AP Psychology : AP Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Brain And Nervous System

Which part of the human nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" mechanism?

Possible Answers:

Response-driven nervous system

Flaterra nervous system

Somatic nervous system

Parasympathetic nervous system

Sympathetic nervous system

Correct answer:

Sympathetic nervous system

Explanation:

The sympathetic nervous system responds to threats (for example, an angry lion walks near you) through the fight or flight mechanism. In the prior example, you could choose to battle the lion (fight) or run away from the lion (flight).

Example Question #13 : Brain And Nervous System

Which part of the brain is responsible for heart rate control, respiration and blood pressure?

Possible Answers:

midbrain

forebrain

hindbrain

hypothalamus

Correct answer:

hindbrain

Explanation:

The hindbrain is composed of structrures responsible for the control of heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. 

Example Question #63 : Biology

After a stressful or arousing situation, which division of the nervous system is responsible for calming someone down?

Possible Answers:

Somatic Nervous System

Sympathetic Nervous System

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Apathetic Nervous System

Correct answer:

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Explanation:

A subdivision of the Autonomic Nervous System, the Parasympathetic Nervous System is responsible for returning the body to a calm state after experiencing stress or arousal. The Sympathetic Nervous System arouses the body (i.e. - pupil dilation, increased heartbeat, sweating, etc.). The Somatic Nervous System is responsible for voluntary muscle control.

Example Question #64 : Biology

What are the two major divisions of the Nervous System?

Possible Answers:

Central and Peripheral

Autonomic and Somatic

Central and Autonomic

Autonomic and Peripheral

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

Correct answer:

Central and Peripheral

Explanation:

The Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) are the two major divisions of the body's nervous system. The CNS is comprised of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS is all the nerves outside of that. Further subdivisions of the PNS are the Somatic Nervous System (for voluntary muscle movements) and the Autonomic Nervous System (for responses to stress). The Autonomic is divided between the Sympathetic Nervous System (arouses the body under stress) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (calms the body down after stress).

Example Question #15 : Brain And Nervous System

Which of the following is an incorrect connection between brain lobe and function?

Possible Answers:

Frontal Lobe - controls voluntary movements

Occipital Lobe - controls emotions

Parietal Lobes - processes tactile sensations

Temporal Lobes - processes sound

All of the answers are correct

Correct answer:

Occipital Lobe - controls emotions

Explanation:

The Occipital Lobe is responsible for processing vision. The Frontal Lobe controls emotions in its prefrontal cortex.

Example Question #71 : Biology

Which action would be most typically impaired when the cerebellum is depressed?

Possible Answers:

The ability to process visual information

The ability to think abstractly

The ability to feel emotion

The ability to walk in a straight line

The ability to incorporate new memories into a web of old knowledge

Correct answer:

The ability to walk in a straight line

Explanation:

When the cerebellum is depressed (such as from alcohol use), the ability most typically impaired would be the one to walk in a straight line because the cerebellum controls and coordinates muscle skills. 

The ability to think abstractly is controlled by the frontal lobe, the ability to process visual information is controlled by the occipital lobe, ability to incoporate new memories into a web of old knowledge is controlled by the hippocampus, and the ability to feel emotion is controlled by the amygdala. 

Example Question #72 : Biology

Which type of medical test would show the brain structures (and therefore detect any tumors that may be present) but not any brain waves or activity?

Possible Answers:

fMRI

EEG

CAT or CT scan

PET

Ultrasound

Correct answer:

CAT or CT scan

Explanation:

CAT or CT scans use the densities of tissues in order to produce a 3D image of the brain's structures (but not waves or activity), which can then be used to find tumors. 

EEGs detect electrical activity in the brain and are often used in sleep research. fMRIs detect brain activity by showing blood flow in the brain. PET scans detect brain activity by showing how much of a certain substance is being used in a certain part of the brain. Ultrasounds are not generally used for the brain and are most commonly used for fetal imaging. 

Example Question #73 : Biology

What section of the brain is the most basic and essential?

Possible Answers:

The forebrain

The backbrain

The midbrain

All parts of the brain are equally basic and essential

The hindbrain

Correct answer:

The hindbrain

Explanation:

The hindbrain is the most basic and essential part of the brain because it controls the simplest biological functions that sustain our lives, such as respiration and heartbeat. The hindbrain is made up of structures such as the medulla and the cerebellum. The other two major areas of the brain are the midbrain, which controls simple movements in conjunction with sensory input, and the forebrain, which controls complicated emotional and cognitive functions. 

Example Question #74 : Biology

The limbic system regulates basic emotions, drives, and memory. Which answer choice best describes the structures included in this system?

Possible Answers:

Hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus

Hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus, tectum

Hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus

Hippocampus, amygdala, temporal lobe, hypothalamus

Medulla, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus

Correct answer:

Hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus

Explanation:

The limbic system is commonly thought of as the hippocampus (memory), amygdala (emotion), thalamus (sensory information), and hypothalamus (basic drives, homeostasis).

Each other answer choice had one wrong structure in the list. The temporal lobe controls hearing and language, the cerebellum controls basic motor skills, the tectum controls orientation in a new environment, and the medulla helps control heart beat and respiration. 

Example Question #75 : Biology

Which part of the hindbrain makes up  fo the brain's volume and has two hemispheres?

Possible Answers:

Cerebellum

Pons

Spinal cord

Medulla

Correct answer:

Cerebellum

Explanation:

The cerebellum resembles the much larger cerebrum. It makes up  of the brain's volume and has two hemispheres. The cerebelum's primary function is to regulate muscle control and activity.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors