Question 1

In describing the nature of the relationship between habituation and sensitization, Dual-Process theory argues that:

Accepted Answer

Dual-Process theory suggests that the balance between habituation and sensitization depends on the specific learning situation. In some cases, habituation may be the more dominant process, while in others sensitization may be more dominant. Therefore, both processes can be important for learning and behavior.

Question 2

The Memory-Comparator theory is an example of what type of approach to habituation?

Accepted Answer

The Memory-Comparator theory is a cognitive approach to habituation that suggests that habituation occurs because the brain gets used to the stimulus and creates a memory of it, and then compares all subsequent encounters of the stimulus to that memory. This cognitive process results in a decreased response to the stimulus.

Question 3

As a result of his past experiences with police, whenever Pat hears a police siren, he expects that he will soon be arrested. This type of a reaction arises from which model of habituation?

Accepted Answer

This type of reaction is based on cognitive habituation, which involves learned expectations and beliefs about certain situations or stimuli.

Question 4

Aplysia have been used to study the physiological properties of learning because:

Accepted Answer

Aplysia have relatively simple nervous systems consisting of only a few large neurons, making them ideal for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. However, they do not have only one neuron, as option A suggests, and they have significantly fewer neurons than humans, making it difficult to generalize findings to humans as suggested in option C.

Question 5

An Aplysia's siphon, when stimulated by touch, withdraws into its body. Such withdrawal, in and of itself, is illustrative of:

Accepted Answer

Sensitization is the correct answer because it refers to an increased response to a stimulus following its repeated presentation. In the context of the Aplysia's siphon withdrawal, if the stimulus (touch) leads to an enhanced withdrawal response over time, it illustrates sensitization. This process is crucial for understanding how organisms adapt to their environments by amplifying their responses to certain stimuli.

Question 6

Studying the interaction between neurons in Aplysia has led to the conclusion that habituation occurs:

Accepted Answer

Studies on Aplysia have shown that habituation occurs at synapses between neurons. This is because repeated stimulation of a sensory neuron leads to a decrease in neurotransmitter release from its synapses with motor neurons, which in turn reduces the strength of the motor response.

Question 7

From a cognitive perspective, habituation occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Habituation occurs when an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus after repeated exposure, indicating that a memory of the event has been acquired and the response to the stimulus decreases over time.

Question 8

From a cognitive perspective, sensitization occurs when:

Accepted Answer

Sensitization is a form of learning in which an organism becomes more responsive to a stimulus after being exposed to it repeatedly. This process occurs during the establishment of a memory, and is a result of changes in the neural pathways involved in processing that stimulus. Therefore, choice A is the best option.

Question 9

The Memory-Comparator theory argues that habituation can occur:

Accepted Answer

The Memory-Comparator theory argues that habituation can occur both at the level of short-term memory and long-term memory. It suggests that when a stimulus is repeated, it is compared to the memory of the previous stimulus. If the two are similar enough, habituation occurs. This can occur at both short-term and long-term levels of memory.

Question 10

Samantha is attempting to measure permanent habituation in her rats. The memories that will have to be retrieved in order for Samantha to have any useful data will have to come from her subjects':

Accepted Answer

Permanent habituation is referring to long-term memory. Therefore, the memories that need to be retrieved should be from the rats' long-term memory, not short-term, sensory, or iconic memory.

Question 11

According to Sokolov's Memory-Comparator theory, a response similar to sensitization will occur if:

Accepted Answer

According to Sokolov's Memory-Comparator theory, if a memory comparator does not find an already-stored representation of a stimulus that one is presented with, a response similar to sensitization can occur. This means that the organism may react more strongly to the stimulus than it would have if there had been a stored representation in memory. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 12

Gibson & Walk's classic perceptual learning experiment found that:

Accepted Answer

Gibson & Walk's experiment found that when infants were able to crawl over the "visual cliff" and avoid an apparent drop off, it suggested that they had learned depth perception cues prenatally. This indicates that exposure to stimuli facilitates later learning.

Question 13

A teacher is helping a young student understand what the color 'green' looks like. Research on perceptual learning suggests that the best way of accomplishing this would be to:

Accepted Answer

Showing the student some objects that are 'green' and some that are 'blue' helps in differentiating between the two colors, enhancing the learning of what 'green' specifically looks like through contrast.

Question 14

After seeing a commercial, for a specific type of new car, 20 times in a single day, Mary decides that that car is the best car on the market, and she will buy it when she gets paid next month. Which of the following processes is at work here?

Accepted Answer

The mere exposure effect is at work here, as Mary's repeated exposure to the commercial for the car has led her to develop a positive attitude towards it and a preference for it.

Question 15

The mere exposure effect is contingent upon which of the following occurring?

Accepted Answer

The mere exposure effect is not contingent upon rewards, problems, or decision-making. It is a psychological phenomenon where people prefer things they are familiar with over unfamiliar things, solely based on repeated exposure.

Question 16

Which of the following questions would most likely elicit an unconscious, mere-exposure based reaction?

Accepted Answer

The question that would most likely elicit an unconscious, mere-exposure based reaction is asking about liking the stimulus (C). Mere-exposure effect refers to the phenomenon where people tend to develop a preference for things that they have been repeatedly exposed to, even if they are not consciously aware of it. Asking about fear (B) or exposure frequency (D) would not necessarily tap into this effect, and asking about whether the stimulus was presented during the experiment (A) is not relevant to mere-exposure.

Question 17

Smith feels that his 10th-grade students will do much better in their calculus class that they will be taking next year if they do well in their math class this year, which provides the mathematical basics for calculus. Mr. Smith seems to be an advocate of:

Accepted Answer

Mr. Smith's belief that doing well in math class this year will provide the necessary foundation for success in calculus next year suggests that he is advocating for perceptual learning, which is the process of developing new and more complex cognitive structures and abilities through experience and practice.

Question 18

Having a fear of new stimuli is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Neophobia is the fear or reluctance to try new things or experiences. Mere-exposure phobia refers specifically to the fear of familiar stimuli, and habituphobia is not a recognized term.

Question 19

Upon returning home from middle school each day, Billy has a peanut butter sandwich for a snack. After 8 days of this, he finds that he no longer enjoys the sandwich, but he wants to enjoy it as he did when he first started eating this daily treat. Research on habituation shows that Billy should avoid eating peanut butter sandwiches for__________days in order to have the strongest chance of getting his enjoyment back to its initial level.

Accepted Answer

Research on habituation suggests that taking a break equal to the duration of the exposure period can help reset the habituation effect. Since Billy ate the sandwiches for 8 days, avoiding them for another 8 days is likely to restore his initial level of enjoyment.

Question 20

Continued, safe exposure to an object usually results in neophobia:

Accepted Answer

Neophobia, the fear of anything new, typically decreases with continued, safe exposure to an object as familiarity and understanding increase, reducing fear and anxiety.

Quiz 2: Habituation and Other Forms of Simple Stimulus Learning