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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > 1 - Biology and Behavior > Flashcards

1 - Biology and Behavior Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Franz Gall

A

Phrenology - part of the brain responsible for a well-developed trait will expand and push the area of that skull
Behavior, intellect, personality can be linked to brain natomy

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2
Q

Pierre Flourens

A

First to study functions of major brain sections
Extirpation (removal of brain sections) or ablation (deliberate damage to brain)
Found that each part had specific functions and the removal of one weakens the whole brain

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3
Q

William James

A

“Founder of American psychology”
Functionalism - studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to environment

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4
Q

John Dewey

A

Published paper article (1896) that would become foundation of functionalism
Believed psychology should focus on studying the whole organism as it functioned to adapt to the environment

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5
Q

Paul Broca

A

Examined behavioral deficits of people with brain damage
Specific functional impairments could be linked with specific brain lesions

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6
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Lesion on left side of brain responsible for speech

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7
Q

Hermann von Helmholtz

A

Measured the speed of a nerve impulse and related it to reaction time
- link between behavior and underlying nervous system activity
Made psychology a quantifiable natural science

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8
Q

Sir Charles Sherrington

A

Inferred existence of synapses
Thought synaptic transmission was electrical —> now we know it is mainly chemical

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9
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Afferent - away from receptors, toward CNS
Brings sensory info

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10
Q

Motor neurons

A

Efferent - exits spinal cord to muscles and glands
Send motor info from brain to muscles

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11
Q

Interneurons

A

Found between other neurons
Mainly in the CNS linked to reflexive behavior

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12
Q

Reflex arc

A

Neural circuits
Reflex “path” where you reflexively withdraw foot from nail due to spinal cord before signal gets to the brain while transferring weight to other foot

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13
Q

What is the CNS

A

Brain and spinal cord

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14
Q

What is the PNS

A

Peripheral - nerve tissue and fibers out of CNS including 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 12 pairs of cranial nerves

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15
Q

What do efferent and afferent relate to and under which category of nerves is it under

A

Efferent - motor to muscles and glands
Afferent - sensory to brain
Somatic nervous system

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16
Q

Where does somatic nervous system extend to

A

Skin, joints, muscles

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17
Q

What does autonomic nervous system regulate

A

Heartbeat, respiration, digestion, body temperature

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18
Q

How does the ANS control body temperature

A

Activate sweating (hot) or piloerection (cold)

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19
Q

What makes up the ANS

A

Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems

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20
Q

Function of parasympathetic nervous system

A

Conserve energy - associated with resting/sleeping states
Reduce heart rate, constrict bronchitis, increase peristalsis (contraction of digestive smooth muscles) and exocrine secretions (digestive juices)

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21
Q

Neurotransmitter responsible for parasympathetic nervous system

A

Acetylcholine

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22
Q

Effects of parasympathetic nervous system (11)

A

Constrict pupils, stimulate saliva flow, constrict bronchi, slow heart rate, inhibit glucose release and adrenaline production, stimulate bile release and peristalsis and secretion, contract bladder, promotes erection of genitals

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23
Q

What activates sympathetic nervous system

A

Stress

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24
Q

Effects of sympathetic nervous system (10)

A

Dilate pupils, inhibit salivation, relax bronchi, accelerates heartbeat, stimulate glucose production and release, inhibit peristalsis and secretion, releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, inhibit bladder contraction, stimulates orgasm and sweating or piloerection

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25
Q

Epinephrine vs norepinephrine

A

Epinephrine - mainly heart (hormone)
Norepinephrine - maintain/raise blood pressure (local)

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26
Q

Function of meninges

A

Reabsorb cerebrospinal fluid and anchor brain in the skull

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27
Q

Dura mater

A

Connected to skull

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28
Q

Arachnoid mater

A

Fibrous, weblike

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29
Q

Pia mater

A

Connected to brain

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30
Q

Where is CSF made and what does it do (3)

A

Cells that line ventricles, nourish CNS, provides protective cushion

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31
Q

Where are the brain structures related to basic survival located

A

Base of the brain

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32
Q

Where are the brain structures related to more complex functioning located

A

Higher up the brain

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33
Q

Cerebral cortex functions

A

Language processing, problem solving, impulse control, long-term planning
- complex cognitive, perceptual, behavioral processes

