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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Biology and Behavior > Flashcards

Biology and Behavior Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

had one of the earliest theories that behavior, intellect, and personality might be linked to brain anatomy

A

Franz Gall

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2
Q

idea that if a trait developed, then the part of the brain linked to it would expand; could measure this by feeling the skull

A

phrenology

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3
Q

first to study functions of major sections of brain, used extirpation/ablation

A

Pierre Flourens

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4
Q

method of removing part of the brain and observing behavioral consequences in an effort to understand function of that part of the brain

A

extirpation/ablation

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5
Q

studied how the mind adapts to the environment, his ideas formed functionalism

A

William James

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6
Q

his 1896 article was seen as the inception of functionalism

A

John Dewey

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7
Q

contributed to physiology by examining behavioral deficits of people with brain damage

A

Paul Broca

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8
Q

first to measure speed of nerve impulse, made psychology quantifiable (not philosophy)

A

Hermann Van Helmholts

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9
Q

he inferred the existence of synapses

A

Sir Charles Cherrington

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10
Q

two divisions of nervous system

A

central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS)

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11
Q

two divisions of central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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12
Q

two divisions of peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

somatic and autonomic

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13
Q

two divisions of autonomic nervous system

A

sympathetic and parasympathetic

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14
Q

nerve cells that transmit sensory information from receptors to spinal cord and brain

A

sensory neurons (afferent)

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15
Q

nerve cells that transmit motor information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

A

motor neurons (efferent)

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16
Q

most numerous type of nerve cells, found between other neurons, located mainly in brain and spinal cord, linked to reflexive behavior

A

interneurons

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17
Q

neural circuits that control the type of reflexive behavior as seen associated with interneurons

A

reflex arcs

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18
Q

composed of brain and spinal cord

A

central nervous system (CNS)

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19
Q

made of nerve tissue and fibers outside the brain and spinal cord, connects the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

A

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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20
Q

31 pairs of nerves emanating from spinal cord

A

spinal nerves

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21
Q

12 pairs of nerves emanating directly from the brain

A

cranial nerves

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22
Q

part of peripheral nervous system (PNS), consists of sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout skin, joints, and muscles

A

somatic nervous system

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23
Q

part of peripheral nervous system (PNS), regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions and helps regulate body temperature; all functions are automatic

A

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

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24
Q

part of autonomic nervous system (ANS), main role is to conserve energy; associated with resting and sleeping rates and managing digestion; acetylcholine is neurotransmitter responsible for responses of this system; functions include: constricts pupils, stimulates flow of saliva, constricts bronchi, slows heartbeat, stimulates peristalsis and secretion, stimulates bile release, contracts bladder

A

parasympathetic nervous system

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25
Q

part of autonomic nervous system (ANS), activated by stress; functions include: dilates pupils, inhibits salivation, relaxes bronchi, accelerates heartbeat, stimulates sweating of piloerection, inhibits peristalsis and secretion, stimulates glucose production and release, secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, inhibits bladder contraction, stimulates orgasm

A

sympathetic nervous system

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26
Q

thick, three-layered sheath of connective tissues that cover the brain

A

meninges

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27
Q

outer layer of meninges, connected directly to skull

A

dura mater

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28
Q

middle layer of meninges, fibrous weblike structure

A

arachnoid mater

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29
Q

inner layer of meninges, connected directly to brain

A

pia mater

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30
Q

aqueous solution that nourishes the brain and spinal cord and provides a protective cushion, resorbed by meninges, produced by cells lining the ventricles

A

cerebrospinal fluid

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31
Q

internal cavities of the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid; help keep brain buoyant and cushioned

A

ventricles

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32
Q

basic part of brain that developed later, includes the limbic system

A

forebrain

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33
Q

two basic parts of brain that developed earlier, makeup brainstem (the most primitive region of the brain)

A

midbrain and hindbrain

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34
Q

group of neural structures associated with emotion and memory

A

limbic system

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35
Q

outer covering of cerebral hemispheres, most recent evolutionary development of brain

A

cerebral cortex

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36
Q

basic part of brain, manages vital functioning necessary for survival, divides during embryonic development to form myelencephalon (becomes medulla oblongata) and metencephalon (becomes pons and cerebellum)

A

hindbrain (rhombencephalon)

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37
Q

lower brain structure responsible for regulating vital functions (breathing, heart rate)

A

medulla oblongata

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38
Q

lies above medulla, contains sensory and motor pathways between cortex and medulla

A

pons

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39
Q

mushrooms out back of pons, helps maintain posture and balance and coordinate body movements

A

cerebellum

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40
Q

basic part of brain, receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body, has two prominent nuclei collectively called colliculi

