Question 1

Humans' taste preferences for fatty substances may be one example of ​

Accepted Answer

Humans' taste preferences for fatty substances are likely an adaptation from a time when high-calorie foods were scarce and necessary for survival. In modern environments where fatty foods are abundant, this preference can lead to health issues, making it an adaptation that has become a liability.

Question 2

Contemporary models account for or explain evolutionary theory in _____ terms.

Accepted Answer

Contemporary models explain evolutionary theory primarily in genetic terms, focusing on how genes and their variations influence the evolution of species over time.

Question 3

An inherited characteristic that, through natural selection, increases in a population because it helps to solve a survival problem at the time it emerges is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

Adaptations are traits that evolve through natural selection, where those characteristics that increase an organism's likelihood of survival and reproduction are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations. These traits help organisms solve survival problems in their environment.

Question 4

Kim is good at reading maps and enjoys listening to music. Some researchers would suggest that these characteristics indicate that Kim is probably ​

Accepted Answer

The concept of right-brained and left-brained suggests that individuals who are more creative and artistic (such as enjoying music and possibly having a good spatial understanding, like reading maps well) are often considered to be more right-brained. This contrasts with the left-brained individuals who are thought to be more logical and analytical.

Question 5

_____ refers to the reproductive success of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success in the population. ​

Accepted Answer

Fitness in evolutionary biology refers to how good a particular genotype is at leaving offspring in the next generation relative to how good other genotypes are at it. It's a measure of reproductive success compared to the average reproductive success in the population.

Question 6

All of the studies that highlighted the possible importance of early experience in animals had which of the following features in common?

Accepted Answer

These studies often utilized extreme conditions to highlight the potential impacts of early experiences on animals, making the effects more observable and significant.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an example of a behavioral adaptation?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral adaptations are actions animals take to survive in their environments. B) Male wild turkeys growing larger beak ornaments is not a behavioral adaptation but rather a physical or morphological adaptation, as it involves a physical trait rather than a behavior.

Question 8

Research involving tasks such as recognizing words or musical melodies has shown that ​

Accepted Answer

Research on lateralization of brain function suggests that while one hemisphere may be more involved in certain tasks (e.g., language in the left hemisphere for most people), the superiority of one hemisphere over the other is generally modest for specific types of tasks. This indicates a more nuanced and integrated role of both hemispheres in cognitive processes.

Question 9

Darwin believed that evolutionary change was ultimately fueled by

Accepted Answer

Darwin believed that evolutionary change was driven by natural selection, where variations in reproductive success among individuals lead to the survival and reproduction of those best adapted to their environment.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate? ​

Accepted Answer

Human beings begin life with an overabundance of synapses, which are then pruned over time based on experiences and learning. This process helps the brain to become more efficient.

Question 11

Darwin's theory of natural selection is MOST directly related to which of the text's following  unifying themes in psychology?

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of natural selection emphasizes the role of heredity and environmental factors in shaping behavior and traits, suggesting that those who are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This directly relates to the theme that heredity and environment jointly influence behavior.

Question 12

The seminal research on critical periods in neural development was conducted in the 1960s on which of the following subjects?

Accepted Answer

The seminal research on critical periods in neural development, particularly the studies on the effects of sensory deprivation on visual development, was conducted by David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel in the 1960s using newborn kittens as their primary subjects.

Question 13

The notion that the heritable characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations is known as ​

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the process by which heritable traits that make it more likely for an organism to survive and successfully reproduce become more common in a population over successive generations.

Question 14

Schizophrenia may be related to abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity, structural defects in the brain, and genetic vulnerabilities. These observations MOST directly relate to the text's unifying theme that ​

Accepted Answer

The observations about schizophrenia being related to abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity, structural defects in the brain, and genetic vulnerabilities illustrate that behavior (in this case, the manifestations of schizophrenia) is determined by multiple causes, including biological and genetic factors.

