Question 1

Wayne tends to suffer from chronic pessimism, is hypersensitive to rejection, worries obsessively, and is prone to sudden bursts of irrational anger. He is exhibiting the symptoms of

Accepted Answer

A)  high norepinephrine levels. 
B)  serotonin depletion. 
C)  hormonal imbalance. 
D)  low dopamine levels.

Question 2

One reason why the results of psychosurgeries are often erratic is that

Accepted Answer

A)  different brain structures have different functional roles in different people. 
B)  brain systems might be more important for functioning than discrete areas. 
C)  tools designed to lesion the brain are not very sophisticated. 
D)  the infections that often accompany these surgeries further damage the brain.

Question 3

The chemicals that are released from the hypothalamus, the gonads, and the adrenal cortex are called ________, whereas the chemicals released by bioelectrical impulses throughout the brain are called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  synapses; hormones 
B)  hormones; neurotransmitters 
C)  neurotransmitters; synapses 
D)  inhibitory communicators; dendrites

Question 4

Before brain surgery, Elliott was a good father and held a responsible job. After removal of portions of his frontal lobe, what prediction about Elliott's personality is likely to come true?

Accepted Answer

A)  He will experience visual hallucinations. 
B)  He will experience auditory hallucinations. 
C)  His emotional reactions and decision-making abilities will be impaired. 
D)  He will be even more driven and focused on his work.

Question 5

What technique can be used to temporarily "knock out" regions of the brain without having to create lasting lesions?

Accepted Answer

A)  electroencephalography 
B)  magnetoencephalography 
C)  transcranial magnetic stimulation 
D)  encephalographic stimulation

Question 6

Nerve fibers that organize and regulate transmissions between nerves are called

Accepted Answer

A)  afferent nerves. 
B)  efferent nerves. 
C)  interneurons. 
D)  extraneurons.

Question 7

According to Jeffrey Gray's theory, dopamine is associated with the ________ system, which he argues produces and reinforces the motivation to seek ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  behavioral activation; rewards 
B)  ascending reticular activating; interpersonal contact 
C)  behavioral activation; interpersonal contact 
D)  ascending reticular activating; rewards

Question 8

Which of the following would NOT be a pronounced symptom in a patient who suffers frontal lobe damage?

Accepted Answer

A)  impaired language abilities 
B)  problems with decision making 
C)  flattened emotional responses 
D)  self-control difficulties

Question 9

We would expect a newlywed couple to have high levels of which hormone?

Accepted Answer

A)  norepinephrine 
B)  serotonin 
C)  cortisol 
D)  oxytocin

Question 10

What part of the human brain seems to be the MOST distinct from the brains of nonhuman animals?

Accepted Answer

A)  hypothalamus 
B)  amygdala 
C)  hippocampus 
D)  neocortex

Question 11

Which of the following brain imaging techniques would be MOST useful to a researcher interested in brain blood flow activity associated with fear after viewing pictures of spiders?

Accepted Answer

A)  positron emission tomography (PET) 
B)  functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) 
C)  computed tomography (CT) 
D)  electroencephalography (EEG)

Question 12

What is NOT a challenge associated with the advancement of neural imaging technology?

Accepted Answer

A)  The signal is sensitive to outside interference. 
B)  It is extremely expensive to acquire and operate. 
C)  There is not much evidence supporting its use to assess brain activity. 
D)  It requires expert attention in its operation and statistical analysis.

Question 13

According to Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis, damage to the right frontal lobes impairs a person's ________, which then impairs his or her ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  emotional reactions to events and thoughts; ability to make decisions about what is and is not important 
B)  primary visual and auditory cortexes; ability to distinguish real sensory stimulation from hallucinations 
C)  reptilian brain; ability to perform creative activities as opposed to simple responses and fixed patterns of behavior 
D)  ability to experience pain; fear of consequences

Question 14

According to the text, which neurotransmitter is the foundation of stability?

Accepted Answer

A)  oxytocin 
B)  monoamine oxidase 
C)  serotonin 
D)  dopamine

Question 15

Describe the functions of neurotransmitters. How do they seem to work in the body? Pick two neurotransmitters and describe why each is relevant to understanding personality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the functions of neurotransmitters. How do...

Question 16

Maren, a world-renowned chef, is fascinated by the ways different flavors of certain foods combine to change and enhance the taste of a dish. What statement best describes the link between Maren's fascination for flavor and her success as a chef?

Accepted Answer

A)  Emotions motivate thinking and guide strategic decision making. 
B)  People high in conscientiousness also tend to be creative. 
C)  Hormones spread throughout the body in response to stress. 
D)  Biological processes affect personality and social behavior.

Question 17

Explain why it is so difficult to study links between personality and the brain. What methods have been proposed, and what are the difficulties associated with each of these methods?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why it is so difficult to...

Question 18

Which of the following traits are associated with the metatrait of stability?

Accepted Answer

A)  agreeableness and conscientiousness 
B)  extraversion and openness 
C)  emotional stability and extraversion 
D)  conscientiousness and openness

Question 19

DeYoung has identified two metatraits of personality (stability and plasticity) and linked those domains to the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Describe these metatraits and explain their links with biology. How might this approach to understanding the biology of personality help to organize this area of study? What are some of the advantages of this approach? What are some limitations of this model?

Accepted Answer

The answer of DeYoung has identified two metatraits of personality...

Question 20

If damaged, which of the following areas of the brain would result in a flattening out of emotional responses?

Accepted Answer

A)  frontal lobe 
B)  corpus collosum 
C)  amygdala 
D)  nucleus accumbens

Exam 8: The Anatomy and Physiology of Personality