Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main advantage of experimental research in psychology compared to correlational research?

Accepted Answer

It enables researchers to manipulate variables and establish causal relationships.

Question 2

A psychologist wants to study the effect of sleep deprivation on memory recall. She randomly assigns participants to either a sleep deprivation group or a control group and measures their recall performance. What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

Amount of sleep participants receive

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation, aggression, and pain perception?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin (5-HT)

Question 4

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient $$r = -0.85$$ between hours spent watching TV and exam scores. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

There is a strong negative relationship between TV watching and exam scores.

Question 5

Which brain imaging technique measures changes in blood oxygen levels to infer neural activity?

Accepted Answer

fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Question 6

Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for higher-order functions such as planning, decision making, and emotional regulation?

Accepted Answer

Frontal lobe

Question 7

If a patient has difficulty forming new memories after a traumatic brain injury, which brain structure is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the action potential is correct?

Accepted Answer

The action potential is triggered when the membrane potential reaches the threshold, typically around $$-55\ \mathrm{mV}.$$

Question 9

Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with voluntary muscle movement and memory?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 10

A researcher wants to generalize her findings to a larger population. Which of the following is most important for ensuring her sample is representative?

Accepted Answer

Randomly selecting participants from the target population

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the function of the myelin sheath?

Accepted Answer

It insulates axons and speeds up neural transmission.

Question 12

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for calming the body after a stressful event?

Accepted Answer

Parasympathetic division

Question 13

A psychologist is conducting a case study on a patient with extraordinary memory. What type of research is this?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research

Question 14

Which of the following is a common misconception about correlation coefficients?

Accepted Answer

A high correlation coefficient implies causation between variables.

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why replication is important in psychological research?

Accepted Answer

It helps confirm the reliability and validity of findings.

Question 16

A patient is unable to speak fluently but can understand language. Which area of the brain is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Broca's area

Question 17

Which of the following is a key feature of the cerebral cortex that allows for complex cognitive functions?

Accepted Answer

Its convoluted (folded) structure, increasing surface area

Question 18

A researcher is interested in the relationship between stress levels and immune system functioning. She collects data on both variables and calculates a correlation coefficient. What type of research is this?

Accepted Answer

Correlational research

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the refractory period in neural transmission?

Accepted Answer

The period after an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire another action potential.

Question 20

Which of the following is a multi-step problem involving both experimental design and statistics: A researcher wants to test whether a new drug improves memory. She randomly assigns 100 participants to either the drug or placebo group, measures their memory scores, and finds a mean score of 85 for the drug group and 75 for the placebo group. What statistical test should she use to determine if the difference is significant?

Accepted Answer

Independent samples t-test

Foundations of Biological and Experimental Psychology: Study Notes

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