Spring Break Challenge Day 1

One-year-old Marcus turns away in disgust if a bitter substance is placed on his tongue. The reason for such a reaction is most likely

• an inborn distaste for bitter that protects us from potential poisons in the environment

• an inherited familial characteristic

• an example of imitation of behavior modeled by other family members

• a classically conditioned taste aversion response

Answer explanation

Marcus's reaction to bitter substances is likely due to an inborn distaste for bitter flavors, which serves as a protective mechanism against potential poisons, ensuring his safety from harmful substances.

A psychologist is writing a textbook chapter on the interaction of nature and nurture on human behavior. Which of the following examples should she include to emphasize the role that nurture plays on behavior?

• Pari’s parents read to her in infancy, so she easily and quickly learns to read when she starts school at age five.

• Sammi is six inches taller than his parents and siblings in his adoptive family.

• Linda is a supertaster and intensely experiences the bitterness in certain foods.

• Rosie has dichromatism and has difficulty distinguishing between red and green.

Answer explanation

Pari’s experience of being read to by her parents highlights the influence of nurture on her reading skills, demonstrating how environmental factors can shape behavior and learning outcomes.

Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system results in which of the following?

• An increase in pupil dilation

• An increase in respiratory rate

• A decrease in digestion

• A decrease in heart rate

Answer explanation

Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system promotes rest and digestion, leading to a decrease in heart rate and an increase in digestion, not a decrease. Thus, the correct effects are a decrease in heart rate.

The autonomic nervous system is most directly involved in

• driving a car

• sensing painful stimuli

• digesting food

• experiencing pain

Answer explanation

The autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions, including digestion. It controls processes like food breakdown and nutrient absorption, making 'digesting food' the most direct involvement compared to the other options.

Johanna, a high school senior, starts experiencing disruptions in her movement when she cannot contract certain muscles. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most likely involved in this disruption of the muscle contraction?

• Acetylcholine

• GABA

• Serotonin

• Endorphins

Answer explanation

Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. Disruptions in muscle movement suggest a problem with acetylcholine signaling, making it the most likely neurotransmitter involved in Johanna's symptoms.

Holly was injured in a car accident. Her doctor prescribed a medication that increases the action of endorphins to decrease pain. Which medication would she receive?

Answer explanation

The medication enhances endorphin action, which are natural pain relievers. This means it is likely an opioid or a similar analgesic that works by increasing the body's pain relief mechanisms.

A person will most likely develop aphasia as a result of damage to which of the following parts of the brain?

• Occipital lobe

• Wernicke’s area

• Auditory cortex

• Parietal lobe

Answer explanation

Aphasia is primarily associated with damage to Wernicke’s area, located in the left hemisphere of the brain, which is crucial for language comprehension. Damage here disrupts the ability to understand or produce meaningful speech.

A person with damage to Broca's area would most likely demonstrate which of the following symptoms?

• Forgetfulness

• Hearing difficulties

• Difficulty controlling balance and coordination

• Difficulty with speech production

Answer explanation

Damage to Broca's area primarily affects speech production, leading to difficulty in forming words and sentences. This condition, known as Broca's aphasia, does not typically cause forgetfulness, hearing difficulties, or balance issues.

When Alexus traveled to another country, she experienced jet lag and had trouble adjusting to the new time zone. Alexus’ experience is most likely linked to which of the following concepts?

• Circadian rhythm

• Fight-flight-freeze response

• Night terrors

• REM rebound

Answer explanation

Alexus' jet lag is linked to her circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep-wake cycles. Traveling across time zones disrupts this rhythm, causing difficulty in adjusting to the new local time.

The intensity at which a sound becomes audible for a given individual is known as the individual's

• absolute threshold

• response threshold

• critical frequency

• just noticeable difference

Answer explanation

The absolute threshold refers to the minimum intensity of a sound that an individual can detect. It is the point at which sound becomes audible, making it the correct choice for this question.