

Mary steps on a sharp nail. Which neuron is responsible for sending a pain message up her spinal column, where it would then enter into the main area of the cord?

A) Motor neuron
B) Interneuron
C) Sensory neuron
D) Reflex

Question 11

LaKeisha places her hand on a hot stove and then quickly removes it. Which of the following are responsible for sending a message to the muscles in LaKeisha's hand, resulting in her pulling it away from the hot stove?

A) Motor neurons
B) Interneurons
C) Sensory neurons
D) Reflexes

Question 12

Which of the following cells mediate the conversation between sensory and motor neurons?

A) Motor neurons
B) Interneurons
C) Sensory neurons
D) Reflexes

Question 13

Three-year-old Candace watches Timmy fall and scrape his knee. She immediately comforts him and provides him with empathy. Candace is using her __________.

A) peripheral nervous system
B) glial cell system
C) mirror neuron system
D) motor neuron system

Question 14

During the process of an action potential, the cell moves positively charged ions inside the membrane. This is called __________.

A) the all-or-none law
B) hyperpolarization
C) depolarization
D) neurotransmission

Question 15

Often after playing a point, tennis players take a short break, drink water, wipe sweat off their hands, and prepare to play the next point. This process is very similar to the __________ in the neuron.

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

Question 16

The analogy of a key fitting into a lock is used to describe what process in the brain?

A) The refractory period
B) A neurotransmitter binding to a receptor
C) Action potential transmission
D) The resting membrane potential

Question 17

Jacqui was in a car accident and broke her leg. While they were trying to remove her from the car, she did not detect the pain of the broken leg. What neurotransmitter was most likely helping her keep her pain in control so she could get out of the car?

A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) Norepinephrine
D) Endorphins

Question 18

Glinnis is pedaling her bicycle through the park. She is relying on her __________ nervous system to help her pedal.

A) sympathetic
B) somatic
C) parasympathetic
D) autonomic

Question 19

One night, Betty is walking home from the gym to her dorm. When she is approached by a strange man who clearly does not belong on campus, her pupils dilate and she gets goosebumps. What part of Betty's nervous system has been activated?

A) Somatic
B) Parasympathetic
C) Sympathetic
D) Autonomic

Question 20

Following a stroke, Felipe struggled to form new memories. When he passed away, the doctor performing the autopsy noticed that much of Felipe's hippocampus was missing from his brain. The doctor concluded that the hippocampus is important in memory formation. This is an example of what technique for studying the brain?

A) Brain stimulation
B) Electroencephalogram
C) MRI
D) Case study

Question 21

Brain mapping is done by __________.

A) freezing the brain
B) stimulating the brain
C) damaging the brain
D) slicing the brain

Question 22

Doctors believe that Sarka has a tumor in her brain, because she is having trouble speaking and remembering. Based on the doctors' prediction, which of the following techniques will they most likely use to make a diagnosis?

A) Positron emission tomography (PET)
B) Electroencephalography (EEG)
C) Brain stimulation
D) Computed tomography (CT)

Question 23

Researchers want to determine what part of the brain is most involved when a person is reading. Which of the following techniques are they most likely to use to study this question?

A) Brain stimulation
B) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
C) Positron emission tomography (PET)
D) Computed tomography (CT)

Question 24

Damage to the __________ will most likely result in death or the need to be placed on life-sustaining machines.

A) reticular activating system
B) pons
C) medulla
D) cerebellum

Question 25

An auto accident has rendered Chris's nervous system unable to send messages for him to balance his body when standing up. What part of Chris's brain has most likely been damaged?

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

Question 26

Joel has been in an accident, and doctors have declared him to be in a coma because he is unable to respond to his surroundings. Unfortunately, the doctors cannot tell that he is actually aware of everything that is happening to him. Joel most likely has damaged his __________.

A) hindbrain
B) pons
C) medulla
D) forebrain

Question 27

Kai is a soccer player. The motor impulses he needs to kick the ball originate in which lobe of the cerebral cortex?

A) Temporal
B) Parietal
C) Occipital
D) Frontal

Question 28

Split-brain surgery is often done to treat __________.

A) tumors
B) seizures
C) strokes
D) infections in the brain

Question 29

Learning something new is represented by neural connections getting __________ in the brain.

A) weaker
B) rearranged
C) stronger
D) relocated

Question 30

Which of the following is necessary for new cells in the brain to survive?

A) They must be able to build connections with other neurons.
B) Appropriate physical therapy needs to be prescribed.
C) The person must practice the behavior that is associated with those new cells.
D) They must be wrapped in glial cells.

Question 31

Gazzaniga and Sperry conducted research on epileptics who needed a specific surgery to hopefully help reduce the number of seizures they were having. This surgical procedure is called the __________.

A) left-brain procedure
B) right-brain procedure
C) split-brain procedure
D) midbrain procedure

Question 32

In the study conducted by Gazzaniga and Sperry, when patients were asked to report on information presented only to the right hemisphere, what happened?

A) Patients were able to accurately report what was presented to their right hemisphere
B) Patients were able to describe what was presented to their right hemisphere, but they could not name any of the objects
C) Patients were completely mute
D) Patients rambled on with nonsense sentences

Question 33

What were the conclusions of the Gazzaniga and Sperry study?

A) All people are either left-brained or right-brained.
B) The brain can operate as a whole, but function of the independent hemispheres can also be observed.
C) Once the corpus callosum is severed, the person will be unable to do anything beyond vegetative functioning.
D) The hemispheres can act independently, demonstrating full function on each side of the brain.

Question 34

In the Gazzaniga and Sperry study, what was the independent variable?

A) Verbally reporting what they had been asked to do
B) Accuracy at picking items out of a bag
C) Whether participants were presented information visually, through hearing, or by feeling
D) Whether or not participants had received the split-brain surgery

Question 35

Compare and contrast the reductionist and holistic models of studying human behavior.

Question 36

Critique the biopsychosocial model for explaining behavior. Why might it be helpful and more accurate than other models, or why might it overcomplicate the evaluation of behavior? In your critique, include a definition of the model and provide examples of each of its elements.

Question 37

Analyze the four main parts of the human neuron by explaining how they are related in structure and function. Clearly identify the role that each plays in the transmission of neural communication.

Question 38

Identify the primary neurotransmitters discussed in your text. Distinguish between them based on their proposed functions. Propose one potential impact if a person has particularly low levels of each neurotransmitter.

Question 39

Compare and contrast the roles of the various divisions of the nervous system.

Question 40

Distinguish between the organizational and activational functions of the endocrine system.

Question 41

Compare and contrast the function and implementation of three methods for viewing the brain and its activity.

Question 42

Distinguish between the primary structures in the hindbrain and give a function for each. Describe the basic role of the hindbrain in overall brain function.

Question 43

Compare and contrast the right and left cerebral hemispheres and their function?

Question 44

Compare and contrast the concepts of neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Explain why they are critical processes in the brain.