how do neurotransmitters affect behavior and mental processes

ATI RN

Psychology 101 Exam 3 Test

1. How do neurotransmitters affect behavior and mental processes?

A. Neurotransmitters have little effect on behavior.
B. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that influence mood, thought, and behavior.
C. Neurotransmitters have a minor role in mental health.
D. Neurotransmitters determine intelligence levels.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Neurotransmitters are chemicals that influence mood, thought, and behavior, playing a significant role in mental health. Choice A is incorrect as neurotransmitters do have a notable effect on behavior. Choice C is incorrect as neurotransmitters have a major role in mental health. Choice D is incorrect as neurotransmitters do not solely determine intelligence levels.

2. Defense mechanisms ________.

A. make a person feel more anxious and have more problems, as they begin to act defensively.
B. are strategies the id uses to try to achieve its desires.
C. are conscious, intentional attempts to cope effectively with an anxiety-producing event.
D. help a person feel less anxious, but because they usually work by distorting reality, they are not always adaptive.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because defense mechanisms aim to reduce anxiety but can lead to distortion of reality, making them not always beneficial. Choice A is incorrect as defense mechanisms are meant to reduce anxiety, not increase it. Choice B is incorrect because defense mechanisms are not strategies of the id specifically. Choice C is incorrect as defense mechanisms are often unconscious and not always intentional.

3. Alicia, 5 years old, knows that she will take a bath at 6:05, change clothes at 6:15, eat breakfast at 6:20, commute to school at 6:40, and join the assembly at 7:00. A child's awareness of his or her scripts or daily routine is classified under which type of memory?

A. Semantic memory
B. Nondeclarative memory
C. Generic memory
D. Autobiographical memory

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Autobiographical memory. Autobiographical memory refers to the memory of a person's life events, such as daily routines and personal experiences. In this scenario, Alicia's awareness of her daily routine falls under autobiographical memory as she remembers specific events related to her own life. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Semantic memory is related to general knowledge about the world, nondeclarative memory involves memories that are not consciously recalled, and generic memory is not a recognized memory classification.

4. How do socioeconomic factors influence mental health?

A. Socioeconomic factors have no impact on mental health.
B. Socioeconomic factors are the primary determinants of mental health.
C. Socioeconomic factors are irrelevant to mental health.
D. Socioeconomic factors can exacerbate but not cause mental health issues.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Socioeconomic factors are indeed primary determinants of mental health. These factors influence mental health by impacting access to resources, stress levels, and overall well-being. Choice A is incorrect as socioeconomic factors do have a significant impact on mental health. Choice C is incorrect as socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in mental health outcomes. Choice D is incorrect as socioeconomic factors can both exacerbate and cause mental health issues.

5. How is pruning best defined?

A. The process of eliminating unused synapses
B. The process of synapse development
C. The connection between neurons
D. Fatty sheath that wraps around neurons and enables them to transmit information more rapidly

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Pruning is the process of eliminating unused synapses in the brain. This process helps the brain to become more efficient by strengthening important connections and eliminating unnecessary ones. Choice B is incorrect because pruning is about eliminating synapses, not developing them. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to the general concept of connections between neurons, not specifically about pruning. Choice D is incorrect as it describes the myelin sheath, which is responsible for rapid transmission of information along neurons, not pruning.