Question 1

One reason that night shiftwork has a detrimental effect on circadian rhythms is that

Accepted Answer

Exposure to morning daylight can disrupt the circadian rhythm by signaling the body to stay awake, making it difficult for night shift workers to adjust their internal clocks to a night-time schedule.

Question 2

The hormone secreted from the pineal gland, that has a relaxing effect on the body, and plays an important role in the regulation of circadian rhythms is called

Accepted Answer

Melatonin is the hormone secreted by the pineal gland that helps regulate sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.

Question 3

Which of the following environmental factors helps to reset our 24-hour biological clock?

Accepted Answer

Exposure to light, especially in the morning, is a primary environmental cue used by the body to reset our internal 24-hour clock, also known as the circadian rhythm. This process helps align our biological clock with the external environment.

Question 4

Of the alternatives below, the most problematic circadian disruption for society is caused by

Accepted Answer

Night shift work is the most problematic circadian disruption for society as it affects a large number of people consistently, leading to chronic health issues and decreased productivity.

Question 5

If someone is placed in a dark cave or room where they are not exposed to the changing light conditions of night and day, what will happen to them if they stay there for a prolonged period of time?

Accepted Answer

In the absence of external light cues, a person's circadian rhythm tends to run on a slightly longer than 24-hour cycle, causing them to wake up later each day.

Question 6

The inability to recognize objects is known as

Accepted Answer

Visual agnosia is a disorder characterized by an inability to recognize objects despite having functional eyesight. This condition is due to damage to the brain areas responsible for processing visual information, not a problem with the eyes themselves.

Question 7

Assume that you were a physician who is treating a person with seasonal affective disorder. Based on your knowledge of effective treatments for this problem, which of the following would you recommend?

Accepted Answer

Exposure to artificial bright lights for 1-2 hours each day is a recognized treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as it helps to mimic the sunlight that is missing during the winter months, potentially correcting the imbalance in the body's internal clock (circadian rhythms) and neurotransmitter function that contributes to symptoms of SAD.

Question 8

For the past few years, Jane has been becoming depressed during the winters. It usually starts around October and continues until February or March, when her mood usually starts to improve. Jane is most likely suffering from

Accepted Answer

Jane's symptoms align with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs at a specific time of year, typically in the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight.

Question 9

The suprachiasmatic nuclei, or SCN, are responsible for the regulation of

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) are primarily responsible for regulating circadian rhythms, which are the body's internal clock mechanisms that dictate sleep-wake cycles and other physiological processes.

Question 10

A number of recent theoretical models propose the existence of separate but integrated information-processing units within the brain that perform various tasks, such as sensation, perception, and motor behaviour. These units are called

Accepted Answer

These units are referred to as "modules" in cognitive science and psychology, aligning with the modular theory of mind, which suggests that the brain is composed of independent units (modules) each designed to perform specific functions like sensation, perception, and motor behavior.

Question 11

The ability of individuals with either visual agnosia or blindsight to show some unconscious awareness of objects demonstrates the role of

Accepted Answer

Visual agnosia and blindsight both involve the processing of visual information without conscious awareness, which is characteristic of automatic processing. Controlled processing is conscious and deliberate, divided attention refers to the ability to process multiple sources of information at once, and preconscious involves information that is not currently in consciousness but can be brought to consciousness. Automatic processing best describes the unconscious awareness demonstrated in these conditions.

Question 12

Research by Owen and colleagues indicates that individuals in a vegetative state

Accepted Answer

Brain scans can show some awareness of the environment in individuals in a vegetative state.

Question 13

Individuals, who report being unable to see at all and yet show some unconscious awareness of stimuli in the environment, suffer from

Accepted Answer

Blindsight is a condition where individuals are unable to consciously see due to damage to the primary visual cortex, yet demonstrate some unconscious visual awareness of their environment. This can include responding to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them.

Question 14

Jose and Carlos were both hired to work the night shift at the local canning factory. Jose sleeps when he gets home from about 7am until 3pm during the week and then sleeps at night on the weekends so that he can spend time with his children. Carlos is not married and tries to sleep at the same time every day, from 7am until 3 pm both during the week and on the weekends. All other factors being equal which of the following statements is most likely true?

Accepted Answer

Carlos maintains a consistent sleep schedule throughout the week and weekends, which likely results in better sleep quality and less drowsiness during work hours compared to Jose, who changes his sleep pattern on weekends.

Question 15

When flying, jet lag problems are more compatible with our free-running circadian cycle and we have less difficulty flying to the _______ because this ___________ the day.

Accepted Answer

Flying west lengthens the day, which is more compatible with our natural circadian rhythm, making it easier to adjust.

Question 16

Vanessa finds herself suffering from extreme sadness every winter. She has always been sensitive to the weather, but on some winter days it is very hard for her to get up and get going in the morning. It is dark in the morning when she leaves for school and dark in the early evening when she comes home. Which of the following is most likely responsible for Vanessa's sadness?

Accepted Answer

The lack of sunlight in the morning can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs at a specific time of year, usually in the winter, when daylight hours are shorter. This can disrupt the body's internal clock or circadian rhythm and lead to feelings of sadness or depression.

Question 17

When our circadian clocks are not reset each day, they run on a cycle which is a little longer than 24 hours. This is called a ______________ circadian rhythm.

Accepted Answer

Free-running circadian rhythms occur when the internal clock runs without external cues to reset it, typically extending slightly beyond the 24-hour cycle.

Question 18

During the day, superchiasmatic nuclei help to raise the body temperature and increase alertness by reducing the pineal gland's secretion of ___________.

Accepted Answer

The superchiasmatic nuclei regulate the body's circadian rhythms, including sleep-wake cycles, by controlling the production of melatonin in the pineal gland. During the day, they reduce melatonin secretion to increase alertness and raise body temperature.

Question 19

Jet lag, seasonal affective disorder, and night shiftwork, all involve the disruption of

Accepted Answer

These conditions involve the disruption of circadian rhythms, which are the natural internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle and repeat roughly every 24 hours.

Question 20

If our circadian clocks are not reset each morning by exposure to light, they

Accepted Answer

Circadian clocks, when not reset by exposure to light, tend to run on a cycle that is slightly longer than 24 hours. This is why regular exposure to natural light is important for maintaining a healthy sleep-wake cycle.

Quiz 6: States of Consciousness