Question 1

Carlos is pulling an all-nighter in preparation for his big psychology test tomorrow. According to the research, what is the result on Carlos's memory when he deprives himself of sleep the night prior to his exam?

Accepted Answer

Sleep deprivation has been shown to have a negative impact on memory consolidation, leading to poorer retention of information. Carlos is likely to remember less if he deprives himself of sleep the night before his psychology test.

Question 2

Jane is aware that she is sitting in her psychology class and it is almost lunchtime. She is also aware of how tired she is after staying up late to watch a movie. Thus, if Jane is aware of what is going on around her and what is going on within her, then it is safe to say that she is in a(n) __________.

Accepted Answer

Jane is aware of her surroundings and her internal state, indicating that she is in a state of waking consciousness. Altered states of consciousness refer to periods of reducing awareness of surroundings or self, such as during sleep or under the influence of drugs. Unconscious and preconscious states are not relevant to her current situation.

Question 3

Your uncle Karl, who recently retired, has mentioned how he doesn't sleep as well as he did when he was younger. For many years, he regularly slept about 7 to 8 hours, but now that he is in his 60s, he tends to get only 5 to 6 hours of sleep per night. What would you tell him?

Accepted Answer

As people age, it is common for them to experience changes in their sleep patterns, including getting less sleep overall. While it may not be ideal, it is a normal part of the aging process in many cases. However, if Uncle Karl is concerned about his sleep, he may want to speak with his healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be contributing to his difficulty sleeping.

Question 4

After watching television while surfing the Internet on your tablet, you find yourself having trouble falling asleep at night. According to what we know about the biology of sleep, what is the most likely cause of your sleep problem?

Accepted Answer

The blue light emitted by electronic devices such as TVs and tablets can suppress the release of melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate sleep. This can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night.

Question 5

Bobby agreed to be hypnotized during a comedy routine. While hypnotized, he stood on his chair and crowed like a rooster. Later, when his friends asked why he did this, Bobby replied that he didn't know, it must have been because he was hypnotized. What theory best explains his behavior?

Accepted Answer

The social-cognitive explanation of hypnosis suggests that hypnotized individuals are not in an altered state but are rather playing a social role expected in the hypnotic context. Bobby's behavior can be explained by his adherence to the expectations of being hypnotized, acting in a way that he believes a hypnotized person should act.

Question 6

Which drug, depending on the dosage, can be a hallucinogen, stimulant, depressant, or painkiller?

Accepted Answer

PCP, also known as phencyclidine or angel dust, is a drug that can have a range of effects depending on the dosage. At lower doses, it can act as a stimulant and cause feelings of euphoria or increased confidence. At moderate doses, it can cause hallucinations and distortions of perception, making it a powerful hallucinogen. At higher doses, it can cause feelings of detachment and disorientation, acting as a depressant. Additionally, PCP has painkilling properties, which is why it was originally used as an anesthetic in the 1950s. Overall, PCP is a highly unpredictable drug that can have a wide range of effects depending on the dosage and individual user.

Question 7

Gerald has difficulty falling off to sleep. Harley can fall off to sleep easily but often wakes up early. Dale typically sleeps for 10 hours. All three are tired and not rested upon rising. Who seems to be experiencing insomnia?

Accepted Answer

Insomnia encompasses difficulty falling asleep (Gerald), difficulty staying asleep (Harley), and not feeling rested after sleep, even if the sleep duration seems adequate (Dale). All three scenarios fit within the broad definition of insomnia.

Question 8

Josef has had a very demanding day. Though his work is not physically challenging, it tends to mentally drain him. Which type of sleep will Josef probably require more of?

Accepted Answer

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is associated with mental recovery and cognitive functions, which is likely what Josef needs after a mentally draining day.

Question 9

In which stage of sleep do sleep spindles occur?

Accepted Answer

Sleep spindles occur in Stage N2 sleep, which is characterized by a decrease in muscle activity and heart rate, as well as the presence of sleep spindles (short bursts of brain activity).

