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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Cognition, Consciouisness & Language > Flashcards

Cognition, Consciouisness & Language 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
Duncker's candle problem
Can't find a way to tack a candle to the wall without the wax dripping- must think of a new mental set
26
Functional fixedness
Inability to consider using an object in a nontraditional way
27
Trial-and-error
Various solutions tried until one is found that works
28
Algorithms
Formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem | Mathematical, instructional
29
Deductive/Top-down reasoning
From general rules, conclusions are drawn from information given
30
Inductive/Bottom-up reasoning
Create a theory via generalizations | Instances -->conclusions`
31
Heuristics
Simplified principles use to make decisions | Rules of thumb
32
Availability heuristic
Make decisions based on how easily similar instances can be imagined to understand how something is
33
Representative heuristic
Categorizing items on the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical, or representative image of this category
34
Base rate fallacy
Using prototypical/stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numerical information
35
Disconfirmation principle
Potential solution to a problem fails during testing and the solution is discarded
36
Confirmation bias
tendency to focus on information that fits an individual's beliefs, while rejecting information that goes against them
37
Overconfidence
Tendency to erroneously interpret one's decisions, knowledge, and beliefs as infallible
38
Belief perseverence
Inability to reject a particular belief despite clear evidence to the contrary
39
Intuition
Ability to act on perceptions that may not be supported by available evidence
40
Recognition-primed decision model
Intuition by sorting through a wide variety of information to match a pattern
41
Emotion
Subjective experience of a person in a certain situation- based on feelings
42
Multiple intelligences
Linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal First 2 most important in Western ideals
43
Standford-Binet IQ test
Mental age/chronological age x 100
44
Consciousness
One's level of awareness of both the world & one's own existence within it
45
Alerness
State of consciousness when alert and able to think Higher cortisol levels Prefrontal cortex communicates with reticular formation (in brainstem) to keep cortex awake
46
Coma
Injury to prefrontal cortex or reticular formation that causes brain not to be awake
47
What records sleep patterns in electrical waves
Electroencephalography (EEG)
48
Four types of EEG patterns
beta, alpha, theta, delta waves, REM
49
Beta waves
High frequency waves that occur when the person is alert or attending to mental task that requires concentration- random firing
50
Alpha waves
Awake but relaxing with eyes closed, slower than beta & more synchronized
51
Stage 1 of sleep
Theta waves | Irregular waveforms with slower frequencies & higher voltages
52
Where would you find sleep spindles & K complexes
Stage 2 of sleep
53
Slow wave sleep stages
Stages 3 &4 of sleep
54
Where are delta waves occuring
Stages 3 and 4 of sleep
55
What happens during slow wave sleep?
Cognitive recovery and memory consolidation, increased growth hormone release
56
REM sleep
Interspersed between cycles of NREM sleep Wakeful arousal, paralyzed muscles Dreaming
57
Mnemonic for sleeping stages
BAT-D
58
What sleep stage predominates later in the night?
REM stage
59
Circadian rhythms
Daily cycle of waking & sleeping regulated by internally generated rhythms
60
Where is melatonin released?
Pineal gland
61
What controls the pineal gland?
Hypothalamus
62
What hormone from the adrenal cortex contributes to wakefulness
Cortisol
63
Activation-synthesis theory
Dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry Mimics incoming sensory information & pieces of stored memories, desires, needs
64
Problem-solving dream theory
Dreams are a way to solve problems while you sleep
65
Cognitive process dream theory
Dreams are sleeping counterpart of stream-of-conscousness
66
Neurocognitive models of dreaming
Unify biological and psychological perspectives on dreaming by correlating subjective with measurable physiological changes
67
Dyssomnia
Disorder that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep
68
What are types of dyssomnia?
Insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea
69
Parasomnia
Abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
70
What are types of parasomnias?
Night terrors and sleepwalking
71
When do most sleep disorders occur?
