Neuroscience Overview and Biopsychology

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a reason why biopsychology is considered a science, despite often studying unobservable phenomena?

Biopsychologists rely on scientific inference to make deductions about unobservable processes.
Similar to studying gravity or electrons, biopsychologists can measure the effects of unobservable mechanisms.
Biopsychologists use rigorous testing to refine and discard less valid inferences based on observable effects.
Biopsychologists primarily use introspection to understand the processes underlying behavior. (correct)

Why does the world appear to move when you poke your eye with your finger, even though the world is stationary?

The movement of the eye is perceived as motion of the world because the brain does not distinguish between active and passive eye movements. (correct)
Poking the eye causes a sudden change in the focus of your vision, making the world appear to move.
The brain interprets the mechanical pressure on the eye as an indication of physical movement in the environment.
The retina is sensitive to pressure, and when you poke your eye, the retina sends a signal to the brain indicating movement.

What does the experiment using curare demonstrate regarding the perception of movement?

The brain's ability to compensate for eye movements during voluntary movement suggests that visual perception is actively constructed, not simply a passive reflection of retinal input. (correct)
Curare completely disrupts the visual system, causing hallucinations and the perception of movement even when there is none.
Curare provides evidence that the perception of movement is solely determined by the motion of objects across the retina.
Curare only affects the muscles responsible for voluntary movement, and therefore doesn't impact the perception of movement.

Why is it important to understand the relationship between active and passive eye movements in the context of biopsychology?

It demonstrates the complexity of the visual system and challenges simplistic explanations of how we perceive the world. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of scientific inference?

Scientific inference is a process of making conclusions about underlying processes based on observable effects of those processes. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a reason why scientists use scientific inference?

To validate existing theories through direct observation of unobservable phenomena. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The statement, "The strongest scientific claims are those made with the support of more than one kind of biopsychological research", suggests that:

Biopsychology is a complex field that requires a multidisciplinary approach to understanding behavior. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, how does the study of Alzheimer's disease exemplify the need for a multidisciplinary approach in biopsychology?

Alzheimer's disease is a complex disorder that requires the insight of multiple disciplines to fully understand its cause and effects. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains the paradox that science, fundamentally observational in nature, often focuses on describing unobservable processes?

Scientific inference allows researchers to make deductions about unobservable processes based on observable effects. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the experiment where a participant, injected with curare, perceived the world moving to the right when trying to move their eyes to the right?

The experiment challenges the assumption that perception is solely based on the motion of images across the retina. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the process of scientific inference in the context of the passage?

A method for making deductions about unobservable processes based on their observable effects. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why are scientists constantly testing and refining their inferences about unobservable processes?

Because scientific knowledge evolves as new evidence emerges and more refined explanations are developed. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of the passage regarding the nature of science and biopsychology?

Biopsychology utilizes a range of scientific methods, including scientific inference, to study both observable and unobservable processes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of biopsychology, as described in the passage?

Biopsychology focuses primarily on introspection to understand internal processes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the experiments described in the passage, what is the most likely reason the world appears to move when your eye is passively moved, as opposed to actively moved?

The brain makes a correction for active eye movements, but not for passive movements. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best summarizes the challenges of studying biopsychology?

Biopsychology is restricted by the difficulty of directly observing internal processes and relying on scientific inference. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which sub-discipline within biopsychology would be most relevant to understanding how alcohol affects motor coordination?

Psychopharmacology (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common technique used in physiological psychology?

Functional Brain Imaging (A) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes psychopharmacology from physiological psychology?

The use of pharmacological manipulations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which sub-discipline would be most interested in studying the brain regions involved in language processing?

Cognitive Neuroscience (D) Signup and view all the answers

Neuropsychological research is often correlational due to the limitations of studying brain damage in humans. What does this mean?

It focuses on the relationship between two or more variables. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a 'pure' research application in psychopharmacology?

Investigating the effects of a certain drug on dopamine levels in the brain. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which sub-discipline utilizes techniques like ECG, EEG, and GSR to study the physiological responses of humans during behavioral experiments?

Psychophysiology (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of comparative psychology?

Examining the role of genetics and evolution on behavior. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the nervous systems according to the content?

To produce behaviors (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the expected outcome when the subject attempted to move his eyes to the right?

The visual scene shifts to the left (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the brain interpret the difference between expected visual change and actual visual change?

As object motion (A) Signup and view all the answers

What significant challenge do psychologists face when relying on self-reports from subjects?

Subjects are usually unaware of their true motivations (A) Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when the subject pushes on his eyeball without intending to move his eyes?

The visual scene shifts across the retina (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue with subjects' self-assessments of their choices?

They often create fabricated explanations for their choices (B) Signup and view all the answers

What compensatory mechanism is mentioned as being affected by paralyzed eye muscles?

The stabilization of retinal images (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is introspection considered a challenging data source in psychology?

It is subjective and may not reflect reality (B) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon does the brain undergo when attempting to interpret visual motion?

Perceptual adaptation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the conclusion drawn regarding the relationship between self-motion and environmental motion?

They work in conjunction to create a stable perception (D) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Neuroscience

The study of the nervous system and its functions.

Biopsychology

The study of the biology of behavior; focuses on how biology affects behavior.