Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

MCAT Psychology and Sociology > Cognition, Consciousness, and Language > Flashcards

Cognition, Consciousness, and Language Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
MCAT flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What does cognition refer to?

A

the processes through which we obtain knowledge and comprehension

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

What is the model that describes cognition?

A

information processing model

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

What are the four parts of the information processing model?

A
  • our brains must sense, encode, and store information
  • in order to use information for problem-solving, information must be analyzed
  • problem-solving can be extrapolated
  • context and complexity of situation also affects cognition
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is situational modification?

A

the way in which previously solved problems can assist in solving new ones

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

What is cognitive development?

A

the process through which we learn how to think and solve problems

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

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

A

sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, formal operational stage

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

Piaget believed that infants categorize concepts of their childhood into structures called _____.

A

schemata

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

True or False.

Piaget believed that children form schema based on instinctual interactions with the environment.

A

true

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

What is the process called when a new schema is formed?

A

adaptation

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

What is it called when a new concept is adding to an existing schema?

A

assimilation

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

What is it called when a schema must be corrected slightly based on new information?

A

accommodation

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

What happens in the sensorimotor stage?

A

primary and secondary circular reactions

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

What marks the end of the sensorimotor stage?

A

object permanence (representational thought)

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

What happens in the preoperational stage?

A

symbolic thinking, centration, egocentrism

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

What happens in the concrete operational stage?

A

no more centration or egocentrism but there is no abstract thought yet

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

The formal operational stage is characterized by what?

A

abstract thinking

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

What are factors that can affect cognitive stages?

A

culture, aging, disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence?

A

fluid intelligence refers to problem-solving skills, whereas crystallized intelligence refers to skills and facts

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

As a student takes a chemistry exam, he is asked to answer a question he has never seen before but requires application of already-learned concepts. What type of intelligence is this?

A

fluid intelligence

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

What would be the diagnosis if a patient presented with random and sporadic fluctuations in cognitive ability?

A

delirium

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

True or False

Someone who has good cognitive abilities should be good at solving problems.

A

true

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

What are the main steps to problem-solving?

A
  1. identify the problem and frame it properly
  2. identify possible solutions
  3. choose the correct solution
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Explain the Duncker’s candle problem.

A

This famous example involves trying to hang a candle on the wall without having dripping wax. The student has a match box, candle, and tacks. He cannot figure out that the match box can be used to both light the candle as well as catch dripping wax. His mental set tells him match boxes are only used for lighting the candle and not for anything else. Therefore, this example exposes the phenomenon of functional fixedness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are the main types of problem solving?

A

trial and error, algorithm, deductive reasoning (top-down), and inductive reasoning (bottom-up).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are some ways that are brain quickly solves problems?

A

heuristics, intuition, bias, and emotion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are the two types of heuristics?

A

availability heuristic and representative heuristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Suppose someone is tall and athletic. When you see them, you expect to hear that they play basketball. Even though they tell you that they don’t play basketball, you are still surprised when they try to dribble and cannot. What heuristic prevented you from correctly guessing?

A

representative heuristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Suppose somebody claims that racism does not exist because they notice that one black coworker seems to get a promotion quicker than they do due to the individual’s diversity. What heuristic prevents the person from acknowledging racism as a social phenomenon?

A

availability heuristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Describe the basal rate fallacy. What heuristic does it play into?

A
  • using stereotypes rather than actual numerical information

- representative heuristic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

True or False.

All heuristics are bad.

A

false

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is confirmation bias?

A

only looking at information that supports what you want the answer to be and ignoring other information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What does the disconfirmation principle state?

A

that a solution that is not supported by experimental evidence should be thrown out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What is intuiton?

A

the ability to use previous patterns to quickly identify a solution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What model describes intuition?

A

the recognition-primed decision model

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

How is emotion involved in problem-solving?

A

it can affect the solution by interfering with sound judgment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

List the intelligences in Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences

A

logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic sense, linguistic, visual-spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is the formula for IQ?

A

intelligence age/actual age x 100%

38
Q

If somebody has an IQ of 100, what does it say about this person?

A

they are exactly as intelligent as the average person who shares their age

39
Q

What are the different states of consciousness?

A

alertness, sleeping, dreaming, hypnosis, and meditation

40
Q

What hormone generally confers a state of alertness?

A

cortisol

41
Q

What connection between the midbrain and frontal cortex is involved in alertness?

A

reticular formation

42
Q

How long does a sleep cycle generally last?