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34
Q

What forms the brain stem

A

Hindbrain and midbrain - most primitive region

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35
Q

Basal ganglia function

A

Movement

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36
Q

Limbic system function

A

Emotion and memory

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37
Q

Thalamus function

A

Sensory relay station

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38
Q

Hypothalamus function

A

Hunger and thirst, emotion, homeostasis (metabolism, temperature, water balance)

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39
Q

Inferior and superior colliculi function

A

Sensorimotor reflexes

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40
Q

Cerebellum function

A

Refined motor movement - posture and balance and coordinates body movement

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41
Q

Medulla oblongata function

A

Breathing, heart rate, digestion, vital reflexes (vomiting, coughing)

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42
Q

Reticular formation function

A

Arousal and alertness

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43
Q

Pons function

A

Communication with brain, breathing
Above medulla, contains sensory add motor pathways between cortex and medulla

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44
Q

Combined name for diencephalon and telencephalon

A

Prosencephalon (forebrain)

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45
Q

Combined name for metencephalon and myelencephalon

A

Rhombencephalon (hindbrain)

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46
Q

What does the hindbrain do

A

Balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, general arousal processes (sleep/wake)

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47
Q

Consequence for damaged cerebellum

A

Slurred speech, clumsiness, loss of balance (all consequences of alcohol too)

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48
Q

Midbrain function

A

Receives sensory and motor information

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49
Q

Superior colliculus function

A

Receive visual info

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50
Q

Inferior colliculus function

A

Receive auditory info, reflex to loud noises

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51
Q

What region has greatest influence on human behavior

A

Forebrain

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52
Q

What makes diencephalon

A

Thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, pineal gland

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53
Q

What makes telencephalon

A

Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system

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54
Q

Neuropsychology definition

A

Study of functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain

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55
Q

Cortical map

A

Map out brain functions via electrical stimulation while patient is awake

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56
Q

EEG

A

Electroencephalogram - place electrodes on scalp and record electrical activity

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57
Q

rCBF

A

Regional cerebral blood flow - detect patterns of neural activity based on increased blood flow to different parts of the brain

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58
Q

CT/CAT

A

Computed tomography/computed axial tomography
X-rays taken at different angles and aligned for cross-sectional images of the tissue

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59
Q

PET

A

Positron emission tomography - radioactive sugar traced throughout target tissue

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60
Q

MRI

A

Magnetic resonance imaging - magnetic field interacts with Hydrogen atoms to map out hydrogen-dense areas

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61
Q

fMRI

A

Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Measure changes associated with blood flow (monitor neural activity)

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62
Q

What senses is the thalamus a relay station for

A

All but smell

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63
Q

LH normal and damaged function

A

Lateral hypothalamus - hunger center, triggers eating and drinking
Damage —> refuse to eat or drink

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64
Q

VMH normal and damaged function

A

Ventromedial hypothalamus - provides signal to stop eating
Damage - keep eating

65
Q

Anterior hypothalamus normal and damaged function

A

Controls sexual behavior, regulates sleep and body temperature
Damage - no sexual activity

66
Q

Posterior pituitary function

A

Site of release of hypothalamic hormone ADH - antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) and oxytocin

67
Q

Pineal gland function

A

Biological rhythm
Secretes melatonin which regulates circadian rhythms
Receives direct signals from retina

68
Q

Basal ganglia function

A

Coordinate muscle movement with into from cortex and send this info to CNS
Ensure smooth movement and steady posture

69
Q

Extrapyramidal system

A

Gathers info on body position and carries info to CNS

70
Q

Disease related to basal ganglia

A

Parkinson’s - resting tremor
Maybe schizophrenia, OCD

71
Q

What makes the limbic system

A

Hippocampus, amygdala, septal nuclei, anterior cingulate cortex

72
Q

Septal nuclei function

A

Primary pleasure center (addiction)

73
Q

Normal and damaged amygdala function

A

Defense and aggression
Damage - docile, hypersexual

74
Q

Hippocampus function

A

Learning and memory - makes long-term memory and distributes remote memories to cortex
Communicates through the fornix

75
Q

Anterior cingulate cortex function

A

Higher order cognitive processes - impulse control, decision-making
Emotion and motivation - connects to limbic system

76
Q

Another name for cerebral cortex

A

Neocortex - most recently evolved

77
Q

Gyri and sulci

A

Bumps and grooves

78
Q

Main cortexes of frontal lobe

A

Motor cortex and prefrontal cortex (and Broca’s area)

