Question 1

Bincheng has been taught to visualize the pain from his migraine headaches as simply a part of his experience of life.While he is engaging in this visualization, an fMRI scan of his brain would be likely to show in activity, while his perceptual experience of pain would likely .
A)a change; increase
B)no change; increase
C)a change; decrease
D)no change; decrease

Accepted Answer

When Bincheng engages in the visualization of pain as a part of his experience of life, it is likely that the fMRI scan of his brain would show a decrease in activity related to the perception of pain. This is because he is shifting his focus away from the pain itself and incorporating it into his overall understanding of his life. Therefore, while his perceptual experience of pain may stay the same or slightly decrease, there would be a change in brain activity.

Question 2

Imagine you are participating in a friend's psychology experiment.She asks you to close your eyes and hold out your finger.She tells you that she will prick your finger with a needle in the same place several times and then will start to prick other places.Your task is to tell her when you first feel the pin prick in a different place.She then repeats the same process, but starts on your back.You might predict that the distance at which you could first detect a pin prick in a new location would be
A)much smaller on the finger than the back.
B)much smaller on the back than the finger.
C)approximately equal in the two places.
D)a little bit smaller on the back than the finger.

Accepted Answer

The density of touch receptors varies across the body, with fingers having a higher concentration than the back. This allows for finer spatial resolution on the fingers, meaning you can detect smaller distances between stimuli there compared to the back.

Question 3

The pain gate can theoretically reduce the sensation of pain sent by
A)unmyelinated axons only.
B)myelinated axons only.
C)both unmyelinated and myelinated axons.
D)neither unmyelinated nor myelinated axons.

Accepted Answer

The pain gate theory proposes that certain nerve fibers carrying pain signals can be inhibited or blocked by input from other nerve fibers that carry non-painful signals. Both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers can transmit pain signals, so the pain gate can theoretically reduce the sensation of pain sent by both types of fibers.

Question 4

Cognitive factors, including , can close the neural gate in the spinal cord that allows the signals of pain to be sent to the brain.
A)stress
B)anxiety
C)distraction
D)fear

Accepted Answer

Cognitive factors such as distraction can activate descending pathways from the brainstem that can close the neural gate in the spinal cord, thereby reducing or blocking the pain signals sent to the brain. Stress, anxiety, and fear can actually increase the pain experience by activating the sympathetic nervous system and increasing pain perception.

Question 5

Cordelia is massaging her shoulders to rid herself of a tension headache.According to gate control theory, the massage should
A)distract Cordelia from the headache, closing the pain gate "from the brain down."
B)intensify the pain by sending additional sensory messages to the brain.
C)have little effect.
D)activate large sensory nerves, closing the pain gate "from the spinal cord up."

Accepted Answer

According to the gate control theory, a massage can activate large sensory nerves, which can close the pain gate "from the spinal cord up." This can help to reduce the sensation of pain, including tension headaches.

Question 6

Pain medications such as Novocain work by
A)changing pain stimuli so that they cannot be received by sensory pain neurons.
B)blocking transmission from sensory pain neurons to the brain.
C)integrating information from sensory pain neurons and sensory relief neurons.
D)diverting signals from the sensory pain neurons to the thalamus.

Accepted Answer

Novocain is a local anesthetic medication that works by blocking transmission from sensory pain neurons to the brain. This prevents the brain from receiving and interpreting pain signals from the affected area.

Question 7

Kwamie has broken his wrist.His friend Sam has taken him to the hospital emergency room.While they are waiting, Sam starts an argument with Kwamie about the presidential election, and Kwamie finds that while they are arguing, he feels very little pain.This result has most likely occurred because
A)anger is incompatible with the experience of pain.
B)pain always decreases over time.
C)focusing on the argument closed the pain gate.
D)Kwamie's nerve fibers thickened as a physical symptom of anger.