Question 10

Jackie has found that when she tries to quit drinking, she gets headaches, has night sweats, and shakes uncontrollably. Such a reaction is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms Jackie is experiencing are typical of withdrawal, which occurs when a person who is physically dependent on a substance stops using it abruptly or reduces their intake significantly. These symptoms are caused by the body's attempt to restore balance after being accustomed to the presence of the substance.

Question 11

Which of the following would be bad advice for someone who is suffering from insomnia?

Accepted Answer

This is bad advice because exercise can actually help improve sleep quality and duration. It is important to avoid exercising too close to bedtime, but regular exercise can lead to better sleep patterns.

Question 12

Bill suddenly and without warning slips into REM sleep during the day. He often falls to the ground and is difficult to awaken. Bill may have a condition called __________.

Accepted Answer

Bill's sudden onset of REM sleep and inability to stay awake is characteristic of narcolepsy, which is a sleep disorder that affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Sleep apnea involves interruptions in breathing during sleep, insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep, and epilepsy involves seizures, none of which fit Bill's symptoms.

Question 13

Anthony's therapist is using hypnosis to help him recall the night he was supposedly abducted by aliens. Danny's therapist is using hypnosis to help him prepare for the pain of dental surgery because Danny is allergic to the dentist's painkillers. Patrick's therapist is using hypnosis to help him quit drinking and smoking. Which client has the highest chance for success?

Accepted Answer

Hypnosis has been shown to be effective in managing pain, including preparation for medical procedures where traditional pain management options are limited, as in Danny's case. The use of hypnosis for recalling supposed alien abductions (Anthony) or for addiction treatment (Patrick) is less empirically supported and may not have as high a success rate.

Question 14

What is the most commonly used and abused depressant?

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused depressant. It is legal and easily accessible, making it a popular choice for people to consume in social settings or to self-medicate for stress or anxiety. However, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a range of negative consequences, such as impaired judgment, liver damage, addiction, and even death.

Question 15

What part of the brain is influential in determining when to sleep?

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating sleep by controlling circadian rhythms and producing hormones such as melatonin.

Question 16

Studies have found that certain chemicals that help repair damaged cells only function while we sleep. What theory best explains this?

Accepted Answer

The restorative theory of sleep suggests that sleep is necessary in order to restore and rejuvenate the body, including repairing damaged cells.

Question 17

Your doctor has told you that your youngest son suffers from somnambulism. What is another name for somnambulism?

Accepted Answer

Somnambulism is another term for sleepwalking.

Question 18

Calvin had a dream about his dog Snoopy in which he constantly looked for him but couldn't find him. In reality, Calvin's dog had died after being hit by a car. According to Sigmund Freud, Calvin's dream in which he was searching for his dog is an example of __________, while the inner meaning that he misses his dog terribly is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

According to Sigmund Freud's dream analysis theory, the manifest content of a dream is its literal storyline or events (in this case, Calvin searching for his dog), while the latent content represents the hidden psychological meaning of the dream (Calvin missing his dog terribly).

Question 19

As the sun begins to set, Winston finds himself becoming sleepier and sleepier. What structure is sensitive to light and influences when to go to sleep and when to awaken?

Accepted Answer

The suprachiasmatic nucleus is a structure in the brain that is sensitive to light and helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle. As the sun begins to set and light levels decrease, the suprachiasmatic nucleus signals to the body that it is time to start feeling sleepy and prepare for nighttime rest.

Question 20

When Tawny is asked to write down her dreams as a class assignment, she is bothered by the fact that her dreams often seem to jump randomly from scene to scene with little meaning. What theory best explains her dreams?

Accepted Answer

The activation-synthesis hypothesis suggests that dreams are the result of random neural activity in the brain and that the brain tries to make sense of this activity by creating a story or narrative. This can often result in dreams that seem to jump randomly from scene to scene with little meaning.

Quiz 4: Consciousness