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MCAT Psych/Soc > Ch. 2- Biological Basis of Behavior > Flashcards

Ch. 2- Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the idea of the biological approach to behavior?

A

the idea that genes, hormones, and neurotransmitters shape a mechanical response to stimuli

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2
Q

what are Ekman’s universal emotions? (7)

A

happy, sad, contempt, surprise, fear, disgust, anger

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3
Q

what is the psychological approach to behavior?

A

looking at behavior types and patterns, via observations and controlled experiments

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4
Q

what is the sociological approach to behavior?

A

focusing on behavior, organization, and feelings of groups.

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5
Q

what shapes instinctual (hard-wired) behavior?

A

genetics

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6
Q

adaptive traits contribute to what aspect of an organism?

A

fitness, or mean lifetime reproduction

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7
Q

what does a heritability of 1 mean?

A

that ALL of the variation in that trait is purely explained by genetics

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8
Q

what does a heritability of 0 mean?

A

that ALL the variation of that trait is explained by the environment or chance

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9
Q

what heritability range do psychological traits tend to have

A

between 0.3-0.6 (there can be instances such as schizophrenia that are closer to 0.8)

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10
Q

A study suggests that a mutation in a serotonin transport gene promoter, 5-HTT, makes people more susceptible to depression. what idea of behavior does this align with?

A

gene expression influencing behavior

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11
Q

methylation of DNA can alter gene expression. what’s the more general term for this?

A

epigenetics

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12
Q

what is the palmar grasp reflex?

A

A newborn’s reflex to grab something

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13
Q

what is the rooting reflex?

A

a newborn’s reflex to search for an object that brushes against its mouth or cheek

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14
Q

what is the sucking reflex?

A

a newborn’s reflex to make sucking motions when something grazes the top of its mouth

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15
Q

what is the Moro reflex?

A

the newborn startle reflex: the baby extends its arms and legs, pulls them back in, and cries

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16
Q

what is the Babinski reflex?

A

when you stroke the bottom of a baby’s foot, the big toe bends up and the other toes fan out. this is not the same as adults, where the toes all curl downward.

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17
Q

when do babies start to show stranger anxiety?

A

at age 7-8 months

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18
Q

babies develop complex motor behavior, egocentricism, and identity formation at what age range?

A

1-2 years

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19
Q

what is the critical period?

A

a timeframe where experiences can imprint on children for life

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20
Q

what is adolescence?

A

the transition period between childhood and adulthood

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21
Q

what are the main points of puberty?

A

onset of secondary sex characteristics d/t sex hormones (testosterone and estradiol), etc.

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22
Q

aging happens in what stage of life?

A

Adulthood

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23
Q

aging is associated with what biological process on the level of DNA?

A

the shortening of telomeres (hard cap on how many times a cell can divide before dying)

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24
Q

how does the endocrine system influence or regulate both behavior and physiology?

A

by secreting hormones into the bloodstream

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25
Q

what are hormones that cause target cells to make a direct change in a physiological function?

A

direct hormones

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26
Q

what are hormones that cause other hormones to be released?

A

tropic hormones

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27
Q

hormones secreted towards the top of the body tend to be what kind of hormones?

A

regulatory (tropic) hormones

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28
Q

hormones secreted further down in the body tend to be what kind of hormones?

A

direct hormones

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29
Q

what endocrine organ is often called the “bridge between the endocrine and the nervous systems”?

A

the hypothalamus

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30
Q

what main hormones does the hypothalamus release?

A

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which all act on the anterior pituitary gland

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31
Q

what is another name for the anterior pituitary gland?

A

adenohypophysis

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32
Q

what hormones are released by the anterior pituitary gland?

A

FLAT PEG:
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Leutinizing hormone (LH)
Adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Prolactin
Endorphins
Growth hormone (GH)

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33
Q

what hormones are released by the posterior pituitary gland?

A

antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin

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34
Q

what is another name for the posterior pituitary gland?

A

neurohypophysis

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35
Q

where are the thyroid and parathyroid glands located?

A

in the neck/throat

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36
Q

what hormones does the thyroid release?

A

thyroid hormone (has to do with metabolism) and calcitonin

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37
Q

what does the pancreas mediate in the body?

