Neurotransmitters and Brain Functions Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of neurotransmitters?

  • To facilitate communication between neurons (correct)
  • To form connections in the brain
  • To provide energy to neurons
  • To create protectiveness around neurons

    • Which neurotransmitter is known for its inhibitory properties?

  • Glutamate
  • GABA (correct)
  • Acetylcholine
  • Dopamine

    • What structure within a neuron releases neurotransmitters?

  • Nucleus
  • Dendrites
  • Axon terminal (correct)
  • Cell body

    • Which process describes the reabsorption of neurotransmitters back into the axon terminal?

    <p>Reuptake</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What part of the brain is primarily responsible for vital functions such as heart rate and breathing?

    <p>Medulla</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of neurotransmitter is known for increasing attention and memory?

    <p>Acetylcholine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the reticular formation play in brain function?

    <p>Sleep-wake cycles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neurotransmitter is released to dampen pain responses?

    <p>Endorphins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the temporal lobe?

    <p>Understanding language and storing memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which division of the autonomic nervous system is activated during a crisis?

    <p>Sympathetic division</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which brain mapping method provides information about brain activity but may lack specificity?

    <p>Electroencephalograph (EEG)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a positron emission tomography (PET) scan measure?

    <p>Consumption of radioactive glucose-like molecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which brain imaging technique is known for being motion sensitive?

    <p>Functional MRI (fMRI)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the retina in the human eye?

    <p>To provide color vision and detail recognition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which principle correctly describes sensation in humans?

    <p>Sensory adaptation occurs after initial detection of a stimulus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primary aspect does the occipital lobe process?

    <p>Vision, including color and motion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Weber's law state about detecting stimulus changes?

    <p>Stronger stimuli require a greater change to be detected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key feature of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

    <p>It can enhance or interrupt brain function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the absolute threshold in psychophysics?

    <p>The lowest level of stimulus detectable 50% of the time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neuroimaging technique visualizes brain structure by measuring energy release from hydrogen atoms?

    <p>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of cones in the retina?

    <p>To provide color vision and detail.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the lens in the human eye?

    <p>To fine-tune light focus onto the retina.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the eye is responsible for the acuity of vision?

    <p>The fovea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which processing model involves perception driven by external stimuli?

    <p>Bottom-up processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does operant conditioning primarily depend on?

    <p>The consequences of the organism's behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Thorndike's law of effect, which scenario is likely to lead to repeated behavior?

    <p>A cat gets a food treat after solving a puzzle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of negative reinforcement?

    <p>To increase the likelihood of a behavior's occurrence by removing an unpleasant stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best defines positive punishment?

    <p>Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior's occurrence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Stimulus discrimination in conditioning refers to which of the following?

    <p>Responding differently to similar stimuli</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of rhodopsin in the eye?

    <p>It is a photopigment in rods sensitive to light.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of color mixing produces white light?

    <p>Additive mixing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the trichromatic theory of color vision propose?

    <p>Color vision relies on sensitivity to three primary colors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon describes the inability to notice a stimulus in plain sight when attention is focused elsewhere?

    <p>Inattentional blindness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the ear is visible and includes skin and cartilage?

    <p>Pinna</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does selective attention affect sensory processing?

    <p>It allows focusing on specific sensory inputs while others are processed at a lower level.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of frequencies can humans typically perceive?

    <p>0Hz to 20,000Hz</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary auditory characteristic determined by the amplitude of sound waves?

    <p>Loudness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory addresses how the brain organizes sensory information into perceptions?

    <p>Binding problem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered a result of the opponent process theory of color vision?

    <p>Perception of complementary colors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process of thinking about our own thinking called?

    <p>Metacognition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What triggers the process of falling asleep?

    <p>Increase in melatonin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stage of sleep is characterized by vivid dreams and quick eye movements?

    <p>Stage R (REM)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which brain activity is predominant in Stage 3 (non-REM) sleep?

    <p>Delta waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant consequence of building up a sleep debt?

    <p>Decreased immune functioning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which stage are sleep spindles and K-complexes primarily observed?

    <p>Stage 2 (non-REM)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does alcohol have on Stage 3 (non-REM) sleep?

    <p>Suppresses deep sleep</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) play in the body?

    <p>Regulates circadian rhythms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main limitation of cross-sectional design in research?

    <p>Cohort effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does illusory correlation refer to?