Question 15

A set of identical twins has been raised together. One of them develops schizophrenia, but the other does not. Which of the following unifying themes discussed in the text does this example illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the theme that heredity and environment jointly influence behavior. Even though the twins share the same genetic makeup, the difference in the development of schizophrenia suggests that environmental factors also play a crucial role in determining behavior and mental health outcomes.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate? ​

Accepted Answer

The brain's right and left hemispheres are specialized to process different types of information, with the left typically handling logical reasoning and language, and the right often associated with creativity and spatial ability. This specialization is known as lateralization. However, the brain is highly interconnected, and tasks usually involve both hemispheres to some extent.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT one of Darwin's four key insights? ​

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is based on four key insights, but it does not include genetic drift as a major factor. Genetic drift, a concept related to the random changes in allele frequencies within a population, was not part of Darwin's original theory.

Question 18

Since the long necks of giraffes and sharp beaks of woodpeckers allow individuals access to food, these physical characteristics are considered to be examples of ​

Accepted Answer

Adaptations are physical or behavioral traits that have evolved over time to allow an organism to better survive in its environment. The long necks of giraffes allow them to reach leaves high up in trees, and the sharp beaks of woodpeckers enable them to drill into wood to find insects, making these traits adaptations.

Question 19

In summarizing recent research in neuroscience, science writer Ronald Kotulak concluded that which of the following periods is critically important to an individual's brain development?

Accepted Answer

Ronald Kotulak's research in neuroscience emphasizes the critical importance of the first 3 years of life for an individual's brain development. This period is crucial for forming the foundation of brain architecture and cognitive and emotional development.

Question 20

Which of the following has NOT been demonstrated through scientific research? ​

Accepted Answer

There is no scientific evidence supporting the claim that young infants exposed to classical music show higher cognitive performance in preschool. This idea, often referred to as the "Mozart effect," has been largely debunked in relation to long-term cognitive benefits for infants.

Quiz 3: The Biological Bases of Behavior

Humans' taste preferences for fatty substances may be one example of ​

Contemporary models account for or explain evolutionary theory in _____ terms.

An inherited characteristic that, through natural selection, increases in a population because it helps to solve a survival problem at the time it emerges is called a(n)

Kim is good at reading maps and enjoys listening to music. Some researchers would suggest that these characteristics indicate that Kim is probably ​

_____ refers to the reproductive success of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success in the population. ​

All of the studies that highlighted the possible importance of early experience in animals had which of the following features in common?

Which of the following is NOT an example of a behavioral adaptation?

Research involving tasks such as recognizing words or musical melodies has shown that ​

Darwin believed that evolutionary change was ultimately fueled by

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate? ​

Darwin's theory of natural selection is MOST directly related to which of the text's following unifying themes in psychology?

The seminal research on critical periods in neural development was conducted in the 1960s on which of the following subjects?

The notion that the heritable characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations is known as ​

Schizophrenia may be related to abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity, structural defects in the brain, and genetic vulnerabilities. These observations MOST directly relate to the text's unifying theme that ​

A set of identical twins has been raised together. One of them develops schizophrenia, but the other does not. Which of the following unifying themes discussed in the text does this example illustrate?

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate? ​

Which of the following is NOT one of Darwin's four key insights? ​

Since the long necks of giraffes and sharp beaks of woodpeckers allow individuals access to food, these physical characteristics are considered to be examples of ​

In summarizing recent research in neuroscience, science writer Ronald Kotulak concluded that which of the following periods is critically important to an individual's brain development?

Which of the following has NOT been demonstrated through scientific research? ​

Humans' taste preferences for fatty substances may be one example of

Kim is good at reading maps and enjoys listening to music. Some researchers would suggest that these characteristics indicate that Kim is probably

_____ refers to the reproductive success of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success in the population.

Research involving tasks such as recognizing words or musical melodies has shown that

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate?

The notion that the heritable characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations is known as

Schizophrenia may be related to abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity, structural defects in the brain, and genetic vulnerabilities. These observations MOST directly relate to the text's unifying theme that

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate?

Which of the following is NOT one of Darwin's four key insights?

Since the long necks of giraffes and sharp beaks of woodpeckers allow individuals access to food, these physical characteristics are considered to be examples of

Which of the following has NOT been demonstrated through scientific research?