Paculba, Aira Shayne

PSYCH 1 A2-1

CHAPTER 3
Critical Questions
21. The theory of evolution by natural selection requires variability of a given trait. Why is variability
necessary and where does it come from?
Variability is essential for natural selection to work. If all individuals are the same on a given trait,
there will be no relative difference in their reproductive success because everyone will be equally
adapted to their environments on that trait. Mutations and sexual reproduction are important sources
of variation.
22. Cocaine has two effects on synaptic transmission: it impairs reuptake of dopamine and it causes
more dopamine to be released into the synapse. Would cocaine be classified as an agonist or
antagonist? Why?
As a reuptake inhibitor, cocaine blocks the normal activity of dopamine at the receptor. The
function causing more dopamine to be released into the synapse is agonist because it mimics and
strengthens the effect of the neurotransmitter. Cocaine would be considered an agonist because by
preventing the enzymatic degradation of the neurotransmitters, it increases the potential time that
these neurotransmitters might be active in the synapse.
21. What are the implications of compromised immune function as a result of exposure to chronic
stress?
Chronic stress can lead to increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections, and
potentially an increased risk of cancer. Ultimately, this could be a vicious cycle with stress leading to
increased risk of disease, disease states leading to increased stress and so on.
27. Which of the techniques discussed would be viable options for you to determine how activity in the
reticular formation is related to sleep and wakefulness? Why?
The most viable techniques are fMRI and PET because of their ability to provide information
about brain activity and structure simultaneously.

Personal Questions
32. Hopefully, you do not face real physical threats from potential predators on a daily basis. However,
you probably have your fair share of stress. What situations are your most common sources of
stress? What can you do to try to minimize the negative consequences of these particular stressors
in your life?
Usually it’s about school- the deadlines, exams, and other things. Sometimes, I would try not to
think so much about them and do things that would somehow lessen the negativities it causes in my
life.
33. You read about H. M.’s memory deficits following the bilateral removal of his hippocampus and
amygdala. Have you encountered a character in a book, television program, or movie that suffered
memory deficits? How was that character similar to and different from H. M.?
In the movie 50 First Dates, the main character has a form of amnesia that is described as a loss
of her short-term memory, and that is why her memory only lasts one day (anterograde amnesia),
and when she falls asleep, she forgets everything she did that day and reboots back to the day the
amnesia began.
34. Given the negative health consequences associated with the use of anabolic steroids, what kinds of
considerations might be involved in a person’s decision to use them?
 The majority of people that uses anabolic asteroids are professional athletes and body builders,
inorder to improve their athletic performance and physique. It increases muscle mass, strength, and
endurance.

CHAPTER 4
Critical Questions
25. Healthcare professionals often work rotating shifts. Why is this problematic? What can be done to
deal with potential problems?
Given that rotating shift work can lead to exhaustion and decreased mental efficiency,
individuals working under these conditions are more likely to make mistakes on the job. Those in
health care professions could be educated about the benefits of light-dark exposure to help alleviate
such problems.
28. How could researchers determine if given areas of the brain are involved in the regulation of sleep?
Researchers could use lesion or brain stimulation techniques to determine how deactivation or
activation of a given brain region affects behaviour. Furthermore, researchers could use any number
of brain imaging techniques like fMRI or CT scans to come to these conclusions.
31. Some people claim that sleepwalking and talking in your sleep involve individuals acting out their
dreams. Why is this particular explanation unlikely?
Dreaming occurs during REM sleep. One of the hallmarks of this particular stage of sleep is the
paralysis of the voluntary musculature which would make acting out dreams improbable.
37. What types of studies would be most convincing regarding the effectiveness of meditation in the
treatment for some type of physical or mental disorder?
Ideally, double-blind experimental trials would be best suited to speak to the effectiveness of
meditation. At the very least, some sort of randomized control trial would be very informative.

Personal Questions
39. What do you do to adjust to the differences in your daily schedule throughout the week? Are you
running a sleep debt when daylight saving time begins or ends?
Once you have found the time to study, commit to a time and place that meets your needs. In
order to do this, ask yourself whether the environment in which you are studying matches your
learning style and preferences. Based on your preferences, you should schedule your most
challenging classes and intense study sessions in the environments that best match your needs.
40. Have you (or someone you know) ever experienced significant periods of sleep deprivation because
of simple insomnia, high levels of stress, or as a side effect from a medication? What were the
consequences of missing out on sleep?
Yes, a friend of mine. She is mostly or sometimes irritable and just mostly not in the mood to
talk or socialize.
41. Researchers believe that one important function of sleep is to facilitate learning and memory. How
does knowing this help you in your college studies? What changes could you make to your study and
sleep habits to maximize your mastery of the material covered in class?
I used to pull up all-nighters to study for exams which usually ends up in disaster. These days
however, knowing that sleep enhances learning ability, I won’t force myself to stay up late to study
because productivity declines when one’s sleepy. To cope with this, I study earlier at night, sleep,
and would try to wake up early to review. Also, avoiding cramming helps.
CHAPTER 5
Critical Questions
26. Not everything that is sensed is perceived. Do you think there could ever be a case where something
could be perceived without being sensed?
Yes, one of the few is the phantom limb phenomenon experienced by amputees.
29. Why do you think humans are especially sensitive to sounds with frequencies that fall in the middle
portion of the audible range?
Given that the human voice falls in this middle range and the importance of communication
among humans, one could argue that it is quite adaptive to have an audible range that centres on
this particular type of stimulus.
31. Color is not a physical property of our environment. What function (if any) do you think color vision
serves?
Color vision probably serves multiple adaptive purposes. One popular hypothesis suggests that
seeing in color allowed our ancestors to differentiate ripened fruits and vegetables more easily.
32. Given what you’ve read about sound localization, from an evolutionary perspective, how does
sound localization facilitate survival?
Sound localization would have allowed early humans to locate prey and protect themselves
from predators.

Personal Questions
39. Think about a time when you failed to notice something around you because your attention was
focused elsewhere. If someone pointed it out, were you surprised that you hadn’t noticed it right
away?
Yes, because I tend to miss some things most of the times. I always have this “Has this always
been like this?” moment because when a thing is not noticeable enough or somehow insignificant to
me, I can barely notice it and with that, I’d always end up being surprised.
42. If you had to choose to lose either your vision or your hearing, which would you choose and why?
As much as I love to see things and all the colours because I am a self-proclaimed artist who
draws and paints, I would rather lose my vision than my hearing because hearing is important in
balance. I have subtle experiences of being not able to hear and it quite sucks. Navigating in the dark
maybe hard but the importance of hearing, not just the noises around us but also the unheard ones
is something I am willing to live for. I’d miss the colours but a life without music isn’t life enough.
44. Have you ever listened to a song on the radio and sung along only to find out later that you have
been singing the wrong lyrics? Once you found the correct lyrics, did your perception of the song
change?
I have listened to some song with wrong lyrics and sometimes when I find out the actual lyrics
only to know that they’re cringy or unrelatable, I’d feel ashamed of myself. However, if I have been
very much attached to the said song (its melody), there is just a subtle change in the perception I
have for it.