    <p>Perception of a statistical association where none exists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of random assignment in experiments?

    <p>To eliminate bias in the attribution of participants to groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary limitation of longitudinal designs in research?

    <p>Attrition, or the dropout of participants over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement correctly describes the relationship between correlation and causation?

    <p>Correlation does not imply causation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary aim of Structuralism in psychology?

    <p>To identify the most fundamental elements of psychological experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theoretical perspective in psychology focuses on observable behaviors and their relationship with environmental stimuli?

    <p>Behaviourism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is most closely associated with the theory of Cognitive Development?

    <p>Jean Piaget</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What central idea does the Socio-Cultural Approach emphasize in understanding behavior?

    <p>The role of social and cultural environments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following explanations aligns with Evolutionary Theory in psychology?

    <p>Psychological traits have developed through natural selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Humanistic Approach in psychology primarily focus on?

    <p>The capacity for personal growth and free will</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Freud’s Psychoanalysis posits that which of the following drives human behavior?

    <p>Unconscious motivations and repressed experiences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    William Wundt is best known for founding which branch of psychology?

    <p>Structuralism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary characteristic of a double blind design in research?

    <p>Neither the participants nor the experimenters know which group is receiving treatment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statistical measure represents the central tendency of a data set?

    <p>Mean</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon occurs when participants expect an improvement, leading to actual positive outcomes?

    <p>Placebo effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of inferential statistics?

    <p>Generalizing findings from a sample to a population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What ethical issue is highlighted by the Tuskegee study?

    <p>Participants were treated without consideration of their health</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of operant conditioning?

    <p>The consequences of an organism's behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scenario illustrates negative reinforcement?

    <p>Taking pain medication to alleviate discomfort</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best summarizes descriptive statistics?

    <p>They summarize and describe data in a meaningful way.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the law of effect, which of the following statements is true?

    <p>Responses that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What issue does research participant bias primarily pertain to?

    <p>Finding results that align with the researchers' expectations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes when a conditioned response occurs only to a specific stimulus?

    <p>Stimulus discrimination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does practical significance refer to in research findings?

    <p>The real-world importance of the results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does positive punishment involve?

    <p>Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the temporal lobe perform in the human brain?

    <p>Comprehension of speech and storage of memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which division of the autonomic nervous system is known for controlling rest and digestion?

    <p>Parasympathetic division</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary imaging technique that allows visualization of brain activity during tasks?

    <p>Functional MRI (fMRI)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which brain mapping method directly measures electrical activity in the brain?

    <p>Electroencephalograph (EEG)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which neuroimaging technique is most precise for tracking neural activity in real-time?

    <p>Magnetoencephalography (MEG)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What specialized function does the occipital lobe contribute to?

    <p>Visual processing of color, shape, and motion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the autonomic nervous system is activated during a fight-or-flight response?

    <p>Sympathetic division</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a positron emission tomography (PET) scan primarily measure?

    <p>Consumption of radioactive glucose-like molecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between short-term memory and long-term memory?

    <p>Short-term memory holds about 7 pieces of information, while long-term memory has an unlimited capacity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which memory strategy is NOT commonly associated with improving short-term memory retention?

    <p>Random memorization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of 'decay' refer to in the context of forgetting?

    <p>The gradual fading of memory over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of memory is associated with temporarily holding sensory information?

    <p>Sensory memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are schemas in the context of memory storage?

    <p>Templates or organized knowledge structures stored in memory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes elaborative rehearsal?

    <p>Creating visual images and connecting the information to personal experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of iconic memory?

    <p>It lasts only about 1 quarter of a second.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method is referred to as 'the method of savings' in memory studies?

    <p>The process of relearning previously known information more quickly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term that describes the consistency of measurement scores over time?

    <p>Test-retest Reliability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a potential issue when using self-report measures?

    <p>Malingering</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of married women reported that their closest emotional relationship is not with their husband according to the Hite Report?

    <p>87%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a correlation of -1 indicate?

    <p>A perfect negative relationship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of reliability assesses whether different raters provide similar scores?

    <p>Interrater Reliability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primary issue is addressed by employing a double blind design in experiments?

    <p>Preventing participants from guessing their assigned group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statistical measure is best used to represent the central tendency of a data set with extreme outliers?

    <p>Median</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major ethical issue highlighted by the Tuskegee study?

