Question 1

_______________ is the decreasing responsiveness of the nervous system to a drug.

Accepted Answer

Tolerance is the phenomenon where the nervous system becomes less responsive to the effects of a drug over time, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect.

Question 2

A drug that increases the activity of a neurotransmitter is an _____________.

Accepted Answer

An agonist is a substance that activates a receptor to increase neurotransmitter activity.

Question 3

Which of the following is most consistent with the cognitive-process theory of dreaming?

Accepted Answer

The cognitive-process theory of dreaming emphasizes the continuity of waking and dreaming cognition, suggesting that the processes underlying dreaming are similar to those when we are awake. Rapid shifts of attention common to both states support this theory by illustrating how dreaming reflects cognitive processes that occur during wakefulness.

Question 4

If a drug is introduced into the nervous system, the body attempts to maintain its state of optimal physiological balance called ________________ by producing ______________, which are reactions opposite to the effect of the drug.

Accepted Answer

The body attempts to maintain its state of optimal physiological balance, known as homeostasis, by producing compensatory responses, which are reactions opposite to the effect of the drug.

Question 5

A doctor discovers a new drug that has a similar shape to endorphins, which are natural chemicals that relieve pain. If this new drug works in the same way as endorphins, we would refer to it as a(n) _______________.

Accepted Answer

An agonist is a substance that activates a receptor to produce a biological response, similar to how endorphins activate their receptors to relieve pain. Since the new drug mimics endorphins, it would also be considered an agonist.

Question 6

Tolerance to drugs results from a drive toward ______________.

Accepted Answer

Tolerance to drugs results from the body's drive toward homeostasis, which is the body's effort to maintain a stable, balanced internal environment. When drugs are introduced into the body, they can disrupt this balance, leading to changes in the body's functioning to counteract the effects of the drug and restore balance, which can manifest as tolerance.

Question 7

Alcoholics craving for the effects of alcohol is a form of?

Accepted Answer

Craving for the effects of alcohol, especially after cessation, is a symptom of withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms occur because the body has become accustomed to the substance and reacts negatively when it's no longer present.

Question 8

One dangerous problem with tolerance processes is that compensatory responses are engaged following a classical conditioning process. This learning process could mean that _____________ could lead to an overdose when drugs are taken in an unusual environment.

Accepted Answer

Taking a normal dose of a drug in an unusual environment can lead to an overdose because the body's compensatory responses, which are conditioned to the usual environment where the drug is typically consumed, may not be activated. This lack of compensatory response means the drug's effects could be stronger than anticipated, leading to an overdose.

Question 9

After a major dental surgery, Lara's dentist prescribed codeine to her. Codeine acts as a(n) _______________ by activating endorphin-receiving receptors.

Accepted Answer

Codeine acts as an agonist because it mimics the action of endorphins by activating the same receptors that endorphins would naturally bind to, thus producing a pain-relieving effect.

Question 10

In order to study for exams, a student starts drinking sodas with caffeine in them in order to better stay awake. After continuing this practice for several months, the student notices that they need to consume more caffeine to achieve the same effect. This decrease in her response to caffeine is best viewed as an example of what is called _______________.

Accepted Answer

Tolerance occurs when the body becomes less responsive to a substance after repeated exposure, requiring larger amounts to achieve the same effect.

Question 11

According to _______________ theory, dreams are not constrained by reality, they can help us find creative solutions to our problems and ongoing concerns.

Accepted Answer

The problem-solving dream model suggests that dreams serve the purpose of allowing people to solve problems and think creatively about their personal issues and concerns, without the constraints of reality.

Question 12

When an opioid addict is given a small dose of opioids as part of their rehabilitation program, the small dose is to lessen the ______________ symptoms.

Accepted Answer

The small dose of opioids is given to lessen the withdrawal symptoms, which can include pain, nausea, anxiety, and other physical and psychological effects of stopping opioid use.

Question 13

When a person stops taking a drug, a compensatory response called __________ may occur, in which strong reactions are triggered that are opposite to the effect of the drug.

Accepted Answer

Withdrawal occurs when a person stops taking a drug, leading to strong reactions opposite to the drug's effects as the body attempts to regain balance.

Question 14

A friend of yours has been in a 6-month treatment program for drug addiction. He is doing well, and has been free of drugs for a while, but when you pick him up after he is released from the program and bring him back to his usual neighbourhood, he begins to experience drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This is most likely because ______.

Accepted Answer

Classically conditioned compensatory mechanisms can be triggered by environmental cues associated with prior drug use, leading to cravings and withdrawal symptoms even after a period of abstinence.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the function of the blood-brain barrier? It _______________.

Accepted Answer

The blood-brain barrier functions to protect the brain by allowing essential nutrients to pass through while blocking most harmful substances and pathogens from entering the brain tissue.

Question 16

My therapist asks me to explain my dreams in detail. I narrate all the events as I recall them, reporting _______________ content of my dreams to the therapist.

Accepted Answer

Manifest content refers to the actual literal content and storyline of a dream, which is what is typically described to others.

Question 17

A person with a substance abuse problem suffers a near-fatal overdose after taking a typical amount of a drug in a new setting. The overdose appears to have occurred because the person's compensatory responses weren't triggered. This is an example of the process of ________________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of classical conditioning, where the body's compensatory responses to a drug are conditioned to the environment in which the drug is usually taken. When the drug is taken in a new environment, these conditioned responses do not occur, leading to an increased effect of the drug and potential overdose.

Question 18

Amphetamines cause neurons to _______________.

Accepted Answer

Amphetamines increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, leading to heightened alertness, attention, and energy.

Question 19

According to __________ theory, dreams do not serve any particular function.

Accepted Answer

The activation-synthesis theory suggests that dreams are the result of the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep, implying that dreams do not serve any specific purpose or function.

Question 20

Once a drug passes through the blood-brain barrier, it can affect consciousness by ______________ synaptic transmission.

Accepted Answer

Once a drug passes through the blood-brain barrier, it can affect consciousness by either facilitating or inhibiting synaptic transmission. This is because drugs can work by enhancing the effects of neurotransmitters (facilitating) or by blocking their action (inhibiting) at synapses.

Quiz 6: States of Consciousness