Accepted Answer

The idea of a "pain gate" refers to the theory that pain signals can be blocked or diminished by strong competing sensations, such as those created by arguments or other intense experiences. By focusing on the argument, Kwamie's attention may have shifted away from the pain, decreasing his perception of it.

Question 8

After leaving the thalamus, axons projecting from tactile sensory neurons project to the in the lobe.
A)homunculus; parietal
B)homunculus; temporal
C)primary somatosensory cortex; parietal
D)primary somatosensory cortex; temporal

Accepted Answer

The axons from tactile sensory neurons project to the primary somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe. The homunculus is a representation of the body in the brain, with different body parts represented in different regions of the somatosensory cortex. However, it is not the location where the axons project to after leaving the thalamus. The temporal lobe is not generally associated with somatosensation.

Question 9

Suppose a new, complex organism discovered by scientists can be severely injured by any exposure to hydrogen peroxide.What type of haptic receptor is this organism likely to have evolved that responds to hydrogen peroxide?
A)fast-acting pain receptor
B)slow-acting pain receptor
C)gate-controlled receptors
D)kinesthetic receptors

Accepted Answer

Fast-acting pain receptors, also known as nociceptors, are specialized haptic receptors that respond to potentially damaging stimuli like heat, pressure, and chemicals. Hydrogen peroxide can cause tissue damage and inflammation, so it is likely that this organism has evolved fast-acting pain receptors to quickly alert it to the presence of hydrogen peroxide and avoid further exposure.

Question 10

People with synesthesia who see colors while processing numbers, might have this experience because color and number brain regions are
A)active at the same time.
B)close to one another.
C)never active at the same time.
D)located in different lobes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People with synesthesia who see colors while...

Question 11

The pain control gate is located in the
A)thalamus.
B)haptic receptors.
C)spinal cord.
D)frontal lobe.

Accepted Answer

The pain control gate is located in the spinal cord. It regulates the transmission of pain signals from the periphery to the brain. This gate can be modulated by various factors such as sensory input, emotions, and cognitive factors, which can either open or close the gate and influence the experience of pain.

Question 12

The attentional focus mechanism suggested by gate control theory relies on the notion of what kind of processing?
A)temporal coding
B)place coding
C)bottom-up
D)top-down

Accepted Answer

Gate control theory proposes that top-down mechanisms within the central nervous system can modulate the flow of sensory information, allowing for selective attention and perception. Therefore, the attentional focus mechanism suggested by this theory relies on top-down processing.

Question 13

The sudden, sharp pain you feel when you hit your finger with a hammer travels across what type of axon?
A)myelinated
B)unmyelinated
C)kinesthetic
D)stretch

Accepted Answer

The sudden, sharp pain, as well as other rapid signals like touch and pressure, travels across myelinated axons. Myelination helps increase the speed of nerve impulse conduction, allowing for quick responses to stimuli such as pain from hitting your finger.

Question 14

According to gate control theory, pain
A)is overwhelmingly biological.
B)is mainly psychological.
C)is largely immune to cultural influences.
D)reflects an interaction among biological, psychological, and cultural influences.

Accepted Answer

Gate control theory proposes that pain is not simply a biological sensation, but is also influenced by psychological and cultural factors. The theory suggests that pain signals must go through a "gate" in the spinal cord, which can be influenced by factors such as thoughts and emotions, as well as cultural expectations and experiences. As a result, the experience of pain is complex and multi-dimensional, reflecting an interaction among biological, psychological, and cultural influences.

Question 15

Days after breaking his nose in a football game, Ben still perceives a dull pain in his nose.The dull ache travels along pain fibers, which are .
A)slow; unmyelinated
B)slow; myelinated
C)fast; unmyelinated
D)fast; myelinated

Accepted Answer

Pain fibers that transmit dull, aching pain are known as C fibers and are unmyelinated, which means they conduct impulses more slowly than myelinated fibers. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 16

As Devin runs to catch the quarterback's throw, he automatically checks the position of his arms and hands and adjusts them to the path of the ball.Which sense allows him to position his hands and arms so well?
A)kinesthetic
B)vestibular
C)olfactory
D)visual

Accepted Answer

Kinesthetic sense, also known as proprioception, is the sense that allows us to perceive the position and movement of our own body parts. In this scenario, Devin is able to adjust his hands and arms to the ball's path based on his proprioceptive sense, allowing him to successfully catch the ball.