    <p>Informed consent was not obtained</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes the placebo effect in experimental research?

    <p>Improvement resulting from belief in treatment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of statistic helps determine if results from a sample can be generalized to a larger population?

    <p>Inferential statistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is NOT considered when evaluating practical significance of research findings?

    <p>Statistical significance of data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'nocebo effect' refer to in experimental contexts?

    <p>Harms resulting from negative expectations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which measure of variability indicates the average distance of data points from the mean?

    <p>Standard deviation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which structure within the ear is responsible for converting vibrations into neural activity?

    <p>The cochlea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the five basic tastes that humans can detect?

    <p>Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the body has a low two-point threshold due to a high density of somatosensory receptors?

    <p>Fingers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the homunculus representation in the primary somatosensory cortex?

    <p>It shows a proportional representation of sensory input from various body parts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do olfaction and gustation enhance our eating experience?

    <p>By intensifying the liking or disliking of certain foods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the receptors in olfactory neurons from taste receptors on the tongue?

    <p>Olfactory receptors recognize odorants by shape, while taste receptors do not.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sensory system is primarily responsible for the detection of pressure and texture on the skin?

    <p>Somatosensory system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the brain processes both smell and taste information?

    <p>Orbitofrontal cortex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major role of the substantia nigra in the brain?

    <p>Controlling movement by providing dopamine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which function is primarily associated with the hypothalamus?

    <p>Regulating the body's internal states and behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the prefrontal cortex?

    <p>Thinking and decision-making</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the corpus callosum play in the brain?

    <p>It connects the two cerebral hemispheres for communication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which lobe of the brain is specialized for processing sensory information related to touch?

    <p>Parietal lobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which structure is primarily involved in emotional processing within the limbic system?

    <p>Amygdala</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of Stage 3 (non-REM) sleep?

    <p>Characterized by delta waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of the basal ganglia is particularly significant regarding movement?

    <p>It governs voluntary actions and reward-seeking behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what age is the prefrontal cortex typically considered to be fully developed?

    <p>25 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which structure regulates the body’s circadian rhythm?

    <p>Suprachiasmatic nucleus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What typically occurs during REM sleep?

    <p>Muscle paralysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long does a typical sleep cycle last?

    <p>90 minutes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a consequence of sleep deprivation?

    <p>Increased risk for cardiovascular problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do sleep spindles and K-complexes play during sleep?

    <p>They help consolidate memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What physiological change is triggered by increased levels of melatonin?

    <p>Initiation of sleep</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the impact of circadian rhythm disruption?

    <p>It can lead to health problems and increased injury risks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three primary colors based on the trichromatic theory of color vision?

    <p>Blue, green, red</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory of color perception describes the function of complementary, opposing colors?

    <p>Opponent process theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the quality of light affect the perception of color?

    <p>Brightness, hue, and saturation all contribute to color perception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does inattentional blindness refer to?

    <p>Not noticing stimuli when attention is focused elsewhere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of sound does the term 'timbre' refer to?

    <p>The complexity of sound</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon explains the brain's ability to combine various types of sensory information into a coherent perception?

    <p>Binding problem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which area of the brain is involved in processing lines and orientations in visual perception?

    <p>Occipital lobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of selective attention in perception?

    <p>It allows for focused processing of certain inputs while ignoring others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the relationship between sound frequency and pitch?

    <p>Higher frequency results in higher pitch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary function of the optic nerve?

    <p>Carrying visual information to the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology

    • Psychology has seven major schools of thought that have shaped modern psychology
    • These schools offer different approaches to understanding behavior, with no single "correct" perspective

    The History of Psychology

    • Psychology was originally part of philosophy, focusing on the mind, observation, and common sense
    • William Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879
    • Introspection (reflecting on one's own thought process) was a key method in early psychology

    Structuralism

    • Focused on understanding the fundamental elements of consciousness
    • William Wundt and Edward Titchener were key figures
    • Aim was to identify the basic components of psychological experience

    Evolutionary Theory

    • Charles Darwin and later David Buss influenced this theory
    • The theory explains behavior based on evolution, including natural selection, variation, selective advantage, and inheritance
    • Aims to understand the adaptive purposes of psychological characteristics such as aggression, phobias, and memory.

