PSYC101 General Psychology
Final Assessment Review
Module 2 (Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1.
Case Study: A 24‑year‑old male with a family history of schizophrenia
undergoes genetic analysis. Researchers find that he is homozygous for
the Met allele of the COMT gene.
Question: Which outcome is most consistent with the Met/Met
genotype in terms of cognitive performance?
- A. Lower prefrontal dopamine levels and poorer executive functioning
- B. Higher prefrontal dopamine levels and improved performance on
cognitive tasks
- C. No significant effect on cognitive performance
- D. Elevated risk of impulsivity with no change in executive function
> Correct ANS: B. Higher prefrontal dopamine levels and improved
performance on cognitive tasks
> Rationale: The COMT enzyme degrades dopamine in the prefrontal
cortex. The Met allele is associated with reduced enzymatic activity,
which leads to higher dopamine availability and—within an optimal
range—enhanced executive functions.
---
2.
Case Study: A study examines personality traits in relation to the DRD4
gene. Subjects carrying a particular variant display increased novelty
seeking behavior.
Question: Which allele of the DRD4 gene is most commonly linked to
higher novelty seeking?
- A. 2‑repeat allele
- B. 4‑repeat allele
- C. 7‑repeat allele
- D. 10‑repeat allele
> Correct ANS: C. 7‑repeat allele
©2025
,> Rationale: Research has associated the 7‑repeat allele of the DRD4
gene with greater novelty seeking, suggesting a genetic contribution to
exploratory behavior and risk-taking.
---
3.
Case Study: In a twin study on depression, the concordance rate among
monozygotic twins is found to be approximately 40%, compared to 20%
in dizygotic twins.
Question: These findings suggest that genetic factors account for
roughly what percentage of the variance in depression risk?
- A. 20%
- B. 40%
- C. 60%
- D. 80%
> Correct ANS: B. 40%
> Rationale: The difference in concordance rates between monozygotic
and dizygotic twins suggests a moderate genetic contribution (around
40% heritability) to the risk of depression, with the remainder attributed
to environmental influences.
---
4.
Case Study: Researchers investigating aggressive behavior have focused
on the MAOA gene, which is located on the X chromosome.
Question: A low-activity variant of the MAOA gene is most often
associated with which behavioral outcome?
- A. Lower likelihood of impulsive aggression
- B. Increased risk of impulsive and aggressive behavior
- C. Enhanced cognitive control over impulses
- D. No measurable association with behavior
©2025
, > Correct ANS: B. Increased risk of impulsive and aggressive behavior
> Rationale: Studies have indicated that individuals, particularly males,
with a low-activity variant of the MAOA gene may exhibit higher levels of
impulsivity and aggression due to reduced degradation of
neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation.
---
5.
Case Study: Family and twin studies suggest that individuals with
schizophrenia have a markedly higher risk than the general population.
Question: What is the general interpretation of such findings regarding
the role of genetics in schizophrenia?
- A. Genetic factors play a minor role in schizophrenia.
- B. Genetic factors account for a substantial portion of schizophrenia
risk.
- C. Schizophrenia is entirely determined by environmental influences.
- D. Genetic factors solely determine the disorder without any
environmental interaction.
> Correct ANS: B. Genetic factors account for a substantial portion of
schizophrenia risk.
> Rationale: Although environment also plays a role, high concordance
rates in twins indicate that genetics contributes substantially to
schizophrenia, though the condition is polygenic and multifactorial.
---
6.
Case Study: A neuroimaging study examines memory performance in
individuals with the Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene. Those
with the Met allele show poorer performance on memory tasks and
reduced hippocampal volume.
Question: Which outcome is most commonly linked with the Met allele
of the BDNF gene?
©2025
Final Assessment Review
Module 2 (Questions & Solutions)
2025
©2025
, 1.
Case Study: A 24‑year‑old male with a family history of schizophrenia
undergoes genetic analysis. Researchers find that he is homozygous for
the Met allele of the COMT gene.
Question: Which outcome is most consistent with the Met/Met
genotype in terms of cognitive performance?
- A. Lower prefrontal dopamine levels and poorer executive functioning
- B. Higher prefrontal dopamine levels and improved performance on
cognitive tasks
- C. No significant effect on cognitive performance
- D. Elevated risk of impulsivity with no change in executive function
> Correct ANS: B. Higher prefrontal dopamine levels and improved
performance on cognitive tasks
> Rationale: The COMT enzyme degrades dopamine in the prefrontal
cortex. The Met allele is associated with reduced enzymatic activity,
which leads to higher dopamine availability and—within an optimal
range—enhanced executive functions.
---
2.
Case Study: A study examines personality traits in relation to the DRD4
gene. Subjects carrying a particular variant display increased novelty
seeking behavior.
Question: Which allele of the DRD4 gene is most commonly linked to
higher novelty seeking?
- A. 2‑repeat allele
- B. 4‑repeat allele
- C. 7‑repeat allele
- D. 10‑repeat allele
> Correct ANS: C. 7‑repeat allele
©2025
,> Rationale: Research has associated the 7‑repeat allele of the DRD4
gene with greater novelty seeking, suggesting a genetic contribution to
exploratory behavior and risk-taking.
---
3.
Case Study: In a twin study on depression, the concordance rate among
monozygotic twins is found to be approximately 40%, compared to 20%
in dizygotic twins.
Question: These findings suggest that genetic factors account for
roughly what percentage of the variance in depression risk?
- A. 20%
- B. 40%
- C. 60%
- D. 80%
> Correct ANS: B. 40%
> Rationale: The difference in concordance rates between monozygotic
and dizygotic twins suggests a moderate genetic contribution (around
40% heritability) to the risk of depression, with the remainder attributed
to environmental influences.
---
4.
Case Study: Researchers investigating aggressive behavior have focused
on the MAOA gene, which is located on the X chromosome.
Question: A low-activity variant of the MAOA gene is most often
associated with which behavioral outcome?
- A. Lower likelihood of impulsive aggression
- B. Increased risk of impulsive and aggressive behavior
- C. Enhanced cognitive control over impulses
- D. No measurable association with behavior
©2025
, > Correct ANS: B. Increased risk of impulsive and aggressive behavior
> Rationale: Studies have indicated that individuals, particularly males,
with a low-activity variant of the MAOA gene may exhibit higher levels of
impulsivity and aggression due to reduced degradation of
neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation.
---
5.
Case Study: Family and twin studies suggest that individuals with
schizophrenia have a markedly higher risk than the general population.
Question: What is the general interpretation of such findings regarding
the role of genetics in schizophrenia?
- A. Genetic factors play a minor role in schizophrenia.
- B. Genetic factors account for a substantial portion of schizophrenia
risk.
- C. Schizophrenia is entirely determined by environmental influences.
- D. Genetic factors solely determine the disorder without any
environmental interaction.
> Correct ANS: B. Genetic factors account for a substantial portion of
schizophrenia risk.
> Rationale: Although environment also plays a role, high concordance
rates in twins indicate that genetics contributes substantially to
schizophrenia, though the condition is polygenic and multifactorial.
---
6.
Case Study: A neuroimaging study examines memory performance in
individuals with the Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene. Those
with the Met allele show poorer performance on memory tasks and
reduced hippocampal volume.
Question: Which outcome is most commonly linked with the Met allele
of the BDNF gene?
©2025
