Nursing Elites

1. Neural plasticity is ________.

• A. the process by which neurotransmitters are broken down in the brain.
• B. the flexibility of the brain—existing neural circuits can change or new ones can be made.
• C. strong evidence of brain damage, leading to the development of a mental disorder.
• D. the best indicator of temperament and its effect on the personality development of a child.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Neural plasticity refers to the brain's flexibility to change existing neural circuits or create new ones. Choice A is incorrect as it describes neurotransmitter breakdown, not neural plasticity. Choice C is incorrect because neural plasticity does not necessarily indicate brain damage leading to mental disorders. Choice D is incorrect because neural plasticity is not specifically related to temperament or personality development in children.

2. What is extinction, and how might it be used in treating a disorder?

• A. Extinction strengthens the conditioned response by continuously pairing the conditioned stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus.
• B. Extinction is the process of eliminating a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus.
• C. Extinction is ineffective and is not used in treating disorders.
• D. Extinction is the process of intensifying the conditioned response by pairing the conditioned stimulus with a stronger unconditioned stimulus.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Extinction is the process of eliminating a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. This process helps in reducing or eliminating undesired behaviors or responses. Choice A is incorrect because extinction weakens the conditioned response by breaking the association between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. Choice C is incorrect as extinction is a widely used technique in behavioral therapies for treating disorders. Choice D is incorrect as extinction aims to reduce the conditioned response, not intensify it.

3. In schizophrenia, what is the term used to describe the symptom where individuals exhibit peculiar hand and limb movements or adopt unusual postures for long periods of time?

• A. Catatonia
• B. Loose association
• C. Disorganized speech
• D. Blunted affect

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Catatonia. Catatonia is a symptom seen in some cases of schizophrenia, characterized by motor abnormalities such as peculiar hand and limb movements or adopting unusual postures for extended periods. Choice B, Loose association, refers to a thought disorder where ideas shift from one subject to another in an unrelated way. Choice C, Disorganized speech, is characterized by incoherent or incomprehensible speech patterns. Choice D, Blunted affect, describes a reduction in the intensity of emotional expression.

4. If a pair of monozygotic twins raised in the same environment end up being different from one another (e.g., interests, hobbies, etc.), it is highly likely due to:

• A. Cephalocaudal pattern
• B. Proximodistal pattern
• C. Cephamodistal pattern
• D. Gene-environment correlation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Proximodistal pattern. Differences between monozygotic twins raised in the same environment are likely due to non-shared environmental influences, which lead to differences in interests, hobbies, and other individual characteristics. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Cephalocaudal pattern refers to the principle of development from head to toe, not relevant in explaining differences between twins. Cephamodistal pattern is not a recognized developmental term. Gene-environment correlation does not directly explain the differences between identical twins raised in the same environment.

5. Which of the following statements is true?

• A. Most behavioral disorders are determined exclusively by genes.
• B. Genes play a role in most mental disorders.
• C. Genes do not affect biochemical processes.
• D. The genes that will be expressed in an individual are not affected by experience.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Genes play a role in most mental disorders.' This statement is true as genes do play a significant role in the development of various mental disorders. Choice A is incorrect because most behavioral disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and other factors, not exclusively genes. Choice C is incorrect as genes do affect biochemical processes. Choice D is incorrect because the expression of genes in an individual can be influenced by experiences and environmental factors, a concept known as gene-environment interaction.

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