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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Cognition, Consciousness and Language > Flashcards

Cognition, Consciousness and Language Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

cognition

A

how our brains process and react to information

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2
Q

dual-coding theory

A

states that both verbal association and visual images are used to process and store information

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3
Q

information processing model

A
  • thinking requires sensation, encoding and storage of stimuli
  • stimuli muse be analyzed by the brain (rather than responded to automatically) in useful decision making
  • decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated and adjusted to help solve new problems
  • problem solving is dependent not only on the person’s cognitive level but also on the context and complexity of the problem
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4
Q

cognitive development

A

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

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5
Q

Jean Piaget

A

influential figure in developmental psych

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6
Q

schema

A

pattern that includes a concept, a behavior or a sequence of events

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7
Q

adaptation

A

how new information is processed

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8
Q

assimilation

A

process of classifying new information into an existing schema

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9
Q

accomodation

A

process by which a schema is modified to encompass new information that does not fit into an existing schema

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10
Q

sensorimotor state

A

first state of cognitive development; birth-2yo; circular reactions begin; end of sensorimotor stage is marked by development of object permanence

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11
Q

primary circular reactions

A

repetition of a body movement that originally occurred by chance, such as sucking the thumb

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12
Q

secondary circular reactions

A

manipulation is focused on something outside the body, such as repeatedly throwing a toy

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13
Q

representational thought

A

marked by dvlpmt of object permanence; child has begin to create mental representations of external objects and events

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14
Q

preoperational stage

A

2yo-7yo; characterized by symbolic thinking, egocentrism and centration

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15
Q

symbolic thinking

A

ability to pretend, play make believe and have an imagination

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16
Q

centration

A

tendency to focus on only one aspect of a phenomenon, or inability to understand the concept of conservation

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17
Q

concrete operational stage

A

7yo-11yo; children can understand conservation and consider the perspectives of others; able to engage in logical though as long as they are working with concrete objects or information that is directly available; can not yet think abstractly

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18
Q

formal operational stage

A

11yo-; ability to think logically about abstract ideas

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19
Q

Lev Vygotsky

A

educational psychologist; proposed that the engine driving cognitive development is the child’s internalization of their culture

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20
Q

fluid intelligence

A

problem-solving skills

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21
Q

crystallized intelligence

A

related to the use of learned skills and knowledge

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22
Q

delirium

A

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

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23
Q

mental set

A

tendency to approach similar problems in the same way

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24
Q

functional fixedness

A

inability to consider how to use an object in a nontraditional manner

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25
Q

algorithm

A

formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem

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26
Q

deductive (top-down) reasoning

A

starts from a set of general rule and draws conclusions from the information given

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27
Q

inductive (bottum-up) reasoning

A

seeks to create a theory via generalizations

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28
Q

heuristics (rules of thumb)

A

simplified principles used to make decisions

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29
Q

availability heuristic

A

used when we try to decide how likely something is

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30
Q

representativeness heuristic

A

involves categorizing items on the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical or representative image of that category

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31
Q

base rate fallacy

A

using prototypical or stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numerical information

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32
Q

disconfirmation principle

A

evidence obtained from testing demonstrated that the solution does not work

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33
Q

confirmation bias

A

tendency to focus on information that fits an individuals beliefs while rejecting information that goes against them

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34
Q

overconfidence

A

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

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35
Q

belief perseverance

A

refers to the inability to reject a particular belief despite clear evidence to the contrary

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36
Q

recognition-primed decision model

A

sorting through a wide variety of information to match n event at hand to a pattern

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37
Q

multiple intelligences

A

seven types of intelligence: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal

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38
Q

IQ (intelligence quotient) calculation

A

mental age/chronological age X 100

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39
Q

reticular formation

A

neural structure in the brainstem that functions to keep the cortex awake and alert

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40
Q

electroencephalography (EEG)

A

sleep is studied using this to record brain wave activity occurring during the course of a night’s sleep

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41
Q

beta waves

A

high frequency; occur when person is awake and attending to a mental task that requires attention

42
Q

alpha waves

A

occur when we are awake but relaxing with our eyes closed; somewhat slower than beta waves

43
Q

Stage 1 sleep

A

detected by appearance of theta waves; irregular wave forms with slower frequencies and higher voltages

44
Q

Stage 2 sleep

A

theta waves along with sleep spindles and K complexes

45
Q

Stages 3 and 4 sleep

A

known as slow-wave sleep (SWS); SWS has been associated with cognitive recovery and memory consolidation, as well as increased growth hormone release

46
Q

delta waves

A

low frequency, high voltage

47
Q

non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM)

A

stages 1-4

48
Q

rapid eye movement sleep (REM)

A

interspersed between cycles of NREM sleep; arousal levels reach that of wake cycle but muscles are paralyzed; dreaming; memory consolidation;

