MCAT PRACTICE EXAM #4 | WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE | GRADED A+

Which of the following reflects the researchers' attempt to minimize adaptation effects during the experiment? A. Using wild mice rather than domesticated mice B. Using sugar water rather than pond water during the training stage C. Rearranging the bottles after a human subject detected sulfur D. Limiting the human subjects' inhalation time to two seconds ANS- An adaptation effect is the phenomenon by which an organism becomes accustomed to a sensory stimulus, which results in a higher threshold for detection of that stimulus. Since the experiment in this study was designed to measure detection thresholds, it was necessary to limit participants' inhalation time to two seconds so that they would not become accustomed to the smell of sulfur. Otherwise, their olfactory thresholds for the detection of sulfur may have measured higher than their actual levels (choice D is correct; choices A, B, and C are wrong). adaptation effect ANS- is the phenomenon by which an organism becomes accustomed to a sensory stimulus, which results in a higher threshold for detection of that stimulus. positive reinforcer ANS- the event that is perceived by the subject as desirable and which follows the target behavior negative reinforcement ANS- refers to the removal of a negative (or undesirable) stimulus in response to the target behavior Suppose Subject 405 returned home after the experiment and watched a television program about mammalian predators. Before a commercial break, the program's narrator explained that bears secrete kairomones and challenged viewers to think of the primary chemical contained in bear kairomone. During the break subject 405 confidently told her roommate that "no doubt the primary chemical is sulfur!" Assuming that subject 405 has no familiarity with kairomones other than through her experience as a study participant, her assertion exemplifies which of the following?