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Behavioral Science Flashcards

7 cards from real NBME practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. During polysomnography, a patient shows rapid eye movements, loss of skeletal muscle tone, and vivid dreaming. This corresponds to which sleep stage?

    Answer: REM sleep

    REM sleep is defined by rapid eye movements, muscle atonia, and dreaming, with a desynchronized EEG similar to wakefulness.

  2. A chronic alcohol user stops drinking abruptly. At approximately 24–48 hours after cessation, the most dangerous complication to anticipate is:

    Answer: Delirium tremens

    Delirium tremens (autonomic instability, seizures, hallucinations) typically peaks 48–72 hours after the last drink and is life-threatening.

  3. A dog that was conditioned to salivate at a bell tone stops salivating after the bell is repeatedly presented without food. This process is called:

    Answer: Extinction

    Extinction occurs when a conditioned response diminishes because the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

  4. A researcher concludes there is no difference in blood pressure reduction between two drugs when in fact one drug is superior. This error is classified as:

    Answer: Type II error (beta error)

    A Type II (beta) error is a false-negative: failing to detect a real difference that truly exists.

  5. In a cohort study, smokers develop lung cancer at a rate of 10 per 1,000/year and non-smokers at 1 per 1,000/year. The relative risk of lung cancer in smokers is:

    Answer: 10

    Relative risk = incidence in exposed / incidence in unexposed = 10/1,000 ÷ 1/1,000 = 10.

  6. A heroin-dependent patient presents with yawning, lacrimation, piloerection, and diarrhea 12 hours after last use. These findings are consistent with:

    Answer: Opioid withdrawal

    Opioid withdrawal features a flu-like syndrome with piloerection ('gooseflesh'), diarrhea, yawning, and lacrimation.

  7. Subjects in a famous obedience study continued to deliver apparent electric shocks to a learner at the command of an authority figure. This experiment, demonstrating situational compliance, was conducted by:

    Answer: Stanley Milgram

    Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments showed that most people comply with authority even when causing apparent harm to others.