Question 1

Alcohol acts as a depressant on the nervous system by

Accepted Answer

Alcohol acts as a depressant primarily by increasing levels of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), which inhibits brain activity, and by decreasing levels of glutamate, which stimulates the brain. This combination contributes to the depressant effects of alcohol on the nervous system.

Question 2

A drug that is classified as an agonist may __________ the activity of a neurotransmitter by __________.

Accepted Answer

Agonists increase the activity of a neurotransmitter. Preventing reuptake of the neurotransmitter from the synapse increases its availability in the synaptic cleft, thereby enhancing its action.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is/are FALSE regarding REM sleep?

Accepted Answer

REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements and low-amplitude, mixed-frequency brain wave activity, not delta waves, which are associated with deep sleep stages.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is/are TRUE regarding sleep across the lifespan?

Accepted Answer

REM sleep actually decreases during infancy and early childhood, reflecting a significant change in sleep patterns as humans develop. The elderly do not require more sleep than young children, and newborn infants experience a high proportion of REM sleep. Additionally, the statement about 15- to 24-year-olds' average sleep does not accurately reflect recommended sleep durations for this age group.

Question 5

According to your text, one of the best treatments for SAD is

Accepted Answer

Phototherapy, or light therapy, is one of the best treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as it helps to mimic natural sunlight, which can be lacking during the winter months, thereby improving mood and energy levels.

Question 6

In a study by Pilcher & Walters (1997), students were deprived of a night's sleep and then asked to perform a critical thinking task. When compared to non-sleep deprived students, those students who missed a night's sleep

Accepted Answer

Sleep deprivation negatively affects cognitive functions, including critical thinking. The study by Pilcher & Walters (1997) found that sleep-deprived students performed worse on a critical thinking task but had an inflated perception of their performance and effort.

Question 7

As you take a particular drug, you will eventually develop a tolerance for this drug. This is due, in part, to

Accepted Answer

Tolerance to a drug develops when the body starts producing compensatory responses to counteract the drug's effects. Over time, these responses can diminish the drug's impact, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

Question 8

Last night, you had a dream about spilling milk all over the kitchen table. According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, spilling the milk is part of the dream's

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the manifest content of a dream is its literal storyline or surface level, which in this case is the act of spilling milk over the kitchen table.

Question 9

Which of the following theories would explain dreams as a form of wish fulfillment?

Accepted Answer

Freud's psychoanalytic theory posits that dreams are a form of wish fulfillment, where unconscious desires are played out in the dream state.

Question 10

_____________ propose that hypnotic experiences result from expectations of people who are motivated to take on the "role" of being hypnotized.

Accepted Answer

Social cognitive theories suggest that the experiences people report under hypnosis are not due to being in an altered state of consciousness, but rather are the result of expectations and the individual's ability to play the role of a hypnotized person. This perspective emphasizes the importance of social and cognitive factors in hypnosis, such as the hypnotic subject's attitudes, beliefs, and expectations about being hypnotized.

Question 11

"Amphetamine psychosis" results in schizophrenia-like symptoms of hallucinations and paranoid delusions. According to the textbook, these effects likely occur because amphetamines

Accepted Answer

Amphetamines increase dopamine levels in the brain, which can lead to symptoms similar to those observed in schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and paranoid delusions. This is because dopamine plays a key role in the brain's reward and pleasure centers, and its dysregulation is associated with psychotic symptoms.

Question 12

At night, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) located in the hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) act as a master clock in the brain, regulating circadian rhythms. At night, the SCN's activity decreases, which allows for the increase in melatonin levels by the pineal gland, promoting relaxation and sleepiness.

Question 13

According to the _______________ dreams are very meaningful and reflect your desires.

Accepted Answer

The Freudian wish fulfillment theory posits that dreams are a manifestation of our deepest desires and unfulfilled wishes, reflecting Sigmund Freud's view that dreams serve as a window to our unconscious mind.

Question 14

As you progress through a nightly sleep cycle, your brain-wave pattern changes from ______ at the very beginning of sleep to ______ at the end of the first cycle.

Accepted Answer

As you progress through a nightly sleep cycle, the brain-wave pattern changes from fast, low amplitude waves (indicative of light sleep stages) to slow, high amplitude waves (indicative of deep sleep stages). This reflects the transition from lighter stages of sleep to the deeper, more restorative stages.

Question 15

Stage 2 sleep is characterized by

Accepted Answer

Stage 2 sleep is marked by the presence of sleep spindles and K-complexes, along with relaxed muscles.

Question 16

As discussed in the textbook, researchers investigating the relationship between sleep deprivation and its effect on performance have found that

Accepted Answer

The answer of As discussed in the textbook, researchers investigating...

Question 17

The major difference between nightmares and night terrors is that

Accepted Answer

Nightmares occur during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep, which is associated with vivid dreams, whereas night terrors happen during non-REM sleep, specifically during the deep sleep stages. Night terrors are characterized by intense fear, screaming, or even sleepwalking, but they are not remembered, unlike nightmares which can often be recalled upon waking.

Question 18

According to the ______________, dreams are not particularly meaningful, but rather, are merely the result of random neural activity that the brain then interprets.

Accepted Answer

The activation-synthesis theory posits that dreams are the result of the brain trying to make sense of random neural activity during sleep, suggesting that dreams may not have specific meanings or purposes.

Question 19

A new drug works by stimulating the release of a particular neurotransmitter. We would classify this drug as

Accepted Answer

An agonist is a substance that stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter or mimics its action, thus the drug in question would be classified as an agonist.

Question 20

Many people believe that sleepwalking is related to dreaming - you are acting out your dreams. Which of the following is the best argument against this interpretation?

Accepted Answer

Sleepwalking typically occurs during the deep stages of sleep (stage 3 or stage 4), not during REM sleep, which is when most vivid dreaming happens. This suggests that sleepwalking is not directly related to acting out dreams.

Quiz 6: States of Consciousness