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Behavioral Science MCAT > Chapter 1: biology and behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 1: biology and behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

What is extirpation (also known as ablation) ?

A

Various parts of the brain are surgically removed and the behavioral consequences are observed.

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2
Q

Pierre Flourens (1794-1867)

A

His work led to his assertion that the brain had specific parts for specific functions, and that the removal of one part weakens the whole brain

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3
Q

Who is known as the father of American psychology

A

William James

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4
Q

Functionalism

A

A system of though in psychology that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments

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5
Q

William James (1842-1910)

A

Believed that it was important to study how the mind functioned in adapting to the environment

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6
Q

John Dewey (1859-1952)

A

Wrote an article in 1869 that is seen as the inception for functionalism. The article criticized the concept of the reflux arc, which breaks the process of reacting to a stimulus into discrete parts. Dewey believed that psychology should study the organism as a whole as it functioned to adapt to the environment.

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7
Q

Paul Broca (1824-1880)

A

Examined behavioral defects of people with brain damage. First person to demonstrate that specific functional impairments could be linked with specific brain lesions.

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8
Q

Broca’s area

A

Area of the brain named after Paul Broca found that a man was unable to talk because of a lesion on the left side of his brain

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9
Q

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894)

A

First person to measure the speed of a nerve impulse

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10
Q

Sir Charles Sherrington (1857-1952)

A

First inferred the existence of synapses

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11
Q

Define lesion

A

A region in organ or tissue that has suffered damage through injury or disease such as wound, ulcer, tumor, etc.

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12
Q

Define synapses

A

Junction between two nerve cells

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13
Q

What are the three kinds of cells In the nervous system

A

Sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons

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14
Q

Sensory neurons (also known as afferent neurons)

A

Transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain

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15
Q

Motor neurons (also known as efferent neurons)

A

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

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16
Q

Interneurons

A

Found between other neurons and are the most numerous. Located predominately in the brain and spinal cord and are often linked to reflexive behavior

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17
Q

Neural circuits called Reflex arcs control what behavior

A

Reflexive behavior

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18
Q

What are the two components of the nervous system

A

Central and Peripheral

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19
Q

What are the components of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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20
Q

What are the parts of the Autonomic nervous system

A

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

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21
Q

Peripheral Nervous System is made up of..

A

Nerve tissue and fibers outside the brain and spinal cord, such as the 12 pairs of cranial and 31 pairs of spinal nerves. The PNS connects the CNS to the rest of the body.

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22
Q

The Somatic Nervous System

A

Consists of sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout the skin, joints, and muscles. The sensory neurons transmit information through afferent fibers. Motor impulses are transmitted through efferent fibers.

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23
Q

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

Regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretion. Manages the involuntary muscles associated with internal organs and glands. Also helps regulating body temperature. These functions are independent of conscious control.

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24
Q

Although later proven false: What is the doctrine of phrenology (Franz Gall 1758-1828)

A

The idea was that if a particular trait was well developed, then the part of the brain responsible for that trait would expand

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25
Q

Mnemonic for neurons

A

Afferent neurons ascend the cord toward brain, Efferent neurons exit the cord to the rest of the body

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26
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

The main role is to conserve energy. Acts to reduce heart rate and constrict the bronchi, which associates it with resting and sleeping. Also manages digestion by increasing peristalsis and exocrine secretions.

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27
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Neurotransmitter responsible for the parasympathetic responses in the body

28
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Activated by stress. “Fight or flight”. Increases heart rate, redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion , increases blood glucose concentration, relaxes the bronchi, decreases digestion, dilates eyes to maximize light intake, and releases epinephrine into the bloodstream

32
Q

What are the components of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

somatic and autonomic

33
Q

Meninges purpose

A

A thick sheath of connective tissue that covers the brain. Helps protect the brain, keep it anchored within the skill, and resorb cerebrospinal fluid.

34
Q

Layers of the meninges

A

The dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater

35
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid

A

Aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal cord rest. It is produced by specialized cells that line the ventricles (internal cavities) of the brain

36
Q

What are the three basic subdivisions of the human brain

A

Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain

37
Q

The brain stem

A

Formed from the hindbrain and midbrain. Referred to as most primitive region of the brain.

