2.11 MC Answers and Review

⛔STOP!⛔ Before you look at the answers make sure you gave this practice quiz a try so you can assess your understanding of the concepts covered in unit 2. Click here for the practice questions: AP Psychology Unit 2 Multiple Choice Questions.

Facts about the test: The AP Psychology exam has 100 multiple choice questions and you will be given 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete the section. That means it should take you around 11 minutes to complete 15 questions.

A. Convulsive Seizures

C. Inability to Make New Memories

D. Change in her Personality

Answer: The reticular formation, located in the old brain, plays an important part in arousal--our natural sleep-wake cycle.

A. His right temporal lobe

B. His hippocampus

D. Broca’s Area

Answer: Wernicke's area, located in the left temporal lobe, is responsible for language comprehension.

B. Occipital; frontal

C. Frontal; temporal

D. Parietal; temporal

Answer: The somatosensory cortex is located in the parietal lobe; the motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe

A. Action potential; resting potential

B. Resting potential; refractory period

D. Action potential; refractory period

Answer: When a neuron is stimulated, gates are opened to allow for positively charged sodium ions to flood in, causing depolarization of the axon. This is called an action potential. As the action potential moves down the axon, sodium/potassium pumps restore the axon to its original state, that is is is polarized. This is called the resting potential.

A. Paralysis

B. Migraine Headaches

C. Insomnia

Answer: ACh, or acetylcholine, is one of the best-understood neurotransmitters and can be found at every junction between motor neurons and skeletal muscles. It enables muscle movement, and also plays a role in learning and memory. An antagonist is a molecule that enhances a neurotransmitter's action. The spider venom enhanced Jaun's muscle actions, resulting in spasms

B. REM sleep; REM sleep

C. REM Sleep; NREM sleep

D. Stage 4; Stage 2

Answer: Night terrors, which are different than nightmares that occur during REM sleep, occur during Stage 3--about 2 or 3 hours after falling asleep. Hypnagogic sensations refer to the jerking or sudden feeling of falling that occur right when you are falling asleep ( Stage 1)

A. It increases the production of dopamine, causing us to feel pleasure

B. It blocks messages between our motor cortex and brainstem, causing paradoxical sleep

D. It interferes with our natural circadian rhythms, causing insomnia

Answer: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) reacts to light striking the retina. This sends a signal to the SCN to suppress the production of melatonin. At night, the SCN quiets down, which allows for the release of melatonin and thus the feeling of sleepiness.

A. GABA

B. Dopamine

C. ACh

Answer: Serotonin affects our mood, hunger, sleep and arousal and an undersupply has been linked to depression. Prozac and other antidepressant drugs raise serotonin levels by blocking their re-uptake or chemical breakdown

A. Soma

C. Axon

D. Terminal Branches

Answer: Dendrites are the neuron's branching extensions that receive the neurotransmitters and send the message (impulse) toward the cell body (soma). Neurotransmitters fit into the receptor cells much like a key fits into a lock.

B. Autonomic nervous system

C. Parasympathetic nervous system

D. Endocrine system

Answer: The somatic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system. It is responsible for gathering information and directing central nervous system decisions to your body parts.

A. Hemisphere lobes

B. Cortex interfaces

D. Wernicke’s area

Answer: Association areas are involved in functions that make us human such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking. The fact that so much of our brain is "uncommitted," has led to the myth that we only use 10% of our brains.

A. Pituitary Gland

B. Thalamus

D. Hormones

Answer: The hypothalamus, located in the limbic system just below (hypo) the thalamus, is responsible for maintaining homeostasis in our bodies. It secretes hormones that send messages to the pituitary gland (the master gland) that in turn sends messages to all of the other glands in the endocrine system to release their hormones into the bloodstream.

A. An increased production of dopamine, resulting in hallucinations

C. Reduced dopamine levels, resulting in depression

D. Decreased production of endorphins, leading to lower pain thresholds

Answer: Ecstasy, also known as MDMA or "Molly," is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen. It triggers dopamine release and blocks the reuptake of serotonin resulting in a feel-good rush of emotions and a feeling of connection with those around you. In addition to the damage to serotonin-producing neurons, Ecstasy also suppresses the nervous system, impairs memory and can disturb the sleep cycle.

A. MRI 

B. fMRI

C. PET Scan

Answer: An EEG, or electroencephalogram, amplifies the electrical activity of the brain's surface. Researchers are able to measure the waves by placing electrodes on the scalp. Each stage of sleep has a different type of wave associated with it (e.g. alpha, theta, delta).

A. It means that you are highly likely to inherit that trait if it is passed down to you by your parents

B. It means that 85% of that trait comes from your genes and 15% from your experiences

D. It means that 85% of that trait can be attributed to your experiences and 15% to your genes

Answer: Heritability is often confused with the concept of inherited, but they are very different. Heritability is calculated by behavioral geneticists--often through their studies of identical twins. It is a statistical measure and refers to the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that can be attributed to genetic makeup. If a trait is 85% heritable, it means that genetic influence explains about 85% of the variation among people--not that 85% of that trait the trait is 85% genetic.

🔍Study for Unit 3