During NREM sleep
72
Insomnia
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
73
Narcolepsy
Lack of voluntary control over onset of sleep
74
Cataplexy
Loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours
75
Sleep paralysis
Not being able to move despite being awake
76
Hypnagogic & hypnopomic hallucinations
Hallucinations when going to sleep or awakening
77
Sleep apnea
Inability to breathe during sleep
78
When do night terrors & somnambulism occur?
During slow wave sleep
79
REM rebound
Earlier onset and greater duration of REM sleep following sleep deprivation
80
Hypnosis
State when a person appears to be in control of his or her normal functions, but is in a highly suggestible state
81
Meditation
Quieting of the mind for some purpose | Resembles stage 1 of sleep
82
Depressants
Reduce nervous system activity, resulting in sense of relaxation & reduced anxiety
83
What kind of drug is alcohol?
Depressant
84
What effect does alcohol have on the brain?
Increases activity of GABA receptor (chloride channel that causes hyperpolarization of membrane) Increases dopamine
85
Alcohol myopia
Inability to recognize consequences of actions
86
Wernick-Korakoff Syndrome
deficiency of thymine levels (vitamine B1) & cause severe memory impairment & loss of motor skill - caused by long-term use of alcohol
87
Barbiturates & Benzodiazepines
Anxiety-reducing & sleep inducing
88
Stimulant
Cause increased arousal in nervous system
89
What are types of stimulants?
Amphetamines, Cocaine, Ecstasy
90
Amphetamine
Increase release of dopamine & norepinephrine, and serotonin - "on edge"
91
Cocaine
Decreases reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin | Anesthetic & Vasoconstrictive
92
Ecstasy/MDMA
Hallucinagen with amphetamine
93
Opiates
Naturally occuring opium | Morphine & codeine
94
Opiods
Synthetically opiate derivates | Oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin
95
Opium
Decreased reception to pain
96
Hallucinogens
Interaction of many neurotransmitters like serotonin Increased disortion of reality & fantasy LSD, peyote, mescaline, ketamine, psilocybin-containing mushroom
97
Where do THC effects fall into?
Stimulant, depressant, and hallucinogen
98
What is drug addiction related to ?
Mesolimbic reward pathway (dopaminergic pathway)
99
What are the sections of the mesolimbic reward pathway
Nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, medial forebrain bundle
100
Attention
Concentrating on one aspect of the sensory environment or sensorium
101
Selective attention
Focusing on one part of sensorium while ignoring other parts
102
Cocktail party phenomenon
Ability to perceive something even though you were selectively attentive
103
Divided attention
Ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time
104
Five basic components of language
Phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics
105
Phonology
Actual sound of language | About 40 speech sounds/phonemes in English
106
Morphology
Structure of words (re, -ed)
107
Semantics
Association of meaning with a word (children see all women as mommy)
108
Syntax
How words are put together to form sentences
109
Pragmatics
Dependence of language on context and pre-existing knowledge
110
Prosody
Rhythm, cadence, and inflection of voice
111
Errors of growth
Applying a grammatical rule when it doesn't apply
112
Stages of language acquisition
``` 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
Nativist theory of language
Transformational grammar used to effortlessly interpret language - Chomsky
114
Language acquisition device
Theorhetical pathway in brain that allows them to process & absorb language rules
115
Critical period of language acquisition
2 years to puberty
116
Sensitive period
Time when environmental input has maximal effect on development
117
Learning (behaviorist) theory of language
Language acquisition by operant conditioning
118
Social Interactionist theory of language development
Interplay of biological & social processes -driven by drive to communicate socially
119
Whorfian hypothesis
Linguistic relativity hypothesis- our perception of reality is determined by content of the language
120
Broca's area
In frontal lobe - controls motor function of speech production
121
Wernicke's area
Temporal lobe- Language comprehension
122
Arcuate fasciculus
Allows appropriate association of language comprehension & speech production
123
Aphasia
Deficit of language production or coprehension
124
Conduction aphasia
Cannot repeat what was just said

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (6 decks)

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