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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Cognition, Consciouisness & Language > Flashcards

Cognition, Consciouisness & Language Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Cognition

A

How our brains process and react to the information presented in the world

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2
Q

Components of information processing model

A

Thinking requires sensation, encoding, and storage of stimuli
Stimuli must be analyzed by the brain (not automatic) to be useful in decision making
Decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated & adjusted to help solve new problems
Problem-solving is dependent on cognitive level and context & complexity of the problem

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3
Q

Cognitive development

A

The development of one’s ability to think and solve problems across the lifespan

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4
Q

What are the stages of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development

A

Sensorimotor
Preoperational
Concrete operational
Formal operational

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5
Q

Schema

A

Piaget’s term to refer to organized patterns of behavior & though

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6
Q

What causes adaptation according to Piaget?

A

Assimilation & Accommodation

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7
Q

Assimmilation

A

Process of classifying new information into existing schemma

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8
Q

Accommodation

A

Process of modifying existing schemata to encompass new information

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9
Q

Sensorimotor Stage

A

Birth to 2 years
Manipulate environment to meet physical needs
Circular reactions begin

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10
Q

Primary circular reactions

A

Repetitions of body movement that originally occurred by chance- soothing

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11
Q

Secondary circular reactions

A

Manipulation focused on something outside the body- repeated by response from the ennironment

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12
Q

What is the key development of sensorimotor stage

A

Object permanence- objects continue to exist out of view

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13
Q

Representational thought

A

Child begins to create mental representations of external objects & events

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14
Q

Preoperational stage

A

Age two to seven

Symbolic thinking, egocentrism, centration

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15
Q

Symbolic thinking

A

Pretend, play make-believe, have an imagination

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16
Q

Egocentrism

A

Inability to imagine what another person may think or feel

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17
Q

Centration

A

Tendency to focus on only one aspect of a phenomenon, ore inability to understand the concept of conservation

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18
Q

Concrete operational

A

7 to 11 years
Understand conservation & consider perspectives of others
Not yet developed ability to think abstractly

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19
Q

Formal operational stage

A

11 years
Ability to think logically about abstract ideas & problem-solve
Pedulum experiment and only changing one variable

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20
Q

What did Lev Vygotsky propose was the engine driving cognitive development

A

Internalization of culture

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21
Q

Fluid intelligence

A

Problem-solving skills

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22
Q

Crystallized intelligence

A

Use of learned skills & knowledge

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23
Q

Delirium

A

Rapid fluctuation in cognitive function that is reversible and caused by medical causes

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24
Q

Mental set

A

Tendency to approach a similar problems in the same way

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25
Q

Duncker’s candle problem

A

Can’t find a way to tack a candle to the wall without the wax dripping- must think of a new mental set

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26
Q

Functional fixedness

A

Inability to consider using an object in a nontraditional way

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27
Q

Trial-and-error

A

Various solutions tried until one is found that works

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28
Q

Algorithms

A

Formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem

Mathematical, instructional

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29
Q

Deductive/Top-down reasoning

A

From general rules, conclusions are drawn from information given

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30
Q

Inductive/Bottom-up reasoning

A

Create a theory via generalizations

Instances –>conclusions`

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31
Q

Heuristics

A

Simplified principles use to make decisions

Rules of thumb

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32
Q

Availability heuristic

A

Make decisions based on how easily similar instances can be imagined to understand how something is

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33
Q

Representative heuristic

A

Categorizing items on the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical, or representative image of this category

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34
Q

Base rate fallacy

A

Using prototypical/stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numerical information

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35
Q

Disconfirmation principle

A

Potential solution to a problem fails during testing and the solution is discarded

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36
Q

Confirmation bias

A

tendency to focus on information that fits an individual’s beliefs, while rejecting information that goes against them

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37
Q

Overconfidence

A

Tendency to erroneously interpret one’s decisions, knowledge, and beliefs as infallible