A

blood sugar levels (insulin)

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38
Q

where are the adrenal glands located?

A

above the kidneys

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39
Q

what segments can the adrenal glands be subdivided into?

A

the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla

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40
Q

what hormones does the adrenal cortex secrete?

A

steroid hormones, such as glucocorticoids and cortisol

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41
Q

what hormones does the adrenal medulla secrete?

A

epinephrine and norepinephrine

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42
Q

what hormones do the ovaries release?

A

estrogen (and progesterone)

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43
Q

what hormones do the testes release?

A

testosterone

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44
Q

how might testosterone and estrogen play a role in behavior?

A

both influence libido, secondary sex characteristics and puberty
testosterone is associated with behavior

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45
Q

how might oxytocin play a role in behavior?

A

oxytocin is a positive feedback loop hormone for uterine contraction, promotes bonding, empathy, trust. antidepressant properties

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46
Q

how might prolactin play a role in behavior?

A

induces lactation for breastfeeding, modulates stress reponse, anxiety, and depression

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47
Q

how might melatonin play a role in behavior?

A

melatonin controls the sleep/wake cycle, aka circadian rhythm.

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48
Q

what three hormones regulate feelings of hunger?

A

leptin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide Y.

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49
Q

what hormones mediate the flight-or-fight response?

A

epinephrine and norepinephrine

50
Q

what hormone controls the chronic stress response?

A

cortisol

51
Q

what are some common symptoms of hypothyroidism?

A

slow metabolism, low energy

52
Q

what are some common symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

A

fast metabolism, people with it tend to be skinny.

53
Q

what are reflexes?

A

completely automatic responses of the body

54
Q

what is the normal resting membrane potential in a neuron?

A

-70mV

55
Q

at what threshold does the membrane of a neuron depolarize enough to start a signal cascade?

A

-55mV

56
Q

what is a signal cascade in a neuron also known as?

A

an action potential

57
Q

what are reflex arcs?

A

simple neural pathways that control reflexes

58
Q

are sensory neurons afferent or efferent?

A

afferent- they carry the signal to the central nervous system.

59
Q

are motor neurons afferent or efferent?

A

efferent- they carry the body’s response to a stimulus to the body part.

60
Q

what is an excitatory neurotransmitter?

A

a neurotransmitter that makes it easier for another hormone to trigger the action potential (slightly depolarizes it)

61
Q

what is an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

A

a neurotransmitter that makes it nore difficult for another hormone to trigger the action potential (further polarizes it)

62
Q

what is the role of acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter?

A

activating muscle contraction, involuntary movement, parasympathetic nervous system

63
Q

how are glutamate and GABA related?

A

glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, while GABA is an inhibitory neutotransmitter.

64
Q

what is the role of dopamine as a neurotransmitter?

A

dopamine has to do with the reward pathway, is involved in addiction, and is implicated in Parkinson’s disease.

65
Q

what is the role of serotonin as a neurotransmitter?

A

serotonin helps regulate mood, appetite, sleep, GI tract movement, and implicated in depressive disorders.

66
Q

what is the role of endorphins as neurotransmitters?

A

suppress pain, euphoria, etc.

67
Q

what is the difference between agonists and antagonists?

A

agonist = binds to a neurotransmitter receptor to cause a response (may not be the actual molecule designed for that receptor)
antagonist = binds to a neurotransmitter receptor to block anything from reaching it, but does NOT cause a response

68
Q

what is the central nervous system?

A

the brain and spinal cord

69
Q

what is the peripheral nervous system?

A

the nervous system that doesn’t include the brain and spinal cord

70
Q

what two subsections can the peripheral nervous system be split into?

A

the somatic nervous system and the automatic nervous system

71
Q

what does the somatic nervous system do?

A

voluntary movement and sensory neurons

72
Q

what does the autonomic nervous system do?

A

involuntary movement

73
Q

what two subsections can the autonomic nervous system be subdivided into?

A

sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

74
Q

what is the sympathetic nervous system?

A

the fight-or-flight response

75
Q

what is the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

the rest-and-digest response

76
Q

what is the enteric nervous system?

A

the branch of the nervous system that is involved in regulation of the GI tract

77
Q

what three larger sections can the brain be divided into?