Question 17

Randall does not immediately sense pain when he stays out too long in the snow, but he feels a painful sensation in his frostbitten toes for days afterward.Randall's inability to sense pain immediately is most likely due to damage to his
A)somatosensory cortex.
B)slow fibers.
C)fast fibers.
D)thalamus.

Accepted Answer

Randall's inability to immediately sense pain suggests damage to his fast fibers, which transmit signals for sharp, immediate pain. The fact that he feels pain in his frostbitten toes for days afterward suggests that his slower fibers, which transmit signals for sustained, long-lasting pain, are still intact. Damage to the somatosensory cortex or thalamus would likely affect other sensory modalities in addition to pain perception.

Question 18

Avi broke his ankle skiing.At first, he felt a sharp and intense pain.The next day, the sharp pain was gone, but his ankle ached almost all the time.The sharp immediate pain was due to ; the later aching pain was due to .
A)unmyelinated axons; myelinated axons
B)myelinated axons; unmyelinated axons
C)pain receptors; pressure receptors
D)pressure receptors; pain receptors

Accepted Answer

The sharp immediate pain was due to the stimulation of myelinated axons, which are responsible for transmitting signals quickly and rapidly from the site of injury to the spinal cord and brain. Once the injury has occurred, the myelin sheath is damaged, and the axons become hyperexcitable, leading to the sensation of pain. The later aching pain was due to the activation of unmyelinated axons, which are slower to transmit signals, but convey a more persistent, dull and nagging type of pain that persists even after the initial injury has healed.

Quiz 5: Sensation and Perception

Bincheng has been taught to visualize the pain from his migraine headaches as simply a part of his experience of life.While he is engaging in this visualization, an fMRI scan of his brain would be likely to show in activity, while his perceptual experience of pain would likely .

The pain gate can theoretically reduce the sensation of pain sent by

Cognitive factors, including , can close the neural gate in the spinal cord that allows the signals of pain to be sent to the brain.

Cordelia is massaging her shoulders to rid herself of a tension headache.According to gate control theory, the massage should

Pain medications such as Novocain work by

Kwamie has broken his wrist.His friend Sam has taken him to the hospital emergency room.While they are waiting, Sam starts an argument with Kwamie about the presidential election, and Kwamie finds that while they are arguing, he feels very little pain.This result has most likely occurred because

After leaving the thalamus, axons projecting from tactile sensory neurons project to the in the lobe.

Suppose a new, complex organism discovered by scientists can be severely injured by any exposure to hydrogen peroxide.What type of haptic receptor is this organism likely to have evolved that responds to hydrogen peroxide?

People with synesthesia who see colors while processing numbers, might have this experience because color and number brain regions are

The pain control gate is located in the

The attentional focus mechanism suggested by gate control theory relies on the notion of what kind of processing?

The sudden, sharp pain you feel when you hit your finger with a hammer travels across what type of axon?

According to gate control theory, pain

Days after breaking his nose in a football game, Ben still perceives a dull pain in his nose.The dull ache travels along pain fibers, which are .

As Devin runs to catch the quarterback's throw, he automatically checks the position of his arms and hands and adjusts them to the path of the ball.Which sense allows him to position his hands and arms so well?

Randall does not immediately sense pain when he stays out too long in the snow, but he feels a painful sensation in his frostbitten toes for days afterward.Randall's inability to sense pain immediately is most likely due to damage to his

Avi broke his ankle skiing.At first, he felt a sharp and intense pain.The next day, the sharp pain was gone, but his ankle ached almost all the time.The sharp immediate pain was due to ; the later aching pain was due to .