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38
Q

Belief perseverence

A

Inability to reject a particular belief despite clear evidence to the contrary

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39
Q

Intuition

A

Ability to act on perceptions that may not be supported by available evidence

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40
Q

Recognition-primed decision model

A

Intuition by sorting through a wide variety of information to match a pattern

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41
Q

Emotion

A

Subjective experience of a person in a certain situation- based on feelings

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42
Q

Multiple intelligences

A

Linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal
First 2 most important in Western ideals

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43
Q

Standford-Binet IQ test

A

Mental age/chronological age x 100

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44
Q

Consciousness

A

One’s level of awareness of both the world & one’s own existence within it

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45
Q

Alerness

A

State of consciousness when alert and able to think
Higher cortisol levels
Prefrontal cortex communicates with reticular formation (in brainstem) to keep cortex awake

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46
Q

Coma

A

Injury to prefrontal cortex or reticular formation that causes brain not to be awake

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47
Q

What records sleep patterns in electrical waves

A

Electroencephalography (EEG)

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48
Q

Four types of EEG patterns

A

beta, alpha, theta, delta waves, REM

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49
Q

Beta waves

A

High frequency waves that occur when the person is alert or attending to mental task that requires concentration- random firing

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50
Q

Alpha waves

A

Awake but relaxing with eyes closed, slower than beta & more synchronized

51
Q

Stage 1 of sleep

A

Theta waves

Irregular waveforms with slower frequencies & higher voltages

52
Q

Where would you find sleep spindles & K complexes

A

Stage 2 of sleep

53
Q

Slow wave sleep stages

A

Stages 3 &4 of sleep

54
Q

Where are delta waves occuring

A

Stages 3 and 4 of sleep

55
Q

What happens during slow wave sleep?

A

Cognitive recovery and memory consolidation, increased growth hormone release

56
Q

REM sleep

A

Interspersed between cycles of NREM sleep
Wakeful arousal, paralyzed muscles
Dreaming

57
Q

Mnemonic for sleeping stages

A

BAT-D

58
Q

What sleep stage predominates later in the night?

A

REM stage

59
Q

Circadian rhythms

A

Daily cycle of waking & sleeping regulated by internally generated rhythms

60
Q

Where is melatonin released?

A

Pineal gland

61
Q

What controls the pineal gland?

A

Hypothalamus

62
Q

What hormone from the adrenal cortex contributes to wakefulness

A

Cortisol

63
Q

Activation-synthesis theory

A

Dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry
Mimics incoming sensory information & pieces of stored memories, desires, needs

64
Q

Problem-solving dream theory

A

Dreams are a way to solve problems while you sleep

65
Q

Cognitive process dream theory

A

Dreams are sleeping counterpart of stream-of-conscousness

66
Q

Neurocognitive models of dreaming

A

Unify biological and psychological perspectives on dreaming by correlating subjective with measurable physiological changes

67
Q

Dyssomnia

A

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

68
Q

What are types of dyssomnia?

A

Insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea

69
Q

Parasomnia

A

Abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep

70
Q

What are types of parasomnias?

A

Night terrors and sleepwalking

71
Q

When do most sleep disorders occur?

A

During NREM sleep

72
Q

Insomnia

A

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

73
Q

Narcolepsy

A

Lack of voluntary control over onset of sleep

74
Q

Cataplexy

A

Loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours

75
Q

Sleep paralysis

A

Not being able to move despite being awake

76
Q

Hypnagogic & hypnopomic hallucinations

A

Hallucinations when going to sleep or awakening

77
Q

Sleep apnea

A

Inability to breathe during sleep

78
Q

When do night terrors & somnambulism occur?

A

During slow wave sleep

79
Q

REM rebound

A

Earlier onset and greater duration of REM sleep following sleep deprivation

80
Q

Hypnosis

A

State when a person appears to be in control of his or her normal functions, but is in a highly suggestible state

81
Q

Meditation

A

Quieting of the mind for some purpose

Resembles stage 1 of sleep

82
Q

Depressants

A

Reduce nervous system activity, resulting in sense of relaxation & reduced anxiety

83
Q

What kind of drug is alcohol?

