Question 1

In which of the following situations would reliance on routine most benefit performance?

Accepted Answer

Reliance on routine is most beneficial when performing a task that is familiar and involves few decisions. In such situations, the routine can help to automate the task, allowing for efficient and effective performance.

Question 2

Which of the following contributes the LEAST to successful metamemory?

Accepted Answer

Habitual responding does not involve conscious awareness or reflection on one's own memory processes, therefore it is not considered a significant contributor to metamemory. Executive control, self-monitoring, and conscious reflection all involve active monitoring and regulation of one's own memory processes, and are considered important for successful metamemory.

Question 3

The anterior cingulate cortex plays a crucial role in

Accepted Answer

The anterior cingulate cortex is involved in detecting conflict among brain systems, particularly when there is a difference between what is expected and what is actually occurring. It helps to regulate cognitive control and decision-making processes.

Question 4

Which area of the brain is thought to be critical for resolving conflicts among disparate goals?

Accepted Answer

The anterior cingulate cortex has been shown to be critical for resolving conflicts among disparate goals. Studies have found that when individuals are faced with conflicting information or decisions, the anterior cingulate cortex is highly active, suggesting its role in resolving such conflicts.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT an advantage gained by relying on routine?

Accepted Answer

Relying on routine may help mental tasks to run more quickly, improve performance by allowing us to focus attention on other aspects of a task, and expend less effort in deciding how to execute a task. However, it may not allow us to consider each decision with greater care as routine often relies on automatic responses rather than deliberate decision-making.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an advantage gained by practicing a task?

Accepted Answer

Practicing a task may lead to the mechanics of the task becoming automatic and entering the subconscious, not conscious, awareness. Therefore, option D is the only one that does not describe an advantage gained by practicing a task.

Question 7

The term "action slip" refers to

Accepted Answer

Action slips are unintentional actions that occur when a person intends to carry out one action but inadvertently carries out a different, often automatic, action. This is often due to relying on a habitual response instead of a more appropriate response for the situation.

Question 8

People can be influenced by a stimulus even if they are not consciously aware of having been exposed to the stimulus.Which of the following terms refers to this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Subliminal perception refers to the ability of people to be influenced by a stimulus that is below the threshold of conscious awareness. This means that they are not consciously aware of having been exposed to the stimulus, yet it has still influenced their behavior or attitudes. The placebo effect refers to the phenomenon where a person experiences changes in their symptoms or condition because they believe they have received a treatment, even if the treatment is inert. Action slips refer to errors or mistakes that occur when a person's intentions do not match their actions. The mind-body problem refers to the philosophical debate about the relationship between the mind and the body, and whether they are separate entities or if they are interconnected.

Question 9

Blind-sight patients seem able to make many visual discriminations and,when pressed,to locate objects in their visual environment.Yet these same patients often refuse to walk across a room because they are concerned that they will bump into something.The text suggests that blind-sight patients

Accepted Answer

Blind-sight patients may be able to make visual discriminations and locate objects in their environment, but they do not feel they have a reason or justification for using this information. This is why they may refuse to walk across a room, even though they can apparently "see" where objects are located.

Question 10

Billy thinks he understands the information from the textbook very well;however,he fails the quiz on that same material.Billy's error results from a failure of

Accepted Answer

Billy's error stems from a lack of metacognition, which refers to the ability to monitor one's own mental processes and understanding. Although he may have thought he understood the material, he failed to accurately self-assess and adjust his learning strategies accordingly.

Question 11

Biologically,attention seems to

Accepted Answer

Attention involves sustained activity within a neural system as well as linking the activities between different neural systems. This allows for the integration of information from different brain regions to create a coherent perception of the world.

Question 12

________ refers to one's ability to monitor or control one's own mental processes.

Accepted Answer

Metacognition refers to the ability to be aware of and control one's own thought processes. This includes being able to monitor and regulate one's attention, perception, memory, and problem-solving skills. Metacognition is an important aspect of learning and can help individuals better understand their own strengths and weaknesses, leading to greater academic and personal success.

Question 13

Participants will demonstrate a larger N400 brain wave when they perceive something that violates their expectations.Based on this,which of the following would be the strongest evidence for subliminal perception?

Accepted Answer

Choice C provides evidence for subliminal perception because the phrase "Don't eat popcorn" is flashed on screen for a very short period of time and may not be consciously perceived. However, if participants demonstrate a large N400 brain wave in response to this subliminal message, it suggests that their brain processed the message at some level, even if they were not aware of it. Choices A, B, and D all involve conscious perception of stimuli, which is not consistent with subliminal perception.

Question 14

The fact that we are unaware of most of our mental processing is a good thing for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that

Accepted Answer

We cannot reliably infer what our mental processes are without conscious awareness and monitoring of them. Therefore, this is not a good reason why unawareness of mental processing is beneficial.

Question 15

Which of these tasks is LEAST likely to succeed with a reliance only on unconscious processes?

Accepted Answer

Unconscious processes rely on established patterns and routines, so tasks that require a deviation from these patterns (such as changing a well-practiced routine for a particular occasion) are less likely to succeed with a reliance only on unconscious processes. Tasks that can be guided by habits (A) and involve an already established routine (B) are more likely to be successful with unconscious processing. Tasks that elicit strong stimulus-based actions (C) may also be successful with unconscious processing, as these actions can become automatic responses.

Question 16

The term "neural correlates of consciousness" refers to the

Accepted Answer

The term "neural correlates of consciousness" refers specifically to the changes in neural activity in the brain that correspond to our subjective experience of being conscious of a stimulus. It does not refer to the subjective experience itself (choice B), the area of the brain that is damaged in a specific type of visual processing deficit (choice C), or the electrical activity in the brain during unconsciousness (choice D).

Question 17

Which of these is the best example of an action slip?

Accepted Answer

An action slip refers to a mistake or lapse in action that results from a failure to properly carry out a intention. In option A, Darren intended to turn left to go to his friend's house, but due to distraction, he ended up taking his usual route home. This is a clear example of an action slip. The other options describe mistakes or deliberate actions that do not fit the definition of an action slip.

Question 18

Lisa rides the train to work and always gets off at Stop A.One Saturday she has to go into town,and she rides the same train she takes to work.She is supposed to get off at Stop F,but she starts talking to her mother on the phone and then gets off at Stop A.What does this tell us about unconscious processing?

Accepted Answer

The fact that Lisa got off at the wrong stop due to not consciously attending to what she was doing and relying on habit shows that unconscious processing can have an impact on our behaviors and decisions.

Question 19

Why is unconscious processing sometimes called "irresistible"?

Accepted Answer

Unconscious processing is sometimes called "irresistible" because our unconscious is inflexible, making it difficult to adjust or overrule routines. This means that even if we try to consciously change a behavior, our unconscious can still overpower it, making it challenging to resist certain impulses or habits.

Question 20

Matt has sustained damage to his anterior cingulate cortex.What sort of disruptions in behavior would we expect to see as a result of this damage?

Accepted Answer

The anterior cingulate cortex is involved in inhibition of responses and monitoring for errors. Damage to this area can result in difficulty overriding default responses produced by well-practiced behaviors, as well as impulsivity and disinhibition.

Quiz 14: Conscious Thought,Unconscious Thought