A

midbrain (mesencephalon)

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41
Q

prominent nuclei of midbrain that receives visual sensory input

A

superior colliculus

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42
Q

prominent nuclei of midbrain that receives auditory sensory input

A

inferior colliculus

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43
Q

basic part of brain, associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes, emotion, and memory; associated with intellectual and emotional capacities; divides during prenatal development to form telencepahlon (forms the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic system) and the diencephalon (forms the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland)

A

forebrain (prosencephalon)

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44
Q

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

A

neuropsychology

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45
Q

map created using electrical stimulation on cortex during brain operation

A

cortical map

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46
Q

tool to study electrical activity generated by larger regions of neurons by placing several electrodes on the scalp

A

electoencephalongram (EEG)

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47
Q

tool to detect broad patterns of neural activity based on increased blood flow to certain parts of the brain

A

regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)

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48
Q

tool that takes multiple X-rays at different angles to produce cross sectional images of tissue

A

CT (computed tomography) or CAT (computed axial tomography)

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49
Q

tool that uses radioactive sugar injected/absorbed into the body, dispersion and uptake throughout tissue is imaged

A

PET scan (positron emission tomograhpy)

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50
Q

tool that uses a magnetic field that interacts with hydrogen atoms and is used to map hydrogen dense regions of the body

A

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

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51
Q

tool that uses the same technique as MRI but specifically measures changes with blood flow (neural activity of the brain is associated with changes in blood flow)

A

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

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52
Q

measurement that can be taken that is a physiological indication of increased sympathetic arousal, which is associated with anxiety

A

measure of electrical conductivity of the skin

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53
Q

serves as important relay station for incoming sensory information (except smell), sorts and transmits incoming sensory impulses to appropriate areas of cerebral cortex

A

thalamus

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54
Q

serves homeostatic functions, helps control some endocrine functions and autonomic nervous system, detects imbalances in homeostatic functions and signals body to react

A

hypothalamus

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55
Q

subdivision of hypothalamus, detects hunger and thirst to trigger eating and drinking

A

lateral hypothalamus (LH)

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56
Q

subdivision of hypothalamus nicknamed “satiety center”, provides signals to stop eating

A

ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

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57
Q

subdivision of hypothalamus, controls sexual behavior, also regulates sleep and body temperature

A

anterior hypothalamus (AH)

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58
Q

site of release for the hypothalamic hormones: antidiuretic hormone (ADH/vasopressin) and oxytocin

A

posterior pituitary

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59
Q

key player in several biological rhythms, secretes hormone called melatonin (regulates circadian rhythms)

A

pineal gland

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60
Q

group of structures that coordinate muscle movement as they receive information from the cortex and relay it to the brain and spinal cord via the extrapyramidal motor system

A

basal ganglia

61
Q

gathers information about body position from basal ganglia and carries it to the central nervous system (CNS)

A

extrapyramidal motor system

62
Q

chronic illness associated with destruction of portions of the basal ganglia, characterized by jerky movements and uncontrolled resting tremors

A

Parkinson’s disease

63
Q

loop of interconnected structures looping around central portion of brain primarily associated with emotion and memory; includes septal nuclei, amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex

A

limbic system

64
Q

part of limbic system, they contain one of primary pleasure centers, association with addictive behavior

A

septal nuclei

65
Q

part of limbic system, plays an important role in defensive and aggressive behaviors

A

amygdala

66
Q

part of limbic system, plays vital role in learning and memory processes

A

hippocampus

67
Q

a long projection used by the hippocampus to communicate with other portions of the limbic system

A

fornix

68
Q

memory loss characterized by not being able to establish new long-term memories, while memories from before a brain injury stay intact

A

anterograde amnesia

69
Q

refers to memory loss of events that transpired before a brain injury

A

retrograde amnesia

70
Q

part of limbic system, functions in higher order cognitive processes, including regulation of impulse control and decision making

A

anterior cingulate cortex

71
Q

outer surface of the brain, most recent brain region to evolve; rather than a smooth surface it has numerous bumps and folds, this provides increased surface area; cerebrum is divided into two halves (right and left)

A

cerebral cortex (neocortex)

72
Q

bumps on surface of cerebral cortex

A

gyri

73
Q

folds on surface of cerebral cortex

A

sulci

74
Q

lobe of cerebral cortex, divided into two basic regions of prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex and includes Broca’s area

A

frontal lobe

75
Q

subdivision of frontal lobe, manages executive function by supervising and directing operation of other brain regions; good example of association area

A

prefrontal cortex

76
Q

area that integrates input from diverse regions of the brain

A

association area

77
Q

subdivision of frontal lobe, functions to initiate voluntary motor movements by sending neural impulses down spinal cord to muscles; located on precentral gyrus just in front of central sulcus; good example of projection area

