Question 1

In order to permanently raise a rat's set point, you would:

Accepted Answer

Destroying the VMH (ventromedial hypothalamus) in rats can lead to hyperphagia and obesity, effectively raising their set point for body weight.

Question 2

The opposite of learned helplessness is:

Accepted Answer

The opposite of learned helplessness is personal control. This refers to the belief that one is capable of taking action and exerting control over their environment or situation. Passivity (A) is actually a symptom of learned helplessness, as it is the belief that one's actions will not lead to any change or improvement. Helpfulness (C) and innate helplessness (D) are not opposites of learned helplessness.

Question 3

Evidence that the left hemisphere is especially effective at processing language is provided by the fact that split-brain patients are able to:

Accepted Answer

The fact that split-brain patients are able to read words more easily when they are flashed briefly in their right rather than their left visual field suggests that the left hemisphere, which is connected to the right visual field, is especially effective at processing language. The other options do not necessarily demonstrate a distinction in language processing between the left and right hemispheres.

Question 4

In this PsychSim activity, you had an opportunity to simulate:

Accepted Answer

The activity involves simulating the destruction of a rat's lateral hypothalamus, which is a common experiment in behavioral neuroscience to study its effects on feeding and motivation.

Question 5

The main characteristic of learned helplessness is that people:

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness refers to a belief that a person develops that they have no control over their situation, even when they do. They stop trying to improve or change their unpleasant situation because they feel powerless to do so.

Question 6

Most people recall a higher percentage of briefly flashed letters in a ________ task than in a ________ task.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most people recall a higher percentage of...

Question 7

Normal people who have been blindfolded can name an object placed in their left hand because:

Accepted Answer

The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing information from the right hemisphere (which receives sensory input from the left hand) to be transferred to the left hemisphere, where language processing typically occurs.

Question 8

Researchers have found that ________ are more likely to develop serious depression stemming from learned helplessness and hopelessness than ________.

Accepted Answer

Research studies have shown that women are more prone to depression than men. The reasons for higher depression rates among women are complex, ranging from hormonal factors to societal and cultural pressures. Additionally, studies suggest that women are more likely to experience learned helplessness and hopelessness, which are two risk factors for developing serious depression.

Question 9

In Martin Seligman's shuttle box experiments, the dog learned to jump over the barrier when the light came on, avoiding the ensuing shock. This is called:

Accepted Answer

The dog learned to jump over the barrier in order to avoid the shock, which is an example of avoidance learning.

Question 10

Right-handed split-brain patients are able to:

Accepted Answer

When an object is placed in the right hand of a split-brain patient, the information is sent to the left hemisphere of the brain, which is generally responsible for language processing. Therefore, the patient is able to name the object. However, when an object is placed in the left hand, the information is sent to the right hemisphere of the brain, which is less able to process language. Therefore, the patient is less likely to be able to name the object.

Question 11

Seligman believes that learned helplessness is one of the causes of ________ in humans.

Accepted Answer

Seligman's theory suggests that when individuals feel they have no control over a situation, they develop a sense of helplessness which can lead to depression.

Question 12

There is no universally accepted definition of intelligence because:

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is no universally accepted definition of...

Question 13

In this PsychSim activity, you were asked to observe a random group of nine letters flashed briefly on the screen. On this free recall memory task, an average college student is most likely to recall _______ of the letters.

Accepted Answer

The average college student is likely to recall around 4 of the letters on a free recall memory task. This is based on research on the capacity of short-term memory. While some individuals may recall less or more than 4 letters, the most common number is around 4.

Question 14

The technique used by this PsychSim activity to demonstrate the full extent of your iconic memory is called:

Accepted Answer

The technique used by this PsychSim activity is partial report, in which a portion of a stimulus is briefly presented and participants are then asked to recall only a specific part of it. This technique is used to demonstrate the capacity and duration of iconic memory, a form of sensory memory that briefly stores visual information.

Question 15

In order to permanently lower a rat's set point, you would:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order to permanently lower a rat's...

Question 16

Destruction of a rat's lateral hypothalamus does not:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Destruction of a rat's lateral hypothalamus does...

Question 17

The left hemisphere of a split-brain patient receives visual input only from the ________ visual field of ________.

Accepted Answer

The left hemisphere of a split-brain patient receives visual input from the right visual field, which is processed by both the right and left eyes.

Question 18

Overeating and weight gain in rats result from either ________ or ________.

Accepted Answer

The VMH (ventromedial hypothalamus) is responsible for regulating hunger and satiety, so if it is destroyed, the rat will overeat and gain weight. Similarly, if the LH (lateral hypothalamus) is stimulated, the rat will overeat and gain weight. Therefore, the correct answer is B - destruction of the VMH or stimulation of the LH can both lead to overeating and weight gain in rats.

Question 19

Iconic memory typically lasts about ________ milliseconds.

Accepted Answer

Iconic memory, also known as visual sensory memory, lasts for about 250 milliseconds. This memory system allows for the retention of visual information for a short period of time before it is processed further by the brain.

Question 20

Spearman theorized that underlying all mental abilities lay the ________, or ________ intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Spearman proposed that there is a general or underlying factor, called the g factor, that contributes to performance on all mental abilities. This is the essence of his theory of general intelligence (g). Option B, C, and D refer to specific factors, which are not the focus of Spearman's theory.

Quiz 18: Your Mind on Drugs