Question 1

Regular meditation can enhance physical and psychological functioning.

Accepted Answer

Numerous studies have found that regular meditation can improve physical and psychological well-being. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve blood pressure, boost the immune system, and enhance cognitive function, among other benefits.

Question 2

When the brain adjusts to the effects of addictive drug abuse, there is a decrease in the number of dopamine receptors in the brain's reward system.

Accepted Answer

This is true. The brain's reward system adjusts to the influx of dopamine caused by drug abuse by decreasing the number of dopamine receptors, leading to a decreased ability to experience pleasure and reinforcing the addictive behavior.

Question 3

Each of the addictive drugs-including alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine, and amphetamines-has its own separate reward system involving different neurotransmitters in the brain.

Accepted Answer

All addictive drugs primarily affect the brain's reward system by increasing dopamine levels, although they may also involve other neurotransmitters.

Question 4

Most drug experts agree that alcohol abuse has the highest social cost of all drug addictions.

Accepted Answer

Alcohol abuse has been shown to cause the highest social cost of all drug addictions, surpassing even the cost of illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin. The social cost includes healthcare expenses, lost productivity and wages, criminal justice expenses, and damages to family and social relationships.

Question 5

In a study examining brain differences between practitioners of meditation and those who never meditated, MRI scans showed that several cortical areas were thicker in the meditators' brains than in the nonmeditators' brains.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A study did find that cortical areas were thicker in the brains of individuals who practiced meditation compared to those who did not meditate, as shown by MRI scans.

Question 6

Women metabolize alcohol more slowly than men do.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that women have lower levels of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol in the stomach and liver, leading to a slower metabolism of alcohol compared to men. As a result, women tend to reach higher blood alcohol levels than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol.

Question 7

The drug rebound effect is the tendency for a drug abuser to take combinations of drugs that have the opposite effect on each other.

Accepted Answer

The drug rebound effect refers to the return of symptoms, often more intense, after stopping a medication, not the use of opposing drugs.

Question 8

A national survey of college students found that fewer than 30 percent "drank to get drunk" in the previous year.

Accepted Answer

A national survey of college students typically finds that a higher percentage, often more than 30 percent, report drinking to get drunk.

Question 9

Although there are some gender differences, racial and ethnic differences have no influence on the biological effects of psychoactive drugs.

Accepted Answer

Racial and ethnic differences can cause variations in how psychoactive drugs are metabolized and their effectiveness, which can ultimately affect the biological effects of the drugs. Additionally, cultural and social factors may impact attitudes towards drug use and affect how individuals react to them.

Question 10

In a study examining the brains of people who practice meditation, MRI scans showed that cortical thickness was positively correlated with meditation experience.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the findings of the study, where cortical thickness was found to be positively correlated with the amount of time spent practicing meditation.

Question 11

As the brain adjusts to the effects of addictive psychoactive drugs, one change that occurs is that the normally reinforcing experiences in everyday life are no longer satisfying.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. As the brain becomes more adapted to the effects of addictive drugs, the individual may no longer find pleasure in previously enjoyable activities or experiences. This is known as anhedonia, which is a symptom of substance use disorders.

Question 12

Once an addicted person stops abusing an addictive drug, the sensitization of the brain's reward circuits to the addictive drug quickly diminishes, usually within a couple of days.

Accepted Answer

Sensitization of the brain's reward circuits to an addictive drug can persist for a long time, even after the person stops using the drug, making relapse a significant risk.

Question 13

A blood alcohol level of 0.20% is accompanied by obvious intoxication and marked depression in sensory and motor capability.

Accepted Answer

A blood alcohol level of 0.20% is considered a high level of intoxication and can cause significant impairment in sensory and motor capabilities, potentially leading to slurred speech, impaired coordination, impaired vision, and an increased risk of accidents or injury.

Question 14

Because alcohol initially produces a mild euphoria, talkativeness, and feelings of good humor, it is classified as a stimulant.

Accepted Answer

Alcohol is actually a depressant, as it depresses the central nervous system and slows down brain activity and bodily functions. The initial euphoria and talkativeness are only temporary effects that are quickly followed by sedation and impaired judgment.

Question 15

A meditation training study in which participants learned to meditate in an eight-week course found that the new meditators showed gray-matter density decreases in several cortical areas.

Accepted Answer

Meditation studies typically report increases in gray-matter density in cortical areas, not decreases.

Question 16

Inhalants are chemical substances, such as paint solvents, gasoline, and aerosol sprays, that are inhaled to produce an alteration in consciousness.

Accepted Answer

Inhalants are indeed chemical substances that are inhaled to produce a psychoactive effect on the body and alter one's consciousness.

Question 17

The chronic use of methamphetamines causes the destruction of brain tissue.

Accepted Answer

Chronic use of methamphetamines can lead to structural and functional changes in the brain, including the destruction of brain tissue in some regions. This can result in impairments in cognitive function, mood regulation, and motor skills.

Question 18

At one time, people could legally purchase opium, heroin, and cocaine in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Before the 1900s, opium, heroin, and cocaine were available for purchase legally without a prescription.

Question 19

In a study examining brain differences between practitioners of meditation and those who never meditated, MRI scans showed that the meditators had more gray matter than the nonmeditators in regions associated with attention, emotion, and sensory processing.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the findings of the study.

Question 20

If a man and a woman of equal weight consume the same number of alcoholic drinks, the woman will become more intoxicated.

Accepted Answer

Alcohol affects women more strongly than men for several reasons, such as differences in body composition and enzyme activity. Women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat and less water than men of the same weight, which means alcohol becomes more concentrated in their bloodstream. Additionally, women have lower levels of certain enzymes that help break down alcohol in the body. As a result, women can become more intoxicated than men when consuming the same amount of alcohol.

Quiz 4: Consciousness and Its Variations