A

primary motor cortex

78
Q

divides frontal and parietal lobes

A

central sulcus

79
Q

area that performs more rudimentary perceptual and motor tasks

A

projection area

80
Q

area of frontal lobe, vital for speech production, usually only found in the “dominant hemisphere” (usually the left)

A

Broca’s area

81
Q

lobe of cerebral cortex, located rear of frontal lobe, central region associated with spacial reasoning and manipulation

A

parietal lobe

82
Q

part of parietal lobe, involved in somatosensory information processing, located on postcentral gyrus just behind the central sulcus, closely related to primary motor cortex, they are often referred to as a single unit (the sensorimotor cortex)

A

somatosensory cortex

83
Q

lobe of cerebral cortex, located at very rear of brain, includes visual cortex (striate cortex), associated primarily in sensation and perception of visual information

A

occipital lobe

84
Q

lobe of cerebral cortex, associated with sound processing, memory processing, emotion, and language

A

temporal lobe

85
Q

part of temporal lobe, primary site of sound processing, including speech, music, and other sound information

A

auditory cortex

86
Q

area of temporal lobe, associated with language reception and comprehension

A

Wernicke’s area

87
Q

two halves cerebrum is divided into, a right and a left side, can communicate with the body in two ways, dominant and non-dominant side

A

cerebral hemispheres

88
Q

form of communication of cerebral hemispheres, one side of brain communicates with opposite side of the body

A

contralaterally

89
Q

form of communication of cerebral hemispheres, one side of brain communicates with same side of the body

A

ipsilaterally

90
Q

side of cerebral hemispheres (usually left), analytic in function, good for managing details; language, logic, and math located here; Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area driven by this hemisphere

A

dominant hemisphere

91
Q

side of cerebral hemispheres (usually right), associated with intuition, creativity, music cognition, spacial processing, assembling holistic images from stimuli, analyzing emotional tones of language, recognition of faces

A

non-dominant hemisphere

92
Q

structure that connects and shares information between the two cerebral hemispheres

A

corpus collosum

93
Q

chemicals used by neurons to send signals to other neurons, more that 100 identified, 7 important ones

A

neurotransmitters

94
Q

drug that mimics the action of some neurotransmitter

A

agonist

95
Q

drug that blocks the action of some neurotransmitter

A

antagonist

96
Q

neurotransmitter found in central and peripheral nervous systems, used to transmit nerve impulses to muscles in peripheral nervous system (PNS), linked to attention and arousal in central nervous system (CNS), used by efferent limb of somatic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system; can act as an excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitter in muscle cells, in central nervous system (CNS) largely functions as excitatory neurotransmitter

A

acetylcholine

97
Q

three closely related neurotransmitters that play important roles in experience of emotions; include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine; classified as monoamines or biogenic amines by their similar structures

A

catecholamines

98
Q

catecholamine neurotransmitter involved in controlling alertness and wakefulness, primary neurotransmitters of sympathetic nervous system; promote fight-or-flight responses

A

epinephrine/norepinephrine (adrenaline/noradrenaline)

99
Q

catecholamine neurotransmitter that plays an important role in movement and posture, high concentrations are found in the basal ganglia

A

dopamine

100
Q

mental illness that imbalances in dopamine transmission play a role in

A

schizophrenia

101
Q

disease associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons in basal ganglia

A

Parkinson’s disease

102
Q

neurotransmitter thought to play a role in regulating mood, eating, sleeping, and dreaming; also classified as a monoamine or biogenic amine by its structure

A

serotonin

103
Q

neurotransmitter that produces inhibitory postsynaptic potentials and plays a role in stabilizing neural activity; exerts effects by causing hyper-polarization of postsynaptic membranes

A

GABA (𝛾-aminobutyric acid)

104
Q

serves as inhibitory neurotransmitter in central nervous system (CNS) by increasing chloride influx into neurons, hyper-polarizes synaptic membrane similar to GABA

A

glycine

105
Q

acts as excitatory neurotransmitter in central nervous system (CNS)

A

glutamate

106
Q

neurotransmitters whose synaptic actions involve a more complicated chain of events which leads to them being relatively slow and having longer lasting effects than the other neurotransmitters

A

neuromodulators (neuropeptides)

107
Q

kind of neuromodulator (neuropeptide), natural pain killers produced in brain, have actions similar to morphine or other opioids in the body

A

endorphins

108
Q

the other internal communication system in the body (in addition to the nervous system), uses chemical messengers called hormones, somewhat slower than nervous system because hormones travel through the blood stream

