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MCAT > Behavioral Sciences Ch4 > Flashcards

Behavioral Sciences Ch4 Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Cognition

A

How our brains process and react to the incredible information overload presented to us by the world

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2
Q

Information processing model

A

The brain encodes, stores and retrieve information much like a computer

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3
Q

Piaget’s stages of cognitive development

A

SENSORIMOTOR STAGE
- Focus on manipulating the environment to meet physical needs through circular reactions
- Object permanence ends this stage
PREOPERATIONAL STAGE
- Symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and centration
CONCRETE OPERATIONAL STATE
- understanding the feelings of others and manipulating physical objects
FORMAL OPERATIONAL STAGE
- Abstract thought ad problem solving

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4
Q

What are some biological factors that affect cognition

A
  • Brain disorders
  • genetic and chromosomal conditions
  • metabolic derangements
  • drug use
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5
Q

Problem solving

A

Requires identification and understanding of the problem, generation of potential solutions, testing of potential solutions and evaluation of results

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6
Q

Mental set

A

a pattern of approach for a given problem
- Inappropriate mental set can negatively affect problem solving

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7
Q

Functional Fixedness

A

The tendency to use objects only in the way they are normally utilized, which may create barriers to problem solving

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8
Q

Types of Problem solving

A
  • Trial and error
  • Algorithms
  • Deductive reasoning: deriving conclusions from a general set of rules
  • Inductive reasoning: deriving generalizations from evidence
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9
Q

Heuristics

A

Shortcuts or rules of thumb used to make decisions

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10
Q

Biases

A

When an experimenter or decision maker is unable to objectively evaluate information

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11
Q

Intuition

A

A gut feeling regarding a particular decision. However, intuition can often be attributed to experience with similar situations

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12
Q

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple intelligences

A

At least eight areas of intelligence
- linguistic, logical-mathematical, music, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist

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13
Q

What are the states of consciousness

A

Alertness, sleep, dreaming, and altered states

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14
Q

Alertness

A

The state of being awake and able to think, perceive, process, and express information
- beta and delta waves predominate on electroencephalography

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15
Q

Sleep

A

STAGE 1
- light sleep, theta waves
STAGE 2
- slightly deeper, theta waves, sleep spindles (bursts) and K complexes (single spikes)
STAGE 3 & 4
- slow wave sleep, delta waves, consolidate declarative memories through dreaming
RAPID EYE MOVEMEMNT
- EEG close to awake, but person asleep
- eye movement and body paralysis
- Consolidate procedural memeories

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16
Q

Sleep cycle

A
  • About 90 min in adults
  • Normal cycle 1-2-3-4-3-2-REM, although REM becomes more frequent in the morning
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17
Q

Melatonin release

A
  • Triggered by changes in light
  • released by pineal gland
  • results in sleepiness
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18
Q

Cortisol

A

Increase in early morning and help promote wakefulness

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19
Q

Dreaming

A
  • Mostly occurs during REM sleep
  • Many different models to account for the content and purpose of dreaming
20
Q

Dyssomnias

A

Disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep

21
Q

Parasomnias

A

abnormal movements or behaviours during sleep

22
Q

Insomnia

A

difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- related to anxiety, depression, medications or disruption of sleep cycles and circadian rhythms

23
Q

Narcolepsy

A

lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep
- Cataplexy: a loss of muscle and intrusion of REM in waking hours
- Usually caused by emotional trigger

24
Q

Sleep paralysis

A

a sensation of being unable to move despite being awake

25
Q

Sleep apnea

A

an inability to breath during sleep
- Obstructive: physical blockage in the pharynx or trachea prevents airflow
- Central: brain fails to send signals to the diaphragm to breathe

26
Q

Hypnosis

A

A state of consciousness in which individuals appear to be in control of their normal faculties but are highly suggestible
- Often used for pain control, psychological therapy, memory enhancement, weight loss, smoking cessation

27
Q

Meditiation

A

Involves quieting of the mind and is often used for relief of anxiety or religious purposes

28
Q

Depressents

A
  • Alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines
  • Promote or mimic GABA activity in the brain
29
Q

Stimulants

A
  • Amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy
  • Increase dopamine, norepinephrine or serotonin concentration in the synaptic cleft
30
Q

Opiates and Opioids

A
  • Heroin, morphine, opium, and prescription pain medications (oxycodone)
  • Cause death by respiratory depression
  • Bind to opioid receptors suppressing pain
31
Q

Hallucinogens

A
  • Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), peyote, mescaline, ketamine, psilocybin containing mushrooms
  • Distortions of reality and enhanced sensory experiences
  • Increased HR, BP, dilation of pupils, sweating and increased body temperature
32
Q

Marijuana

A
  • Depressant, stimulant, and hallucinogenic effects
  • Active ingredient THC
33
Q

What pathway mediates drug addication

A

The mesolimbic pathway, which includes the nucleus accumbens, medial forebrain bundle and ventral tegmental area
- dopamine is the main neurotransmitter of this pathway

34
Q

Selective attention

A

Allows one to pay attention to a particular stimulus while determining if additional stimuli in the background required attention

35
Q

Divided attention

A

Uses automatic processing to pay attention to multiple activities at one time

36
Q

Phonology

A

Actual sound of speech

37
Q

Morphology

A

the building blocks of words

38
Q

Semantics

A

meaning of words

39
Q

Syntax

A

rules dictating word order (grammer)

40
Q

Paragmatics

A

the changes in language delivery depending on context

41
Q

Nativist Theory

A

Explains language acquisition as being innate and controlled by the language acquisition device (LAD)

42
Q

Learning theory

A

Explains language acquisition as being controlled by operant conditioning and reinforcement by caregivers

43
Q

Social interactionist theroy

A

Explains language acquisition as being caused by a motivation to communicate and interact with others

44
Q

Whorfian Hypothesis

A

States that the lens through which we view and interpret the world is created by language

45
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Motor function of speech is controlled
- damage results in Broca’s aphasia - nonfluent aphasia in which generative generating each word requires great effort

46
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Language comprehension
- Damage results in Wernicke’s Aphasia - fluent nonsensical aphasia with lack of comprehension

47
Q

Arcuate fasciculus

A

connects Wernicke’s and Broca’s area
- Damage results in conduction aphasia - the inability to repeat words heard despite intact speech generation and comprehension

MCAT (13 decks)

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