    Behaviorism

    • Watson and Skinner were central figures in this school
    • The focus is on observable behaviors that can be measured and recorded
    • Learning is explained through general laws of learning

    Cognitivism

    • Piaget and Neisser focused on the role of thoughts in driving behavior
    • The aim of this school is to understand how thoughts impact behavior in various contexts. This includes things like attention, memory, and adaptive thinking patterns

    Psychoanalysis

    • Freud and Jung were influential figures in this perspective
    • The emphasis is on unconscious processes, often stemming from early childhood experiences.
    • The theory explores the unconscious drives that influence behavior.

    Additional Approaches

    • Humanistic Approach: Focuses on the capacity for people to grow and flourish; emphasizes free will and altruism.
    • Socio-cultural Approach: Examines how social and cultural factors influence behavior; looks across cultures.
    • Biological Approach: Examines how brain, nervous system, and genetic factors influence behavior.

    What Do Psychologists Do?

    • Wide range of practices in various settings
    • Focuses on mental health, educational adjustments, and community-psychology

    The Scientific Toolbox

    • Psychologists use various methods for gathering evidence.
    • This includes: Naturalistic observation, case studies, self-report measures, correlational designs, and experimental designs

    Evaluating Self-Report Measures

    • Reliability: Consistency of measurement over time and across repeated measures
    • Validity: Degree to which a measure assesses what it claims to measure

    Naturalistic Observation

    • Observing behavior in real-world settings
    • High external validity (findings can be generalized)
    • Low internal validity (cannot determine cause-and-effect)

    Case Studies

    • Studying one or a few individuals in depth
    • Useful for examining rare or unusual phenomena
    • May not be generalizable to the wider population due to low external validity

    Self-Report and Surveys

    • Measures subjective characteristics like personality, mental health, and attitudes
    • Can be used for opinions, attitudes and perceptions

    Correlation Design

    • Examines the relationship between two or more variables
    • Positive correlations mean variables change in the same direction
    • Negative correlations mean variables change in opposite directions
    • Zero correlation means no relationship
    • Cannot determine cause-and-effect relationships

    Longitudinal Designs.

    • Study the same group of individuals over time to track how those individuals changes

    Experimental Designs

    • Manipulating independent variable and measuring dependent variable
    • Aims to determine cause-and-effect relationships
    • Involves controlling and manipulating variables for accurate results.

    Experimenter Bias

    • Experimenter bias comes in the form of unintentional influence on the results by the researcher

    Participant Bias

    • Subtle cues by the researcher that lead participants to guess the study's hypothesis

    Ethical Issues in Research

    • Must adhere to ethical guidelines when conducting psychological research

    Statistics (Descriptive & Inferential)

    • Descriptive Statistics summarise data
    • Inferential Statistics: Used to draw conclusions or make inferences from data

    Neurons and Transmission

    • Neurons communicate through neurotransmitters in the synapse.
    • Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers. Some excite and others inhibit the nervous system to help transmit messages in the body

    Hindbrain, Midbrain, Forebrain

    • Hindbrain controls vital functions
    • Midbrain acts as a relay center
    • Forebrain is the largest portion of the brain and controls complex function, such as cognitive

    The Cerebral Cortex

    • Divided into four lobes: Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal.
    • Each lobe has specialized functions

    Sensation and Perception

    • Sensation: The detection of physical stimulus
    • Perception: The brain's interpretation of raw sensory data
    • Bottom-up and top-down processing are both important in sensory experience

    Psychophysics

    • Study of the relationship between physical stimuli and our psychological response

    The Visual System

    • Includes the eye, light reception, signal transmission to the brain, and interpretation
    • Our visual perception is dependent on the brightness, color, and purity of light

    Color perception

    Perception of Color

    The Role of Attention in Perception

    • Selective attention allows us to focus on specific stimuli
    • This allows us to filter out less important information
    • Inattentional blindness occurs when you don't notice stimuli in plain sight, and change blindness arises when you fail to notice changes in a scene.

    Biology of Sleep

    • Circadian rhythms regulate our sleep-wake cycle on a 24-hour basis
    • Sleep has different stages, including non-REM and REM
    • Sleep deprivation can have negative effects on cognitive and physical health

    Learning

    • Classical conditioning associates two stimuli, creating a response to one previously neutral stimulus
    • Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences of behavior (rewards and punishments)

    Memory

    • Memory is the retention of information over time
    • Memory processes involve sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory stages.
    • Memory involves acquiring, storing, and retrieving information in the brain

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