A

90 min

43
Q

How is sleep monitored?

A

via an EEG

44
Q

What waves correspond to an individual who is awake?

A

alpha and beta waves

45
Q

Suppose somebody is alert. What waves would you see on an EEG?

A

beta waves

46
Q

What waves are found in stage 1 of NREM sleep?

A

theta waves

47
Q

What waves are found in stage 2 of NREM sleep?

A

theta waves, K complexes, and sleep spindles

48
Q

What separates two consecutive sleep cycles?

A

REM sleep

49
Q

Why is REM sleep called paradoxical sleep?

A

the EEG suggests that the individual is awake

50
Q

What hormone regulates the sleep cycle?

A

melatonin (seratonin derived)

51
Q

What are the four theories/models of dreaming?

A

activation-synthesis, problem-solving, cognitive processing, and neurocognitive model

52
Q

What are the two general classes of sleeping disorders?

A

dyssomnias and parasomnias

53
Q

What are dyssomnias?

A

disorders that prevent the person from sleeping normally

54
Q

What are parasomnias?

A

disorders that cause abrupt movements in sleep

55
Q

What are some dyssomnias?

A

narcolepsy (and thus cataplexy), insomnia, sleeping paralysis, hypnopompic hallucination, hypnagogic hallucination

56
Q

What are some parasomnias?

A

night terrors, somnambulism

57
Q

What is REM rebound?

A

the phenomenon in which sleep-deprived individuals fall into shorter sleep cycles and prolong REM states

58
Q

What is hypnosis?

A

a state of consciousness in which one’s free will is seemingly compromised

59
Q

What is meditation?

A

a state of consciousness that resembles stage 1 of NREM but also has some alpha waves

60
Q

What are the four main types of consciousness-altering drugs?

A

depressants, stimulants, opiates/opioids, and hallucinogens

61
Q

What receptor do depressants target?

A

GABA receptors

62
Q

What do GABA receptors do?

A

they cause hyperpolarization and thus inhibit brain neurons

63
Q

What are some examples of depressants?

A

alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates

64
Q

Do depressants cause an increase in dopamine?

A

yes

65
Q

What is the main mechanism of stimulants?

A

they retard the uptake of neurotransmitters

66
Q

What are some general symptoms of stimulant use?

A

accelerated heat rate, high blood pressure, high temperature sweating, decrease appetite

67
Q

What are some examples of stimulants?

A

amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy (methamphetamine)

68
Q

What is the difference between an opioid and an opiate?

A

opiates are natural, whereas opioids are semisynthetic

69
Q

What is an example of an opioid?

A

heroine (diacetyl morphine)

70
Q

What is an example of an opiate?

A

morphine

71
Q

What do opioids/opiates do?

A

lower pain by binding to opioid receptors

72
Q

Why can opioid abuse lead to death?

A

it can cause breathing to stop

73
Q

What do hallucinogens do?

A

they cause reality to be distorted and also increase heart rate, blood pressure, dilate pupils, etc.

74
Q

What is a well known hallucinogen?

A

lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD0

75
Q

Why is marijuana unique?

A

it demonstrates characteristics of depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens

76
Q

What is the main ingredient in marijuana?

A

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

77
Q

What are symptoms of marijuana use?

A

dry throat, fatigue, increased heart rate, increased appetite, low blood pressure, red eyes

78
Q

Why is ecstasy unique?

A

although it is categorized as a stimulant, it also acts as a hallucinogen

79
Q

What pathway is involved in drug addiction?

A

mesolimbic reward pathway

80
Q

What parts make up the mesolimbic reward pathway?

A

ventral tegmental area, medial frontal bundle, nucleus accumens

81
Q

What are the two types of attention?

A

selective attention and divided attention

82
Q

What are the five main parts of language structure?

A

phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics

83
Q

What are the three main theories of language development?

A

nativist, behavioral, and social interactionist

84
Q

What age does the language “explosion” happen?

A

18-20 months

85
Q

What is the Whorfian hypothesis?

A

the notion that language creates our reality, and not the other way around

86
Q

What is aphasia?

A

the deficit of language production or comprehension

87
Q

What part of the brain does expressive aphasia affect?

A

Broca’s area

88
Q

What part of the brain does receptive aphasia affect?

A

Wernicke’s area

89
Q

What connects the Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area?

A

arcuate fasiculus

90
Q

Damage to the arcuate fasciulus can lead to what type of aphasia?

A

conduction aphasia

MCAT Psychology and Sociology (8 decks)

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