WGU C180 Psychology Exam Prep 2026/2027 | Questions &
Correct Answers | Graded A+
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with muscle activation and
memory?
Serotonin
Dopamine
GABA
Acetylcholine
2. Describe the process of extinction in classical conditioning and its
implications for learned behaviors.
Extinction occurs when a new stimulus is introduced.
Extinction occurs when the reinforcement is removed, leading to a
decrease in the frequency of the conditioned response.
Extinction has no effect on learned behaviors.
Extinction strengthens the conditioned response by increasing
reinforcement.
3. Which of the following describes context-dependent memory?
hints or related information that help us to gain access to memories
ways of determining how strongly two words are associated
the number of previous pairings of two items will determine the cue
effectiveness of one item for the other
the phenomenon where, when the the context at retrieval matches
that present at encoding, there is benefit to recall
,4. In behavioral theory, the term "conditioning" is defined as:
a verbal, sensory, or environmental input that prompts a behavior
a stimulus that causes a behavior to be strengthening and performed
again
a behavior modification process that increases or decreases the
likelihood of a behavior being performed
strategies to develop closer and closer approximations of a behavior
5. Ivan Pavlov is credited with the discovery of:
Shaping
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Law of effect
6. If a patient suffers damage to the hippocampus, what type of memory
impairment would they most likely experience?
Inability to recognize familiar faces
Difficulty forming new long-term memories
Inability to recall past events
Loss of short-term memory
7. What type of information is primarily processed by the occipital lobe?
Visual information
Olfactory information
Auditory information
, Tactile information
8. In a classroom setting, a teacher gives students extra recess time for
completing their homework on time. What type of learning is this an example
of?
Operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
Observational learning
Cognitive learning
9. The phenomenon through which memory retrieval is most efficient when an
individual is in the same state of consciousness as they were when the
memory was formed.
State-Dependent Memory
Procedural Memory
Motor Memory
Flashbulb Memory
10. What was the most important takeaway from Ivan Pavlov's experiment with
dogs?
Learning can occur when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an
unconditioned stimulus.
Classical conditioning involves pairing a behavior and a consequence
(reinforcements and punishments).
One can learn new behaviors by observing others.
Food is the greatest motivator.
, 11. What are the three main research methods used in psychology?
Observational studies, meta-analysis, and field experiments.
Descriptive research, correlational research, and experimental
research.
Qualitative research, quantitative research, and mixed methods
research.
Surveys, case studies, and longitudinal studies.
12. Which statement defines a conditioned response?
A conditioned response is an automatic reaction to a stimulus that
occurs naturally, without any need for learning.
A conditioned response is the reaction to a conditioned stimulus
acquired through learning.
A conditioned response is an action that takes place via observation
of others' life experiences rather than one's own.
A conditioned response is a form of learning in which animals or
people make a connection between two stimuli that have occurred
together such that one predicts the other.
13. Describe the process by which neurotransmitters facilitate communication
between neurons.
Neurotransmitters are stored in the synapse until needed for
communication.
Neurotransmitters directly create electrical impulses without crossing
the synapse.
Neurotransmitters are released from one neuron, cross the
synapse, and bind to receptors on the next neuron, leading to an
electrical impulse.
Correct Answers | Graded A+
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with muscle activation and
memory?
Serotonin
Dopamine
GABA
Acetylcholine
2. Describe the process of extinction in classical conditioning and its
implications for learned behaviors.
Extinction occurs when a new stimulus is introduced.
Extinction occurs when the reinforcement is removed, leading to a
decrease in the frequency of the conditioned response.
Extinction has no effect on learned behaviors.
Extinction strengthens the conditioned response by increasing
reinforcement.
3. Which of the following describes context-dependent memory?
hints or related information that help us to gain access to memories
ways of determining how strongly two words are associated
the number of previous pairings of two items will determine the cue
effectiveness of one item for the other
the phenomenon where, when the the context at retrieval matches
that present at encoding, there is benefit to recall
,4. In behavioral theory, the term "conditioning" is defined as:
a verbal, sensory, or environmental input that prompts a behavior
a stimulus that causes a behavior to be strengthening and performed
again
a behavior modification process that increases or decreases the
likelihood of a behavior being performed
strategies to develop closer and closer approximations of a behavior
5. Ivan Pavlov is credited with the discovery of:
Shaping
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Law of effect
6. If a patient suffers damage to the hippocampus, what type of memory
impairment would they most likely experience?
Inability to recognize familiar faces
Difficulty forming new long-term memories
Inability to recall past events
Loss of short-term memory
7. What type of information is primarily processed by the occipital lobe?
Visual information
Olfactory information
Auditory information
, Tactile information
8. In a classroom setting, a teacher gives students extra recess time for
completing their homework on time. What type of learning is this an example
of?
Operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
Observational learning
Cognitive learning
9. The phenomenon through which memory retrieval is most efficient when an
individual is in the same state of consciousness as they were when the
memory was formed.
State-Dependent Memory
Procedural Memory
Motor Memory
Flashbulb Memory
10. What was the most important takeaway from Ivan Pavlov's experiment with
dogs?
Learning can occur when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an
unconditioned stimulus.
Classical conditioning involves pairing a behavior and a consequence
(reinforcements and punishments).
One can learn new behaviors by observing others.
Food is the greatest motivator.
, 11. What are the three main research methods used in psychology?
Observational studies, meta-analysis, and field experiments.
Descriptive research, correlational research, and experimental
research.
Qualitative research, quantitative research, and mixed methods
research.
Surveys, case studies, and longitudinal studies.
12. Which statement defines a conditioned response?
A conditioned response is an automatic reaction to a stimulus that
occurs naturally, without any need for learning.
A conditioned response is the reaction to a conditioned stimulus
acquired through learning.
A conditioned response is an action that takes place via observation
of others' life experiences rather than one's own.
A conditioned response is a form of learning in which animals or
people make a connection between two stimuli that have occurred
together such that one predicts the other.
13. Describe the process by which neurotransmitters facilitate communication
between neurons.
Neurotransmitters are stored in the synapse until needed for
communication.
Neurotransmitters directly create electrical impulses without crossing
the synapse.
Neurotransmitters are released from one neuron, cross the
synapse, and bind to receptors on the next neuron, leading to an
electrical impulse.