79
Q

Prefrontal cortex function

A

Supervise and direct operations of other brain regions
Reticular formation - wake up/relax
Perception, memory (remind someone they have to do something), emotion, impulse control, long-term planning

80
Q

Prefrontal lesion effects

A

Impulsive, less in control of behavior/crying
Inappropriate sexual remarks
Apathetic

81
Q

Association area

A

Integrates input from diverse regions of the brain

82
Q

Projection area

A

Perform rudimentary (basic) perceptual and motor tasks

83
Q

Primary motor cortex function and location

A

Located on precentral gyrus (in front of central sulcus)
Initiative voluntary motor movements by sending neural impulses toward muscles

84
Q

Cortex in parietal lobe

A

Somatosensory cortex

85
Q

Somatosensory cortex function and location

A

Postcentral gyrus behind central sulcus
Signal for touch, pressure, temperature, pain

86
Q

Parietal lobe function

A

Somatosensory input
Spatial processing and manipulation

87
Q

What cortex is in occipital lobe

A

Visual cortex or striate cortex

88
Q

What makes up the temporal lobe

A

Auditory cotrtex and Wernicke’s area

89
Q

Auditory cortex function

A

Process sounds of speech, music, etc

90
Q

Wernicke’s area function

A

Language reception and comprehension

91
Q

Temporal lobe function

A

Auditory, memory processing, emotion, language

92
Q

Contralateral

A

Motor neurons on one side of the brain activate movements on other side of the body

93
Q

Ipsilateral

A

Communicate with same side of body (hearing)

94
Q

How to determine dominant hemisphere

A

More heavily stimulated during language reception and production

95
Q

Dominant hemisphere function

A

(Left) manage details - language, logic, math

96
Q

Non dominant hemisphere function

A

(Right) intuition, creativity, music cognition, spatial processing
Sensitive to tone of voice, moods from visual/auditory cues

97
Q

Neurotransmitter definition

A

Chemical used by neurons to send signals to other neurons

98
Q

Agonist definition

A

Drug that mimics action of a neurotransmitter

99
Q

Antagonist definition

A

Drugs that block the action of neurotransmitters

100
Q

Acetylcholine function

A

CNS - attention and arousal (alertness)
PNS - transmit nerve impulses to muscles (voluntary)
Mainly parasympathetic but can be in sympathetic for sweat glands and ganglia)

101
Q

How are epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine classified and why are they important

A

Catecholamines, monoamines, biogenic amines
Important in emotion

102
Q

How does acetylcholine affect skeletal vs cardiac muscle vs CNS

A

Skeletal - excitatory
Cardiac - inhibitory
CNS - excitatory

103
Q

Function of norepinephrine and epinephrine

A

Control alertness/wakefulness
Fight-or-flight

104
Q

Effects of too much/little norepinephrine

A

High - anxiety/mania
Low - depression

105
Q

Dopamine function

A

Smooth movements and stable posture (in basal ganglia)

106
Q

Effects of too little/much dopamine

A

High - schizophrenia
Low - Parkinson’s

107
Q

Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia

A

Delusion, hallucination, agitation arises from too much or oversensitivity to dopamine

108
Q

Serotonin function

A

Monoamine or biogenic amine
Regulating mood, sleep, eating, dreaming

109
Q

Effects of too much/little serotonin

A

High - mania
Low - depression

110
Q

GABA function

A

Stabilize neural activity by sending inhibitory signals

111
Q

Function of glycine as neurotransmitter

A

Inhibitory by allowing Cl- to enter the cell

112
Q

Function of glutamate as neurotransmitter

A

Excitatory

113
Q

Name of peptides in neurotransmission

A

Neuromodulator or neuropeptide
Takes longer than neurotransmitters, last longer

114
Q

Type of neuropeptide in the brain

A

Endorphin - natural painkillers
Enkaphalin

115
Q

Endocrine system

A

Communication network that uses hormones (chemical)
Slower than nervous system because it has to travel in bloodstream

116
Q

What links the endocrine and nervous system

A

Hypothalamus - regulates function of pituitary

117
Q

How is the hypothalamus and pituitary gland controlled

A

Hypophyseal portal system

118
Q

Anterior pituitary function

A

“Master”
Releases hormones that regulate endocrine glands

119
Q

What controls the anterior pituitary gland

A

Hypothalamus

120
Q

2 parts of adrenal glands

A

Adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex

121
Q

Adrenal medulla function

A

Releases epinephrine and norepinephrine for sympathetic nervous system

122
Q

Adrenal cortex function

A

Produces corticosteroids (cortisol - stress)
Produces sex hormones

123
Q

Gonad function

A

Sex glands - produce sex hormones in higher concentrations, increased libido
Higher testosterone —> aggression