A

endocrine system

109
Q

links endocrine and nervous systems, also regulates hormonal function of pituitary gland, control maintained by endocrine release of hormones into the hypophyseal portal system

A

hypothalamus

110
Q

directly connects the hypothalamus and pituitary gland

A

hypophyseal portal system

111
Q

subdivision of structure located at base of brain, the “master” because it releases hormones that regulate activities of endocrine glands elsewhere in the body

A

anterior pituitary gland

112
Q

located on top of kidneys and divided into two parts, one releases epinephrine and norepinephrine as part of sympathetic nervous system, the other produces corticosteroids and contributes to sexual functioning by producing sex hormones

A

adrenal glands

113
Q

one of adrenal glands, releases epinephrine and norepinephrine as part of sympathetic nervous system

A

adrenal medulla

114
Q

one of adrenal glands, produces corticosteroids including the stress hormone cortisol and contributes to sexual functioning by producing sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen

A

adrenal cortex

115
Q

sex glands of the body (ovaries and testes), these produce sex hormones in higher concentrations leading to increased levels of estrogen in females and testosterone in males; they increase libido and contribute to mating behavior and sexual function

A

gonads

116
Q

behavior genetically programmed as result of evolution and seen in all individuals regardless of environment or experience

A

innate behavior

117
Q

behavior not based on heredity, instead based on experience and environment

A

learned behavior

118
Q

extent to which a trait or behavior positively benefits species by influencing evolutionary fitness of species, thus leading to adaptation through natural selection

A

adaptive value

119
Q

question of how much of an individual’s behavior is based on genetic makeup and how much is based on environment and experience

A

nature vs nurture

120
Q

the influence of inherited characteristics on behavior

A

nature

121
Q

the influence of environment and physical surroundings on behavior

A

nurture

122
Q

studies that rely on fact that genetically related individuals are more similar genotypically that unrelated; researchers may compare rates of trait among family members to rates of trait among unrelated individuals; limited in ability to distinguish environmental and genetic factors

A

family studies

123
Q

studies that compare concordance rates between monozygotic (MZ, identical) and dizygotic (DZ, fraternal) twins; better able to distinguish relative effects of shared environment and genetic factors

A

twin studies

124
Q

likelihood that both twins exhibit the same trait in twin studies

A

concordance rates

125
Q

studies that compare similarities between biological relatives and adopted child to similarities between adoptive relatives and adopted children

A

adoption studies

126
Q

specific periods in development where children are particularly susceptible to environmental factors

A

critical periods

127
Q

beginning of development of nervous system

A

neuralation

128
Q

formed when ectoderm overlying notochords begins to furrow

A

neural groove

129
Q

two of them surround the neural groove

A

neural folds

130
Q

cells at the leading edge of the neural fold, will migrate throughout the body to form dipartate tissues

A

neural crest

131
Q

formed by closing of remainder of furrow, ultimately forms central nervous system (CNS), has two parts

A

neural tube

132
Q

part of neural tube, differentiates into sensory neurons

A

alar plate

133
Q

part of neural tube, differentiates into motor neurons

A

basal plate

134
Q

attachment of fetus to uterine wall and placenta

A

umbilical cord

135
Q

transmits food, oxygen, and water to fetus while returning water and waste to mother

A

placenta

136
Q

a behavior that occurs in response to a given stimulus without higher cognitive input

A

reflex

137
Q

found in infants and disappear with age, such as rooting reflex

A

primitive reflex

138
Q

primitive reflex when infants react to abrupt movements of their heads by flinging out their arms, then slowly retracting their arms and crying; it has been speculated that this reflex may have developed during a time when our prehuman ancestors lived in trees and falling could have been prevented by instinctive clenching

A

Moro reflex

139
Q

primitive reflex that causes toes to spread apart automatically when the sole of the foot is stimulated

A

Babinski reflex

140
Q

primitive reflex when infant closes fingers around an object placed in their hand

A

grasping reflex

141
Q

incorporate movement from large muscle groups and whole body motions (sitting, crawling, walking)

A

gross motor skills

142
Q

involve smaller muscles of fingers, toes, and eyes; provides more specific and delicate movements

A

fine motor skills

143
Q

fear and apprehension of unfamiliar individuals, develops at 7 months

A

stranger anxiety

144
Q

fear of being separated from parental figure, develop at 12 months

A

separation anxiety

145
Q

play style develops into this at two years, children play alongside each other without influencing each other’s behavior

A

parallel play

146
Q

abilities and behaviors expected to emerge at a certain time in a person’s development

A

developmental milestones

147
Q

order that development of gross motor skills tend to progress in

A

head-to-toe

148
Q

order that social skills develop

A

from self-oriented to parent-oriented to other-oriented

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (13 decks)

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