A

Depressant

84
Q

What effect does alcohol have on the brain?

A

Increases activity of GABA receptor (chloride channel that causes hyperpolarization of membrane)
Increases dopamine

85
Q

Alcohol myopia

A

Inability to recognize consequences of actions

86
Q

Wernick-Korakoff Syndrome

A

deficiency of thymine levels (vitamine B1) & cause severe memory impairment & loss of motor skill - caused by long-term use of alcohol

87
Q

Barbiturates & Benzodiazepines

A

Anxiety-reducing & sleep inducing

88
Q

Stimulant

A

Cause increased arousal in nervous system

89
Q

What are types of stimulants?

A

Amphetamines, Cocaine, Ecstasy

90
Q

Amphetamine

A

Increase release of dopamine & norepinephrine, and serotonin - “on edge”

91
Q

Cocaine

A

Decreases reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin

Anesthetic & Vasoconstrictive

92
Q

Ecstasy/MDMA

A

Hallucinagen with amphetamine

93
Q

Opiates

A

Naturally occuring opium

Morphine & codeine

94
Q

Opiods

A

Synthetically opiate derivates

Oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin

95
Q

Opium

A

Decreased reception to pain

96
Q

Hallucinogens

A

Interaction of many neurotransmitters like serotonin
Increased disortion of reality & fantasy
LSD, peyote, mescaline, ketamine, psilocybin-containing mushroom

97
Q

Where do THC effects fall into?

A

Stimulant, depressant, and hallucinogen

98
Q

What is drug addiction related to ?

A

Mesolimbic reward pathway (dopaminergic pathway)

99
Q

What are the sections of the mesolimbic reward pathway

A

Nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, medial forebrain bundle

100
Q

Attention

A

Concentrating on one aspect of the sensory environment or sensorium

101
Q

Selective attention

A

Focusing on one part of sensorium while ignoring other parts

102
Q

Cocktail party phenomenon

A

Ability to perceive something even though you were selectively attentive

103
Q

Divided attention

A

Ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time

104
Q

Five basic components of language

A

Phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics

105
Q

Phonology

A

Actual sound of language

About 40 speech sounds/phonemes in English

106
Q

Morphology

A

Structure of words (re, -ed)

107
Q

Semantics

A

Association of meaning with a word (children see all women as mommy)

108
Q

Syntax

A

How words are put together to form sentences

109
Q

Pragmatics

A

Dependence of language on context and pre-existing knowledge

110
Q

Prosody

A

Rhythm, cadence, and inflection of voice

111
Q

Errors of growth

A

Applying a grammatical rule when it doesn’t apply

112
Q

Stages of language acquisition

A 
9-12 months: Babbling
12-18 months: one word added per month
18-20 months: explosion of language & combining words
2-3 years: longer sentences
5 years: Language largely mastered
113
Q

Nativist theory of language

A

Transformational grammar used to effortlessly interpret language - Chomsky

114
Q

Language acquisition device

A

Theorhetical pathway in brain that allows them to process & absorb language rules

115
Q

Critical period of language acquisition

A

2 years to puberty

116
Q

Sensitive period

A

Time when environmental input has maximal effect on development

117
Q

Learning (behaviorist) theory of language

A

Language acquisition by operant conditioning

118
Q

Social Interactionist theory of language development

A

Interplay of biological & social processes -driven by drive to communicate socially

119
Q

Whorfian hypothesis

A

Linguistic relativity hypothesis- our perception of reality is determined by content of the language

120
Q

Broca’s area

A

In frontal lobe - controls motor function of speech production

121
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Temporal lobe- Language comprehension

122
Q

Arcuate fasciculus

A

Allows appropriate association of language comprehension & speech production

123
Q

Aphasia

A

Deficit of language production or coprehension

124
Q

Conduction aphasia

A

Cannot repeat what was just said

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (6 decks)

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