Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

MCAT Behavioral Review > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

Chapter One Terms

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Franz Gall

A
  • Had earliest theory that behavior, intellect and personality might be linked to brain anatomy
  • Had the idea that specific parts of the brain would grow and bulge when a skill was developed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Pierre Flourens

A

First person to study functions of major sections of the brain by ablating them
- Flourens asserted that specific parts of the brain have specific functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

William James

A

Father of Psychology
Thought it was important to study how the mind functioned in adapting to the environment
Supported functionalism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Functionalism

A

A system of thought in psychology studying how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

John Dewey

A

Wrote a key critical piece that criticized the concept of the reflex reaction as a series of steps
- Argued that organisms should be studied as a whole- supporter of functionalism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Paul Broca

A

Studied people with brain deficits and argued that specific parts of the brain control specific functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Herman van Helmholtz

A

First person to measure the speed of a nerve impulse

Connected psychology to the natural sciences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Sir Charles Herrington

A

First hypothesized about the existence of synapses

- Incorrectly believed that synapses were all electric

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Also known as afferent neurons

Transmit sensory information to the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Also known as efferent neurons

Transmit information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Interneurons

A

Most abundant of the three types of neurons
Found between other neurons
Located predominantly in the brain and spinal cord
Linked to reflexive behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

CNS

A

Central Nervous System

Includes the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

PNS

A

Peripheral Nervous System
Contains all nerve tissue and fibers outside of the CNS
Connects the CNS to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

One part of the PNS

Consists of sensory and motor neurons throughout the skin, joints and muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

One part of the PNS
Generally regulates heart beat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions
Manages the involuntary muscles associated with several muscles and glands
Independent of concious control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

One part of the autonomic nervous system
Conserves energy (Rest and Digest)
Associated with rest and sleep states
Acts to reduce the heart rate and constricts the bronchi
Manages digestion by increasing peristalsis and exocrine secretions
Acetylcholine responsible for these processes
Acts antagonistically to sympathetic nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A 
One part of the autonomic nervous system
Activated by stress (Fight or Flight)
Increases heart rate
Redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion
Increases blood glucose concentration
Relaxes the bronchii
Decreases digestion and peristalsis
Dilates eyes to maximize light intake
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Meninges

A

Thick sheath of connective tissue covering the brain

3 Layers: Pia Mater, Arachnoid Mater, Dura Mater

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

CSF

A

Cerebrospinal fluid

Aqueous solution that brain and spinal cord are in

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Ventricles

A

Internal cavities of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Brainstem

A

Hindbrain + Midbrain

Most primitive region of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Hindbrain

A

Also known as rhombencephalon
Controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes, such as sleeping and walking– all vital functions necessary for survival

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Myencephalon

A

Develops from a part of the rhombencephalon (hindbrain) during embryonic development
Becomes the medulla oblongata

24
Q

Metencephalon

A

Develops from a part of the rhombencephalon (hind brain) during embryonic development
Develops into the pons and the cerebrum

25
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

Lower brain structure responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure

26
Q

Pons

A

Lies above the medulla oblongata and contains sensory and motor pathways between the cortex and the medulla

27
Q

Cerebellum

A

Located at the top of the hindbrain
Helps to maintain posture and balance
Coordinates body movements

28
Q

Midbrain

A

Also known as mesencephalon
Receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body
Associated with involuntary reflex responses
Contains the superior and inferior colliculi

29
Q

Superior Colliculus

A

Receives visual sensory input

30
Q

Inferior Colliculus

A

Receives sensory information from the auditory system

Has a role in reflex responses after loud noise stimuli

31
Q

Forebrain

A

Also known as the prosencephalon
Associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes
Associated with emotion and memory
During embryonic development, it divides to form the telencephalon and the diencephalon

32
Q

Telencephalon

A

Eventually forms the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and limbic system

33
Q

Diencephalon

A

forms the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, and pineal gland

34
Q

Neuropsychology

A

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

35
Q

Methods of discovering function of brain

A

Study brain lesions in lab animals/humans
Electrically stimulating certain brain regions
Measure naturally occurring electric activity in brain regions
Measure regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)

36
Q

Thalamus

A

Part of forebrain
Serves as relay station for incoming sensory information, including all senses except for smell
Receives sensory information, sorts and transmits them to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex

37
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Subdivided into the lateral, ventromedial and anterior hypothalamus
Serves homeostatic functions, and is a key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states
Controls endocrine function and autonomic nervous system
Regulates metabolism, temperature and water balance
Four F’s- feeding, fighting fleeing, fucking

38
Q

Lateral Hypothalamus

A

Hunger Center- Detects when the body needs more food or water

39
Q

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

A

Satiety Center– provides signals to stop eating

40
Q

Anterior Hypothalamus

A

Controls sexual behavior

Also regulates sleep and body temperature

41
Q

Posterior Pituitary

A

Axonal projections from the hypothalamus

Site of release for hypothalmic hormones antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin

42
Q

Pineal Gland

A

Key player in biological rhythms

Secretes melatonin- which regulates circadian rhythms

43
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Several structures in the middle of the brain
Coordinate muscle movement as they receive information from the cortex and relay information to the brain and spinal cord via the extrapyramidal motor system

44
Q

Extrapyramidal motor system

A

Gathers information about body position and carries this information to the central nervous system

45
Q

Limbic System

A

Group of interconnected structures looping around the central portion of the brain– associated with emotion and memory
Includes the septal nuclei, amygdala, and hippocampus

46
Q

Septal Nuclei

A

One of the primary pleasure centers in the brain

There is an association between these nuclei and addictive behavior

47
Q

Amygdala

A

Structure that plays an important role in defensive and aggressive behaviors including fear and rage

48
Q

Hippocampus

A

Vital role in learning and memory processes
Helps to consolidate to form longterm memories
Redistributes remote memories to cerebral cortex
Communicates with other portions of the limbic system with the fornix

49
Q

Anterograde Amnesia

A

Not being able to establish new long term memories, but memories before brain injury are still established

50
Q

Retrograde Amnesia

A

Memory loss of events that transpired before the brain injury

51
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

(Neocortex) Outer surface of the brain

52
Q

Gyri

A

Bumps in the brain

53
Q

Sulci

A

Folds in the brain

54
Q

Cerebral Hemispheres

A

Halves of the cerebrum

55
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Composed of the prefrontal lobe and the motor cortex

56
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A

Manages executive function by supervising and directing the operations of other brain regions
Supervises processes associated with perception, memory, emotion, impulse control, and long-term planning
Association Area

57
Q

Association area

A

Area that integrates input from diverse brain regions

MCAT Behavioral Review (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions