iClicker Questions for Exploring Psychology, 8th Edition by David G. Myers Karla Gingerich, Colorado State University Chapter 2: The Biology of Behavior

The peripheral nervous system consists of: A. association areas. B. the spinal cord. C. the reticular formation. D. sensory and motor neurons. Answer: D

After suffering an accidental brain injury, Kira has difficulty walking in a smooth and coordinated manner. It is most probable that she has suffered damage to her: A. amygdala. B. angular gyrus. C. cerebellum. D. corpus callosum. Answer: C

Which region of the brain appears to have the oldest evolutionary history? A. frontal lobes B. limbic system C. brainstem D. corpus callosum Answer: C

Following massive damage to his frontal lobes, Phineas Gage was most strikingly debilitated by: A. irritability. B. memory loss. C. auditory hallucinations. D. a reward deficiency syndrome. Answer: A

What disease is related to degeneration of the neuron’s myelin sheath? A. Parkinson’s disease B. multiple sclerosis C. Alzheimer’s disease D. schizophrenia Answer: B

Jack accidentally touches a hot stove. Such a strong stimulus: A. increases the intensity of a neuron’s action potential. B. affects the speed that a neuron fires. C. triggers more neurons to fire. D. does not affect how often a neuron fires. Answer: C

You and the President share __________ of your DNA. A. very little B. one fourth C. half D. nearly all Answer: D

Antidepressants such as Prozac target which neurotransmitter? A. serotonin B. glutamate C. GABA D. acetylcholine Answer: A

Which technique is most useful for seeing which regions of the brain are most active while a person reads a poem? A. EEG B. fMRI C. EKG D. PET Answer: D

Critical Thinking Questions

A. frontal lobe B. amygdala C. reticular formation D. occipital lobe A new superhero emerges on the scene. This superhero is able to stay awake and vigilant for extended amounts of time. He helps the intelligence community by being able to stay in surveillance for extended amounts of time without losing concentration and can always be paying attention to what is happening. A study of this superhero’s brain might show that the ____________ is more advanced and developed than a non-superhero’s. A. frontal lobe B. amygdala C. reticular formation D. occipital lobe Answer: C

You are a neurologist in a large hospital You are a neurologist in a large hospital. The wife of a construction worker visits you and describes that her husband has experienced a serious injury to his frontal lobe. She is perplexed by his behavior. Which of the following would you tell her is “normal behavior” for a person with frontal lobe damage? A. not much decline in memory or intelligence B. poor judgment C. irritability and other personality changes D. ALL of these are commonly seen in frontal lobe damage Answer: D

Which of the following activities is NOT primarily a function of the left hemisphere? A. listening to a piano concerto B. reading your psychology book C. reading junk mail D. listening to a poetry reading Answer: A

As Allison reaches for a box in her garage, out jumps a big spider As Allison reaches for a box in her garage, out jumps a big spider. Her heart immediately begins to race as she withdraws her hand, but soon she realizes that the spider is harmless, and she begins to calm down. Which part of her nervous system is responsible for brining her back to a normal state of arousal? A. sympathetic nervous system B. somatic nervous system C. parasympathetic nervous system D. skeletal nervous system Answer: C

If Dr. Barnes wanted to cause a cat to take on an attack posture, which of the cat’s brain structures should he electrically stimulate? A. amygdala B. hypothalamus C. hippocampus D. cerebellum Answer: A

A split-brain patient’s right hemisphere is presented with a key A split-brain patient’s right hemisphere is presented with a key. How is he most likely to respond? A. say the word “key” B. select a key from a group of objects presented to his left hand C. select a key from a group of objects presented to his right hand D. he will not be able to say “key” or to pick out a key from a group of objects with either hand Answer: B