PSY102 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026
1. During an action potential, which event is primarily responsible for the repolarization of
the neuron’s membrane?
A. The influx of sodium ions (Na+)
B. The closing of voltage-gated potassium channels
C. The efflux of potassium ions (K+)
D. The activation of the sodium-potassium pump
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Repolarization occurs as voltage-gated potassium channels
open, allowing K+ to exit the cell, restoring the negative internal charge.
2. Which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
A. Fixed-ratio schedule
B. Fixed-interval schedule
C. Variable-ratio schedule
D. Continuous reinforcement
,Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Variable-ratio schedules provide reinforcement after an
unpredictable number of responses, making the behavior highly persistent even when
reinforcement stops.
3. A patient displays fluent but nonsensical speech and has severe difficulty understanding
spoken language. Which brain area is likely damaged?
A. Broca’s area
B. The primary motor cortex
C. The prefrontal cortex
D. Wernicke’s area
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Wernicke’s area is involved in the comprehension of speech;
damage results in receptive aphasia, where speech is fluent but lacks meaning.
4. Which phenomenon occurs when newly learned information interferes with the retrieval
of older information?
A. Proactive interference
B. Source amnesia
C. Retroactive interference
D. Anterograde amnesia
, Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Retroactive interference happens when new learning acts
‘backward’ to disrupt the memory of previously learned material.
5. In Festinger’s classic study, why did participants who were paid $1 report liking a boring
task more than those paid $20?
A. They had insufficient external justification and changed their attitude to reduce
dissonance
B. They had sufficient external justification for their behavior
C. They experienced less cognitive dissonance
D. The higher pay created a sense of guilt that lowered task enjoyment
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Those paid $1 couldn’t justify lying for such a small amount, so
they reduced dissonance by convincing themselves the task was actually enjoyable.
6. According to the HPA axis model of stress, what does the hypothalamus release to trigger
the process?
A. Cortisol
B. Adrenaline
C. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
D. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
ANSWERS 2026
1. During an action potential, which event is primarily responsible for the repolarization of
the neuron’s membrane?
A. The influx of sodium ions (Na+)
B. The closing of voltage-gated potassium channels
C. The efflux of potassium ions (K+)
D. The activation of the sodium-potassium pump
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Repolarization occurs as voltage-gated potassium channels
open, allowing K+ to exit the cell, restoring the negative internal charge.
2. Which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
A. Fixed-ratio schedule
B. Fixed-interval schedule
C. Variable-ratio schedule
D. Continuous reinforcement
,Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Variable-ratio schedules provide reinforcement after an
unpredictable number of responses, making the behavior highly persistent even when
reinforcement stops.
3. A patient displays fluent but nonsensical speech and has severe difficulty understanding
spoken language. Which brain area is likely damaged?
A. Broca’s area
B. The primary motor cortex
C. The prefrontal cortex
D. Wernicke’s area
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Wernicke’s area is involved in the comprehension of speech;
damage results in receptive aphasia, where speech is fluent but lacks meaning.
4. Which phenomenon occurs when newly learned information interferes with the retrieval
of older information?
A. Proactive interference
B. Source amnesia
C. Retroactive interference
D. Anterograde amnesia
, Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Retroactive interference happens when new learning acts
‘backward’ to disrupt the memory of previously learned material.
5. In Festinger’s classic study, why did participants who were paid $1 report liking a boring
task more than those paid $20?
A. They had insufficient external justification and changed their attitude to reduce
dissonance
B. They had sufficient external justification for their behavior
C. They experienced less cognitive dissonance
D. The higher pay created a sense of guilt that lowered task enjoyment
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Those paid $1 couldn’t justify lying for such a small amount, so
they reduced dissonance by convincing themselves the task was actually enjoyable.
6. According to the HPA axis model of stress, what does the hypothalamus release to trigger
the process?
A. Cortisol
B. Adrenaline
C. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
D. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