A

hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain

78
Q

what are the sections of the hindbrain?

A

the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and pons

79
Q

what does the cerebellum do?

A

coordinated movement, balance, walking

80
Q

what does the medulla oblongata do?

A

(autonomic functions) breathing, heartrate, blood pressure

81
Q

what does the pons do?

A

relays signals from the medulla and cerebellum to the rest of the brain, also sleep, respiration, swallowing, taste, bladder control, balance

82
Q

what processes is the midbrain involved in?

A

motor control, sleep and wake, temperature regulation

83
Q

what substructures are in the midbrain?

A

inferior and superior colliculi, substantia nigra

84
Q

what do the inferior and superior colliculi do?

A

processing auditory and visual input

85
Q

what does the substantia nigra do?

A

dopamine-coordinated voluntary movements (implicated in Parkinson’s)

86
Q

what is the brainstem made of?

A

the hindbrain (cerebellum, pons, medulla oblongata) and the midbrain (inferior and superior colliculi and substantia nigra) as well as the reticular activating system

87
Q

what does the reticular activating system do?

A

modulates alertness and arousal

88
Q

what two subsections is the forebrain divided into?

A

the diencephalon and the telencephalon

89
Q

what is the diencephalon?

A

includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, and posterior pituitary gland.

90
Q

what is the telencephalon?

A

includes the cerebrum

91
Q

what does the thalamus do?

A

regulates sensory and motor signals and sleep/alertness

92
Q

what does the hypothalamus do?

A

the “bridge” between nervous and endocrine systems

93
Q

what are the subsections that the cerebrum can be divided into?

A

the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures

94
Q

cerebral cortex =?

A

the outer layer of the brain divided into hemispheres

95
Q

subcortical structures =?

A

hippocampus and basal ganglia

96
Q

hippocampus =?

A

short-term memory -> long-term memory

97
Q

basal ganglia =?

A

misc. functions including eye + involuntary movements, procedural + habitual learning

98
Q

what does the limbic system include? (4+)

A

hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and more

99
Q

amygdala =?

A

episodic memory, attention, emotion

100
Q

nucleus accumbens =?

A

reward, motivation, learning (implicated in addiction)

101
Q

frontal lobe function?

A

voluntary movement, memory processing, planning, motivation, and attention

102
Q

parietal lobe function?

A

sensory processing (except vision)

103
Q

occipital lobe function?

A

processing vision

104
Q

temporal lobe function?

A

visual memories, attaching meaning to information, and language

105
Q

what is the potential 5th lobe of the brain?

A

the insula

106
Q

Wernicke’s area =?

A

temporal lobe spot involved in language comprehension

107
Q

Broca’s area =?

A

frontal lobe spot involved in language production

108
Q

what is lateralization?

A

the brain’s separate hemispheres specializing in different functions

109
Q

most people are what handedness and this corresponds to what side of the brain?

A

right handed = left side of the brain dominant

110
Q

spinal cord contains ?

A

sensory and motor neurons, cerebrospinal fluid (protects)

111
Q

where are the sensory and motor neurons located in the spinal cord?

A

SAME DAVE-
sensory afferent
motor efferent
dorsal afferent
ventral efferent

112
Q

where is your cervical spine?

A

neck (C1-C7)

113
Q

where is your thoracic spine?

A

upper back (T1-T12)

114
Q

where is your lumbar spine?

A

lower back (L1-L5)

115
Q

where is your sacrum?

A

after lower back (S1-S5) (fused in adults)

116
Q

where is your coccyx?

A

tailbone- at the end of the spine.

117
Q

what are EEG’s for?

A

looking at brainwaves/electrical activity in the brain

118
Q

CT scan = ?

A

computed tomography, X-rays in 360 degrees and putting them together into a 3D view

119
Q

MRI = ?

A

magnetic resonance imaging, spinning water molecules in the body to get an image of the inside of the body

120
Q

PET scan = ?

A

positron emission tomography, radioactive label on glucose to make it emit positrons, positrons are detected where glucose is being used the most

121
Q

fMRI =?

A

functional magnetic resonance imaging, tells difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood,

MCAT Psych/Soc (12 decks)

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