Question 1

Marc has been in jail for 13 months and has not used drugs during his incarceration although he was a heavy user for two years before he was arrested. A researcher conducted a battery of tests on Marc and found that his memory was far worse than average. What type of drug did Marc MOST likely abuse before he went to jail?

Accepted Answer

Methamphetamine use is known to cause damage to the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory formation and storage. The fact that Marc's memory is worse than average suggests that he may have abused methamphetamine before his incarceration. Heroin, marijuana, and MDMA do not have the same well-documented impact on memory function.

Question 2

Melanie thinks she has seasonal affective disorder. One finding that would be consistent with this conclusion would be if her doctor found:

Accepted Answer

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is often linked to changes in light exposure during different seasons, which can affect melatonin production. In winter, longer nights can lead to increased melatonin production, which is consistent with SAD symptoms.

Question 3

Research has shown that PMS is relatively uncommon, and yet many women think they have it. Discuss some reasons why this might be so.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research has shown that PMS is relatively...

Question 4

Mei-Ling bursts out in anger at her roommate over the dirty dishes and then apologizes an hour later saying that she wasn't really angry, it was PMS that caused the outburst. Mei-Ling has never before complained of PMS. How should her roommate interpret her outburst?

Accepted Answer

PMS is a common phenomenon in women, but it does not usually lead to sudden outbursts of anger. Additionally, if Mei-Ling had never before complained of PMS, then it is unlikely that it was the sole cause of her outburst. Therefore, her roommate should interpret the outburst as being caused by something else, rather than just assuming it was due to PMS.

Question 5

What does research reveal about the accuracy of memory under hypnosis? Design your own experiment to investigate this topic. How accurate are memories related to the kind of traumatic amnesia discussed in Chapter 10 (Memory)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does research reveal about the accuracy...

Question 6

Outline the two prominent explanations of hypnosis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Outline the two prominent explanations of hypnosis....

Question 7

List and briefly describe the four major categories of psychoactive drugs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and briefly describe the four major...

Question 8

Terrence is 30 years old and experiencing erectile problems. His doctor does an exam and concludes that the MOST likely cause is Terrence's use of:

Accepted Answer

Tobacco use is a known risk factor for erectile dysfunction due to its effects on blood flow and vascular health, which are critical for erectile function.

Question 9

Under normal conditions, the rhythms governed by the SCN are synchronized. But when people travel by air across several time zones, they tend to feel "out of sync." Explain what psychologists have discovered about "being out of sync."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under normal conditions, the rhythms governed by...

Question 10

Psychoactive drugs produce their effects primarily by acting on brain neurotransmitters. Explain this process, using cocaine's effect on the brain as your example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Psychoactive drugs produce their effects primarily by...

Quiz 5: Body Rhythms and Mental States