Biological Bases of Behavior
1. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with mood regulation and is implicated in depression?
- A) Dopamine
- B) Serotonin ✅
- C) Acetylcholine
- D) Glutamate
Explanation: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and appetite. Low serotonin levels are strongly linked to depression, which is why SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) like Prozac and Zoloft are commonly prescribed to increase serotonin availability in the brain.
Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior
2. A patient with damage to the hippocampus would most likely experience:
- A) Difficulty recognizing faces
- B) Impaired short-term memory
- C) Impaired long-term memory formation ✅
- D) Loss of motor coordination
Explanation: The hippocampus is crucial for encoding and consolidating new long-term memories, especially declarative memories (facts and events). Damage to this structure, as seen in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or in the famous case of H.M., leads to anterograde amnesia, where new memories cannot form, although old memories and short-term memory may remain intact.
Social and Cultural Bases of Behavior
3. According to social identity theory, individuals are most likely to:
- A) Identify with groups that have high status
- B) Evaluate their in-group more positively than out-groups ✅
- C) Seek membership in as many groups as possible
- D) Show no preference for in-group versus out-group members
Explanation: Social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner) suggests that people categorize themselves into groups and develop a strong emotional attachment to their in-group. This often leads to in-group favoritism, where they perceive their group as superior, while out-groups are viewed more negatively. This can contribute to stereotypes, discrimination, and intergroup conflict.
Assessment and Diagnosis
4. A 10-year-old child scores 85 on an IQ test with a standard deviation of 15. What is the child’s percentile rank?
- A) 16th percentile ✅
- B) 50th percentile
- C) 84th percentile
- D) 98th percentile
Explanation: IQ scores follow a normal distribution with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation (SD) of 15. A score of 85 is one standard deviation below the mean (100 – 15 = 85). In a normal distribution, approximately 68% of scores fall within one SD above or below the mean, meaning a score of 85 is at the 16th percentile, meaning the child scored higher than 16% of the population.
Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention
5. In cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive distortions refer to:
- A) Logical thinking errors that reinforce negative emotions ✅
- B) Neurological impairments affecting decision-making
- C) The inability to recognize one’s own emotions
- D) Overactivity of the amygdala in response to stress
Explanation: Cognitive distortions are irrational thought patterns that contribute to negative emotions and behaviors. Examples include catastrophizing (expecting the worst), black-and-white thinking (viewing situations in extremes), and personalization (blaming oneself for things beyond control). CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring these distortions to improve emotional regulation and problem-solving.
Simon Downes, MD, PhD 