PSYC 140 (Modules 1-8) | Complete Lock Down Exam & Review
Bundle | Portage Learning | 2026/2027 Updated Version - 231
Questions and Answers Already Graded A+ Premium Exam
Tested And Verified
Subject Area Psychology
Description Comprehensive exam covering modules 1-8 of PSYC 140, including research
methods, biological psychology, sensation & perception, learning, memory,
cognition, developmental psychology, personality, social psychology, and clinical
psychology. Tests ability to synthesize theories, apply concepts to novel
scenarios, and critically evaluate empirical findings.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 231
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Analyze research designs and interpret statistical findings to evaluate causal
claims.
2. Explain neural mechanisms underlying behavior, sensation, and cognition.
3. Apply principles of classical and operant conditioning to real-world
phenomena.
4. Critique theories of memory organization and retrieval, including
neurobiological bases.
5. Evaluate cognitive heuristics and biases in decision-making contexts.
6. Integrate developmental theories with observed attachment and identity
formation.
7. Compare trait and social-cognitive perspectives on personality.
8. Assess clinical criteria for major psychological disorders and their theoretical
underpinnings.
Accreditation Designed to meet the rigor of accredited US university psychology programs (e.g.,
APA standards for undergraduate psychology education).
Page 1
,1. A researcher finds a strong positive correlation between time spent on social
media and self-reported anxiety levels. Which of the following conclusions is
most justified?
A. Increased social media use causes higher anxiety.
B. Higher anxiety causes more social media use.
C. A third variable, such as sleep quality, may account for the association.
D. The correlation indicates that reducing social media use will decrease anxiety.
Answer: C. A third variable, such as sleep quality, may account for the
association.
Correlation does not imply causation; a third variable could explain the
relationship. Options A, B, and D all imply causation, which is not justified by
correlation alone. Option C correctly acknowledges the possibility of an
extraneous variable.
2. A drug that blocks reuptake of a neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft
would most likely produce which effect?
A. Decrease the duration of neurotransmitter presence in the synapse.
B. Increase the binding of neurotransmitter to autoreceptors, reducing release.
C. Increase the concentration of neurotransmitter in the synapse, prolonging its effect.
D. Prevent the neurotransmitter from binding to postsynaptic receptors.
Answer: C. Increase the concentration of neurotransmitter in the synapse,
prolonging its effect.
Reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the
presynaptic neuron; blocking it increases synaptic concentration and prolongs
effects. Option A is opposite. Option B refers to autoreceptor activation, which
decreases release but reuptake block increases concentration. Option D describes
a receptor antagonist, not a reuptake inhibitor.
Page 2
,3. In a signal detection experiment, a participant shows a high hit rate but also
a high false alarm rate. This pattern most likely reflects:
A. A conservative response bias.
B. Low sensitivity to the signal.
C. A liberal response bias.
D. High sensitivity with a liberal bias.
Answer: C. A liberal response bias.
A high hit rate combined with high false alarm indicates the participant is willing
to say 'signal present' often, which is a liberal (risky) response bias. Sensitivity
(d') is low or moderate. Conservative bias would yield few false alarms but also
fewer hits. High sensitivity with liberal bias would have high hits but low false
alarms.
4. In a classical conditioning paradigm, a tone is paired with a mild electric
shock. Later, the tone alone elicits a fear response. Which manipulation would
most likely lead to spontaneous recovery of the conditioned fear after
extinction?
A. Presenting the tone without the shock for many trials.
B. Administering the shock alone without the tone.
C. Waiting a period of time after extinction and then presenting the tone.
D. Pairing a different tone with the shock.
Answer: C. Waiting a period of time after extinction and then presenting the
tone.
Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest
period following extinction. Option A describes extinction itself. Option B might
sensitize but not specifically recover the tone-shock association. Option D would
create a new conditioned response, not recovery of the original.
Page 3
, 5. Long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus is considered a cellular
mechanism for learning and memory because it:
A. Involves structural changes that decrease synaptic efficiency.
B. Requires simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic activation, enhancing synaptic
strength.
C. Is mediated solely by GABAergic inhibitory interneurons.
D. Appears only during infancy and early childhood.
Answer: B. Requires simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic activation,
enhancing synaptic strength.
LTP involves Hebbian plasticity: correlated activity between pre- and
postsynaptic neurons leads to increased synaptic strength. Option A is opposite
(LTP increases efficiency). Option C is incorrect as LTP primarily involves
glutamatergic NMDA receptors. Option D is false; LTP occurs throughout life.
6. Which cognitive heuristic is most directly implicated when a person
overestimates the likelihood of rare, vivid events (e.g., plane crashes) while
underestimating more common but less salient risks (e.g., car accidents)?
A. Representativeness heuristic.
B. Availability heuristic.
C. Confirmation bias.
D. Anchoring and adjustment.
Answer: B. Availability heuristic.
The availability heuristic bases probability judgments on the ease with which
examples come to mind; vivid, memorable events are overestimated.
Representativeness involves judging by similarity to a prototype. Confirmation
bias is seeking confirming evidence. Anchoring involves insufficient adjustment
from an initial value.