38
Q

Limbus system

A

a group of neural structures primarily associated with emotion and memory. Aggression, fear, pleasure, and pain are all related to the limbic system.

39
Q

Cerebral cortex (Forebrain)

A

Outer covering of the cerebral hemispheres. Complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes. Associated with everything from language to problem solving, and impulse control to long term planning.

40
Q

The embryonic brain development of swellings

A

The brain develops from the neural tube. The tube is composed of three swellings, which correspond to the midbrain, forebrain, and hindbrain. Both the hindbrain and forebrain later divide into two swellings this creating a total of five swellings.

41
Q

The hindbrain (rhombencephalon)

A

Controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes such as sleeping and waking.

42
Q

The hindbrain (rhombencephalon) during embryonic development

A

Divides to form the myelencephalon (which becomes the medulla oblongata) and the metencephalon (which becomes the pons and cerebellum).

43
Q

The medulla oblongata

A

A lower brain structure that is responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

44
Q

The pons

A

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

45
Q

The cerebellum

A

Lies at the top of the hindbrain, mushrooming out of the back of the pons. It helps maintain posture and balance and coordinates body movements.

46
Q

What happens if damage occurs to the cerebellum

A

Clumsiness, slurred speech, and loss of balance. Alcohol also affects the cerebellum and consequently affects speech and balance.

47
Q

The midbrain (mesencephalon)

A

Just above the hindbrain. Receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body. Associated with involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual or auditory stimuli.

48
Q

The superior colliculus

A

A prominent nuclei in the midbrain. Receives visual sensory input.

49
Q

The inferior colliculus

A

A prominent nuclei in the midbrain. Receives sensory information from the auditory system. Has a role in reflexive reactions to sudden loud noises.

50
Q

The forebrain (prosencephalon)

A

Above the midbrain. Associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes. Also associated with emotion and memory. The forebrain has the greatest influence on human behavior. It’s functions are not necessary for survival, but is associated with intellectual and emotional capacities most characteristic of humans.

51
Q

The forebrain (prosencephalon) during embryonic development

A

Divides to form the telencephalon (which forms the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic system) and the diencephalon (which forms the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland).

52
Q

Neuropsychology

A

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

53
Q

The thalamus

A

Within the forebrain. Relay station for incoming sensory information, including all senses except for smell. After receiving the sensory impulses, the thalamus sorts and transmits them to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex

54
Q

The hypothalamus

A

Homeostatic functions and is a key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states, aggressive behavior, and sexual behavior. Also regulates metabolism, temperature, and water balance

55
Q

The lateral hypothalamus (LH)

A

Referred to as hunger center because it has special receptors thought to detect when the body needs more food or fluids. It triggers drinking or eating.

56
Q

The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)

A

“Satiety center” and provides signals to stop eating. Brain lesions on this area lead to obesity

57
Q

The anterior hypothalamus

A

Controls sexual behavior and desire..and regulates sleep and body temperature.

58
Q

The posterior pituitary

A

Axonal projections from the hypothalamus and is the site of release for hypothalamic hormones anti diuretic hormone (ADH) also called vasopressin, and oxytocin

59
Q

The pineal gland

A

Secretes a hormone called melatonin which regulates circadian rhythms

60
Q

The basal ganglia

A

Coordinate muscle movement as they receive information from the cortex and relay this information to the brain and spinal cord

61
Q

The extrapyramidal motor system

A

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

62
Q

Parkinson’s disease

A

Chronic illness associated with the destruction of portions or the basal ganglia. Characterized by jerky movements and uncontrolled resting tremors.

63
Q

The septal nuclei

A

Part of the limbic system. One of the primary pleasure centers of the brain. Associated with addictive behavior.

64
Q

The amygdala

A

Important role in defensive and aggressive behaviors.

65
Q

The hippocampus

A

Vital role in learning and memory processes. Helps form long term memories.

66
Q

The fornix

A

A long projection through which the hippocampus communicates with other portions of the limbic system

67
Q

Anterograde amnesia

A

Unable to establish new long term memories. Events before brain injury are still intact

68
Q

Retrograde amnesia

A

Memory loss of events that happened before brain injury

Behavioral Science MCAT (1 decks)

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