Biology

Behavioral Psychology and Physiology

1,324 Questions

Behavioral psychology and physiology explore cognitive processes, attention, memory, and learning mechanisms like conditioning. These concepts are frequently tested in general science and psychology sections of various competitive exams. Prepare thoroughly using these practice questions covering key behavioral theories and physiological functions.

Cognitive processesMemory and learningAttention and focusDevelopmental milestonesSensory perception

Behavioral Psychology and Physiology Questions

Multiple choice

Classical conditioning or Pavlovian conditioning is a type of learning where the conditioned stimulus (CS) appears to indicate the existence of the second stimulus, i.e., the unconditioned stimulus (US), which is a stimulus that causes a response in the organism. Conditioned response is a learned response to the early neutral stimulus. US is generally a biologically relevant stimulus like pain or food, which evokes a response from the start and is is termed as unconditioned response (UR).

Which of the following options give(s) the correct name for classical conditioning?

  1. Operant conditioning

  2. Pavlovian conditioning

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Classical conditioning is also known as Pavlovian conditioning or respondent conditioning.

Multiple choice

Which of the following activity is not under the control of nervous system?

  1. Thinking

  2. Learning

  3. Digesting

  4. Memorizing

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Digestion is primarily controlled by the autonomic nervous system and enteric nervous system, operating involuntarily and unconsciously. In contrast, thinking, learning, and memorizing are conscious cognitive functions directly managed by the central nervous system. Option C correctly identifies digestion as not being under conscious control.

Multiple choice

What is the key difference between a reflex action and any other action of the body?

  1. Involvement of brain and lack of conscious control

  2. Involvement of nerves and lack of muscular action

  3. Involvement of spinal cord and conscious control

  4. Involvement of brain and tendons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Reflex arcs have evolved as efficient ways of functioning in the absence of true thought processes. Thus, reflex action includes involvement of spinal cord and lack of conscious control.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, four statements are provided between an opening statement 1 and a closing statement 6. The four statements are jumbled up and form a coherent paragraph when properly arranged. Select the alternative representing the proper and logical sequencing of these six taken together.

(1) Most of the postures we adopt and the movements we make we have made thousands of times before. (A) In many cases, they are so familiar, so much taken for granted that we do not even know how we do them. (B) For example, when people interlock their fingers, one thumb rests on top of the other. (C) Most of them are performed unconsciously, spontaneously and without self–analysis. (D) For each person, there is a dominant thumb in this action and whenever left and right hand interlock, the same thumb rests uppermost. (6) Yet hardly anyone can guess which their dominant thumb is.

  1. BCDA

  2. BDAC

  3. CABD

  4. ACBD
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The example in B continues in D and 6. This gives the BD6 link. "Most of them" in C refers to "postures and movements" in 1. Hence, 1CABD6 is the correct sequence.

Multiple choice

What does the term ''pollex'' refer to?

  1. Index finger.

  2. Great toe.

  3. Little finger.

  4. Thumb.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Thumb has played an important role in evolution as it provides better grasp to the man, and is termed as pollex.

Multiple choice

The increased response of an organism with respect to the increase in light intensity is called

  1. kinesis

  2. positive phototaxis

  3. luminis

  4. negative phototaxis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Kinesis is a non-directional change in activity rate in response to stimulus intensity - as light increases, the organism's movement increases without directional orientation. Phototaxis is directional movement toward (positive) or away (negative) from light, which is different from the described response.