Page 4
Bundle | Portage Learning | 2026/2027 Updated Version - 231
Questions and Answers Already Graded A+ Premium Exam
Tested And Verified
Subject Area Psychology
Description Comprehensive exam covering modules 1-8 of PSYC 140, including research
methods, biological psychology, sensation & perception, learning, memory,
cognition, developmental psychology, personality, social psychology, and clinical
psychology. Tests ability to synthesize theories, apply concepts to novel
scenarios, and critically evaluate empirical findings.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 231
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Analyze research designs and interpret statistical findings to evaluate causal
claims.
2. Explain neural mechanisms underlying behavior, sensation, and cognition.
3. Apply principles of classical and operant conditioning to real-world
phenomena.
4. Critique theories of memory organization and retrieval, including
neurobiological bases.
5. Evaluate cognitive heuristics and biases in decision-making contexts.
6. Integrate developmental theories with observed attachment and identity
formation.
7. Compare trait and social-cognitive perspectives on personality.
8. Assess clinical criteria for major psychological disorders and their theoretical
underpinnings.
Accreditation Designed to meet the rigor of accredited US university psychology programs (e.g.,
APA standards for undergraduate psychology education).
Page 1
,1. A researcher finds a strong positive correlation between time spent on social
media and self-reported anxiety levels. Which of the following conclusions is
most justified?
A. Increased social media use causes higher anxiety.
B. Higher anxiety causes more social media use.
C. A third variable, such as sleep quality, may account for the association.
D. The correlation indicates that reducing social media use will decrease anxiety.
Answer: C. A third variable, such as sleep quality, may account for the
association.
Correlation does not imply causation; a third variable could explain the
relationship. Options A, B, and D all imply causation, which is not justified by
correlation alone. Option C correctly acknowledges the possibility of an
extraneous variable.
2. A drug that blocks reuptake of a neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft
would most likely produce which effect?
A. Decrease the duration of neurotransmitter presence in the synapse.
B. Increase the binding of neurotransmitter to autoreceptors, reducing release.
C. Increase the concentration of neurotransmitter in the synapse, prolonging its effect.
D. Prevent the neurotransmitter from binding to postsynaptic receptors.
Answer: C. Increase the concentration of neurotransmitter in the synapse,
prolonging its effect.
Reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the
presynaptic neuron; blocking it increases synaptic concentration and prolongs
effects. Option A is opposite. Option B refers to autoreceptor activation, which
decreases release but reuptake block increases concentration. Option D describes
a receptor antagonist, not a reuptake inhibitor.
Page 2
,3. In a signal detection experiment, a participant shows a high hit rate but also
a high false alarm rate. This pattern most likely reflects:
A. A conservative response bias.
B. Low sensitivity to the signal.
C. A liberal response bias.
D. High sensitivity with a liberal bias.
Answer: C. A liberal response bias.
A high hit rate combined with high false alarm indicates the participant is willing
to say 'signal present' often, which is a liberal (risky) response bias. Sensitivity
(d') is low or moderate. Conservative bias would yield few false alarms but also
fewer hits. High sensitivity with liberal bias would have high hits but low false
alarms.
4. In a classical conditioning paradigm, a tone is paired with a mild electric
shock. Later, the tone alone elicits a fear response. Which manipulation would
most likely lead to spontaneous recovery of the conditioned fear after
extinction?
A. Presenting the tone without the shock for many trials.
B. Administering the shock alone without the tone.
C. Waiting a period of time after extinction and then presenting the tone.
D. Pairing a different tone with the shock.
Answer: C. Waiting a period of time after extinction and then presenting the
tone.
Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest
period following extinction. Option A describes extinction itself. Option B might
sensitize but not specifically recover the tone-shock association. Option D would
create a new conditioned response, not recovery of the original.
Page 3
, 5. Long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus is considered a cellular
mechanism for learning and memory because it:
A. Involves structural changes that decrease synaptic efficiency.
B. Requires simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic activation, enhancing synaptic
strength.
C. Is mediated solely by GABAergic inhibitory interneurons.
D. Appears only during infancy and early childhood.
Answer: B. Requires simultaneous presynaptic and postsynaptic activation,
enhancing synaptic strength.
LTP involves Hebbian plasticity: correlated activity between pre- and
postsynaptic neurons leads to increased synaptic strength. Option A is opposite
(LTP increases efficiency). Option C is incorrect as LTP primarily involves
glutamatergic NMDA receptors. Option D is false; LTP occurs throughout life.
6. Which cognitive heuristic is most directly implicated when a person
overestimates the likelihood of rare, vivid events (e.g., plane crashes) while
underestimating more common but less salient risks (e.g., car accidents)?
A. Representativeness heuristic.
B. Availability heuristic.
C. Confirmation bias.
D. Anchoring and adjustment.
Answer: B. Availability heuristic.
The availability heuristic bases probability judgments on the ease with which
examples come to mind; vivid, memorable events are overestimated.
Representativeness involves judging by similarity to a prototype. Confirmation
bias is seeking confirming evidence. Anchoring involves insufficient adjustment
from an initial value.
Page 4