124
Q

One of most heritable desires

A

Bipolar disorder

125
Q

Innate behavior definition

A

Genetically programmed, seen in all individuals regardless of environment or experience

126
Q

Learned behaviors

A

Based on experience and environment

127
Q

Adaptive value

A

Extent to which a trait or behavior positively benefits a species by influencing the evolutionary fitness of the species (natural selection)

128
Q

Family studies and limitations

A

Look at frequency of a trait in a family compared to general population
Limit - can’t distinguish shared environmental vs genetic factors

129
Q

Twin studies and benefits

A

Compare consistency of rates between MZ and DZ twins
Benefit - thought to reflect hereditary factors, measure genetic effects relative to environmental effects

130
Q

Adoption studies

A

Compare similarities between children who were adopted and their adoptive parents relative to similarities with their biological parents

131
Q

Critical period

A

Specific periods where children are particularly susceptible to environmental factors

132
Q

Neurulation

A

Ectoderm over notochord furrows forming neural groove surrounded by neural folds

133
Q

Cells at the ends of the neural fold

A

Neural crest

134
Q

What does the neural crest form

A

Tissues - dorsal root ganglia, melanocytes, calcitonin-producing cells of thyroid
Neural tube

135
Q

What happens to the neural tube

A

Alar plate - differentiates into sensory neurons
Basal plate - differentiates info motor neurons
Folds in on itself to form swellings that become the -cephalon

136
Q

Diseases that can impact fetus

A

Rubella (German measles) which causes cataracts, deafness, heart defects, intellectual disability
Measles, mumps, hepatitis, influenza, varicella, herpes

137
Q

Thalidomide

A

Missing and malformed limbs
Defects in eyes, ears, heart, digestive tract, kidneys

138
Q

Anti-epileptic medication side effects

A

Neural tube defects
Spinal bifida - not fully closed (bulges out)
Anencephaly - under-developed brain and skull

139
Q

Leading cause of abnormal development

A

Maternal malnutrition

140
Q

(Maternal) protein deficiency consequences

A

Slow growth, can form intellectual disability, immunity decreased

141
Q

(Maternal) use of narcotics

A

Withdrawal (fetus), increase heart rate, likely to be premature, slow growth

142
Q

(Maternal) alcohol use

A

Slow growth

143
Q

(Maternal) radiation (x-ray)

A

Decrease intellectual, skull, spinal eye, limb development, cleft palate

144
Q

Reflex definition

A

Response to a stimulus without higher cognitive input

145
Q

Name for infant reflexes

A

Primitive reflexes

146
Q

Primitive reflexes

A

Rooting reflex - turning head toward stimulus if something touches cheek
Moro reflex - fling out all limbs during to dropping motion, cry
Babinski reflex - toes spread apart when sole is stimulated
Grasping reflex - close their hands when a stimulus touches hand

147
Q

How long does Moro reflex typically last? What implications are there if it goes past?

A

4 months, after one year it can imply developmental difficulties
Asymmetrical actions can imply neuromuscular problems

148
Q

How are motor skills broken down?

A

Gross - whole body motion (sitting, walking, crawling)
Fine - small muscles of fingers, toes, eyes (drawing, tracking, catching, waving)

149
Q

Stranger anxiety

A

Fear and apprehension of unfamiliar individuals (develops at about 7 months)

150
Q

Separation anxiety

A

Fear of being separated from parent (develops at about 12 months)

151
Q

Parallel play

A

Children play alongside each other without influencing the other’s behavior

152
Q

What feeling develops at 5 years

A

Conformity to peers, romantic feelings

153
Q

What happens 6-12 years of age

A

Friends are usually same gender without romantic feelings

154
Q

What happens in teenage years

A

Rebel due to desire of being independent
Friends between genders
Aware of gender identity and sexual orientation

155
Q

Abilities/behaviors expected to emerge at specific times

A

Developmental milestones

156
Q

How do gross motor skills develop

A

Head to toe - lift head, stabilize trunk, walk

157
Q

How do fine motor skills develop

A

Core to extremities - wave before write

158
Q

How do social skills change

A

Parent-oriented —> self-oriented —> other-oriented

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (1 decks)

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