PSY 102 Final Exam V1 | PSY 102 General
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSY102 Final Exam) | Grand Canyon
University
1. Which of the following describes the ‘all-or-none’ principle of neural firing?
A. A neuron fires at different intensities based on the stimulus strength.
B. Neurotransmitters are released in proportion to the electrical charge.
C. The speed of the action potential depends on the size of the axon.
D. A neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all once the threshold is reached.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The all-or-none principle states that if a stimulus is strong enough to reach the
threshold, the neuron will fire at full strength. There is no such thing as a partial firing of an
individual neuron. This concept is fundamental to understanding how electrical signals are
propagated through the nervous system without losing strength.
2. Which structure in the limbic system is primarily responsible for the formation of new
explicit memories?
A. Amygdala
B. Thalamus
C. Hippocampus
,D. Hypothalamus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hippocampus is the brain structure most closely associated with the
processing and storage of new declarative memories. Damage to this area, as seen in
patients like H.M., results in the inability to form new long-term memories. It acts as a
staging area before memories are consolidated into the cerebral cortex.
3. Select all that apply: Which of the following were major focuses of the Early Functionalist
perspective in psychology led by William James?
A. The purpose of consciousness and behavior.
B. The breakdown of mental processes into basic components (Structuralism).
C. How organisms adapt to their environment.
D. The use of introspection to map brain structures.
E. Applying psychological principles to education and industry.
F. The exploration of the ‘stream of consciousness’.
Correct Answer: A, C, E, F
Rationale: Functionalism was concerned with the utility of consciousness and how it
helped individuals survive and adapt, rather than just identifying the parts of the mind.
William James famously described consciousness as a continuous flow or ‘stream’ rather
, than discrete building blocks. This perspective eventually influenced the development of
behaviorism and applied psychology branches.
4. In Pavlov’s experiments, the bell became the ________ after being repeatedly paired with
meat powder.
A. Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
B. Unconditioned Response (UR)
C. Conditioned Response (CR)
D. Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Initially, the bell was a neutral stimulus because it did not elicit salivation. Once
it was associated with the meat powder (the unconditioned stimulus), it gained the ability
to trigger salivation on its own. At this point, the bell is referred to as the conditioned
stimulus in the classical conditioning paradigm.
5. Which developmental psychologist proposed that children move through four distinct
stages of cognitive development?
A. Erik Erikson
B. Lawrence Kohlberg
C. Lev Vygotsky
D. Jean Piaget
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSY102 Final Exam) | Grand Canyon
University
1. Which of the following describes the ‘all-or-none’ principle of neural firing?
A. A neuron fires at different intensities based on the stimulus strength.
B. Neurotransmitters are released in proportion to the electrical charge.
C. The speed of the action potential depends on the size of the axon.
D. A neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all once the threshold is reached.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The all-or-none principle states that if a stimulus is strong enough to reach the
threshold, the neuron will fire at full strength. There is no such thing as a partial firing of an
individual neuron. This concept is fundamental to understanding how electrical signals are
propagated through the nervous system without losing strength.
2. Which structure in the limbic system is primarily responsible for the formation of new
explicit memories?
A. Amygdala
B. Thalamus
C. Hippocampus
,D. Hypothalamus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The hippocampus is the brain structure most closely associated with the
processing and storage of new declarative memories. Damage to this area, as seen in
patients like H.M., results in the inability to form new long-term memories. It acts as a
staging area before memories are consolidated into the cerebral cortex.
3. Select all that apply: Which of the following were major focuses of the Early Functionalist
perspective in psychology led by William James?
A. The purpose of consciousness and behavior.
B. The breakdown of mental processes into basic components (Structuralism).
C. How organisms adapt to their environment.
D. The use of introspection to map brain structures.
E. Applying psychological principles to education and industry.
F. The exploration of the ‘stream of consciousness’.
Correct Answer: A, C, E, F
Rationale: Functionalism was concerned with the utility of consciousness and how it
helped individuals survive and adapt, rather than just identifying the parts of the mind.
William James famously described consciousness as a continuous flow or ‘stream’ rather
, than discrete building blocks. This perspective eventually influenced the development of
behaviorism and applied psychology branches.
4. In Pavlov’s experiments, the bell became the ________ after being repeatedly paired with
meat powder.
A. Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
B. Unconditioned Response (UR)
C. Conditioned Response (CR)
D. Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Initially, the bell was a neutral stimulus because it did not elicit salivation. Once
it was associated with the meat powder (the unconditioned stimulus), it gained the ability
to trigger salivation on its own. At this point, the bell is referred to as the conditioned
stimulus in the classical conditioning paradigm.
5. Which developmental psychologist proposed that children move through four distinct
stages of cognitive development?
A. Erik Erikson
B. Lawrence Kohlberg
C. Lev Vygotsky
D. Jean Piaget
