Unit 1 Study Guide MC Questions

Which of the following best describes how epigenetics contributes to the nature vs. nurture debate?

• Epigenetics shows that environmental factors can modify gene expression, demonstrating that heredity alone determines behavior.

• Epigenetics illustrates that genes are fixed and cannot be influenced by environmental factors.

• Epigenetics reveals that environmental influences can alter the expression of genes without changing the DNA sequence, blending the roles of nature and nurture.

• Epigenetics suggests that genetic predispositions always overpower environmental factors in shaping behavior.

How might a psychologist use adoption studies to differentiate between the influence of heredity and environment?

• By comparing the behavior of identical twins raised apart to those raised together to isolate the impact of the environment.

• By studying children who share no genetic relationship with their adoptive parents to determine if behaviors are more similar to biological or adoptive parents.

• By observing the behavioral changes in adopted children who live in various cultural settings, emphasizing nurture.

• By analyzing genetic data from adopted individuals to link specific genes to certain behaviors.

In research on the nature vs. nurture debate, which finding would most strongly suggest that environment plays a larger role in shaping behavior?

• Monozygotic twins raised together showing more behavioral similarity than dizygotic twins raised apart.

• Adopted children showing similar IQ scores to their adoptive parents as opposed to their biological parents.

• Identical twins raised apart showing similar personality traits despite different upbringings.

• The presence of a specific gene being associated with a higher risk of mental illness regardless of upbringing.

Which of the following accurately describes the interaction between the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system?

• The somatic nervous system governs voluntary movements like walking, while the autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions such as digestion and heartbeat.

• The autonomic nervous system is responsible for conscious muscle movement, and the somatic nervous system manages unconscious physiological responses.

• The somatic nervous system regulates involuntary functions like heart rate, while the autonomic nervous system controls voluntary movements.

• Both the somatic and autonomic systems regulate the same functions, but in different regions of the brain.

During a dangerous situation, the body’s fight-or-flight response is activated. Which part of the nervous system is primarily responsible for this response, and what are its effects on the body?

• Parasympathetic nervous system; it conserves energy and calms the body after the threat is over.

• Sympathetic nervous system; it increases heart rate, dilates pupils, and redirects blood flow to muscles

• Somatic nervous system; it prepares the body for voluntary movement and slows down digestion.

• Central nervous system; it enhances logical thinking and processes fear-related information.

Which of the following is an example of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) working together?

• A signal is sent from the brain to the spinal cord to process visual information.

• The brain sends a message through motor neurons in the PNS to contract muscles during physical activity.

• The sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of hormones into the bloodstream.

• The spinal cord relays sensory information directly to the somatic nervous system for muscle movement.

Which of the following best describes the function of the myelin sheath in a neuron?

• It stores neurotransmitters before they are released into the synapse.

• It insulates the axon and increases the speed of neural impulses.

• It forms the outer layer of the synapse, controlling the release of ions.

• It generates the electrical signal that travels down the axon.

What is most likely to happen if a neuron’s sodium channels are blocked, preventing the influx of sodium ions during an action potential?

• The neuron would fire at a faster rate, leading to an increased release of neurotransmitters.

• The neuron would become hyperpolarized, making it more likely to fire an action potential.

• The neuron would not reach the threshold for an action potential, preventing the transmission of the signal.

• The neuron would release too many neurotransmitters into the synapse, overstimulating the postsynaptic neuron.

A researcher discovers that a group of neurons in the brain consistently fails to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap. What effect might this have on the behavior and mental processes of an individual?

• Decreased synaptic transmission could lead to impaired memory formation and slower cognitive processing.

• The individual would experience heightened arousal and faster reflex responses due to increased neural activity.

• The absence of neurotransmitter release would cause an increase in communication between neurons, leading to hyperactivity.

• The individual would exhibit no changes in behavior, as synaptic transmission is unrelated to mental processes.

During neural transmission, what happens when the action potential reaches the axon terminal of a neuron?

• Voltage-gated potassium channels open, leading to the release of hormones into the bloodstream.

• Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic gap, where they bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

• The myelin sheath thickens, allowing the neuron to fire more frequently.

• Sodium ions are pumped back into the axon, causing the neuron to enter a refractory period.