49
Q

sleep cycle

A

single complete progression through the sleep stages

50
Q

pineal gland

A

releases melatonin which regulates circadian rhythm

51
Q

cortisol

A

steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex; related to sleep-wake cycle

52
Q

corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)

A

causes release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary, which stimulates cortisone release; cortisol contributes to wakefulness

53
Q

activation-synthesis theory

A

dreams are cased by widespread, random neural activity

54
Q

problem-solving dream theory

A

dreams are a way to solve problems while sleeping

55
Q

cognitive process dream theory

A

dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness

56
Q

neurocognitive models of dreaming

A

seek to nigh biological and psychological perspectives on dreaming

57
Q

dyssomnias

A

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

58
Q

parasomnias

A

abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep

59
Q

insomnia

A

difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

60
Q

narcolepsy

A

lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep

61
Q

cataplexy

A

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

62
Q

sleep paralysis

A

sensation of being unable to move despite being awake

63
Q

sleep apnea

A

inability to breathe during sleep

64
Q

night terrors

A

periods of intense anxiety that occur during slow-wave sleep

65
Q

REM rebound

A

earlier onset and greater duration of REM sleep compared to normal

66
Q

hypnosis

A

highly suggestible state

67
Q

alcohol

A

increases activity of the GABA receptor, a chloride channel that causes hyper polarization of the membrane; increases dopamine levels, causing a sense of mild euphoria;

68
Q

alcohol myopia

A

inability to recognize consequences of actions

69
Q

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

A

caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and characterized by severe memory impairment with changes in mental status and loss of motor skills

70
Q

barbiturates and benzodiazepines

A

anxiety-reducing and sleep medications; increase GABA activity, causing sense of relaxation

71
Q

amphetamines

A

increased arousal by decreasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake; increase in heart rate and blood pressure; prolonged use can cause stroke or brain damage; withdrawal

72
Q

cocaine

A

increased arousal by decreasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake; increase in heart rate and blood pressure; prolonged use can cause stroke or brain damage; withdrawal

73
Q

crack

A

form of cocaine that can be smoked

74
Q

ecstasy (“E”, MDMA)

A

acs as a hallucinogen combined with amphetamine; increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, blurry vision, sweating, nausea and hyperthermia

75
Q

opium

A

opiates and opioids; heroin; cause a decreased reaction to pain and a sense of euphoria;

76
Q

hallucinogens

A

cause distortion of reality, enhancement of sensory experiences, and introspection; increased heart rate and BP, dilation of pupils, sweating and increased temp

77
Q

marijuana

A

active chemical is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); inhibits GABA activity indirectly increases dopamine activity; increased heart rate, increased appetite and lowered BP

78
Q

drug addiction

A
  • highly related to mesolimbic reward pathway
  • includes nucleus accumbens, ventral segmental area, and medial forebrain bundle
  • acccounts for positive reinforcement of substance use
79
Q

sensorium

A

refers to concentrating on one aspect environment

80
Q

selective attention

A

focusing on one part of the sensorium while ignoring other stimuli

81
Q

divided attention

A

ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time

82
Q

phonology

A

refers to the actual sound of language

83
Q

phonemes

A

speech sounds

84
Q

morphology

A

structure of words

85
Q

morphemes

A

building blocks of words

86
Q

semantics

A

association of a meaning with a word

87
Q

syntax

A

how words are put together to form a sentence

88
Q

pragmatics

A

dependence of language on context and pre-existing knowledge

89
Q

prosody

A

rhythm cadence and inflection of our voices

90
Q

language acquisition timeline

A 
9-12mo: babbling
12-18mo: about one word per month
18-20mo: explosion of language and combining words
2-3yrs: longer sentences
5yrs: language rules largely mastered
91
Q

nativist (biological theory) of language

A

some innate capacity for language; critical period

92
Q

learning (behaviorist) theory of language

A

BF Skinner; operant conditioning; reinforcement;

93
Q

social interactionist theory of language

A

focuses on the interplay between biological and social processes

94
Q

Whorfian (linguistic relativity) hypothesis

A

out perception of reality is dependent on the content of our language

95
Q

Broca’s area

A

inferior frontal gyrus of frontal lobe; controls motor function of speech

96
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

superior temporal gyrus of temporal lobe; language comprehension

97
Q

arcuate fasciculus

A

bundle of axons that connects Broca’s and Wernicke’s

98
Q

aphasia

A

deficit of language production or comprehension

99
Q

Broca’s (expressive) aphasia

A

can comprehend speech but can not produce language

100
Q

Wernicke’s (receptive) aphasia

A

motor production and fluency of speech is retained but comprehension is lost

101
Q

conduction aphasia

A

arcuate fasciculus is damaged; unable to repeat something that has been said

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (6 decks)

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