,LSU PSYC 2000 Exam 2 | Introduction to Psychology
(2026) Q&A
1. Which term describes a person’s awareness of everything going on around them
and inside their head at any given moment?
A) Circadian rhythm
B) Consciousness
C) Biological clock
D) Sleep debt
Correct Answer: Consciousness
Rationale: Consciousness is the awareness of one’s surroundings and internal
thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Circadian rhythm refers to biological cycles, the
biological clock controls alertness, and sleep debt is the cumulative effect of lost
sleep.
2. Cyclical changes that occur on a roughly 24-hour basis in many biological
processes are called:
A) Circadian rhythms
B) Biological clocks
C) Sleep debts
D) Circadian dysfunctions
Correct Answer: Circadian rhythms
,Rationale: Circadian rhythms are the daily biological cycles that regulate sleep-wake
patterns, body temperature, and hormone release. The biological clock is the internal
mechanism that governs these rhythms.
3. Which brain structure is responsible for controlling the level of alertness and is
often called the biological clock?
A) Amygdala
B) Hippocampus
C) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
D) Cerebellum
Correct Answer: Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Rationale: The SCN, located in the hypothalamus, is the master biological clock that
regulates circadian rhythms and alertness. It signals the pineal gland to release
melatonin when it gets dark.
4. Missing sleep takes a toll on the body and must be made up. This concept is
known as:
A) Sleep debt
B) Sleep apnea
C) Insomnia
D) Narcolepsy
Correct Answer: Sleep debt
Rationale: Sleep debt refers to the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. It
can cause mental effects like mild depression and physical effects like weight gain
and high blood pressure.
, 5. What are the two main types of sleep?
A) REM and non-REM
B) Alpha and beta
C) Deep and light
D) Restorative and adaptive
Correct Answer: REM and non-REM
Rationale: Sleep is divided into REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep. REM
sleep is associated with vivid dreaming, while non-REM sleep is divided into stages.
6. In which stage of sleep does the brain produce theta waves, and the person may
claim they were not actually sleeping?
A) Stage 1
B) Stage 2
C) Stage 3
D) REM
Correct Answer: Stage 1
Rationale: Stage 1 is the lightest stage of sleep, lasting about 5-10 minutes. Brain
activity slows, and theta waves appear. A person awakened during this stage may
deny being asleep.
7. Which stage of sleep is characterized by sleep spindles and makes up about 65%
of the sleep cycle?
A) Stage 1
(2026) Q&A
1. Which term describes a person’s awareness of everything going on around them
and inside their head at any given moment?
A) Circadian rhythm
B) Consciousness
C) Biological clock
D) Sleep debt
Correct Answer: Consciousness
Rationale: Consciousness is the awareness of one’s surroundings and internal
thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Circadian rhythm refers to biological cycles, the
biological clock controls alertness, and sleep debt is the cumulative effect of lost
sleep.
2. Cyclical changes that occur on a roughly 24-hour basis in many biological
processes are called:
A) Circadian rhythms
B) Biological clocks
C) Sleep debts
D) Circadian dysfunctions
Correct Answer: Circadian rhythms
,Rationale: Circadian rhythms are the daily biological cycles that regulate sleep-wake
patterns, body temperature, and hormone release. The biological clock is the internal
mechanism that governs these rhythms.
3. Which brain structure is responsible for controlling the level of alertness and is
often called the biological clock?
A) Amygdala
B) Hippocampus
C) Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
D) Cerebellum
Correct Answer: Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Rationale: The SCN, located in the hypothalamus, is the master biological clock that
regulates circadian rhythms and alertness. It signals the pineal gland to release
melatonin when it gets dark.
4. Missing sleep takes a toll on the body and must be made up. This concept is
known as:
A) Sleep debt
B) Sleep apnea
C) Insomnia
D) Narcolepsy
Correct Answer: Sleep debt
Rationale: Sleep debt refers to the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. It
can cause mental effects like mild depression and physical effects like weight gain
and high blood pressure.
, 5. What are the two main types of sleep?
A) REM and non-REM
B) Alpha and beta
C) Deep and light
D) Restorative and adaptive
Correct Answer: REM and non-REM
Rationale: Sleep is divided into REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep. REM
sleep is associated with vivid dreaming, while non-REM sleep is divided into stages.
6. In which stage of sleep does the brain produce theta waves, and the person may
claim they were not actually sleeping?
A) Stage 1
B) Stage 2
C) Stage 3
D) REM
Correct Answer: Stage 1
Rationale: Stage 1 is the lightest stage of sleep, lasting about 5-10 minutes. Brain
activity slows, and theta waves appear. A person awakened during this stage may
deny being asleep.
7. Which stage of sleep is characterized by sleep spindles and makes up about 65%
of the sleep cycle?
A) Stage 1
