Kaplan Behavioral Science Unknown Concepts

Question 1

What are reflex arcs?

Answer 1

interneurons in the spinal cord relay information to the source of stimuli and to the brain simultaneously

Question 2

How is the nervous system divided?

Answer 2

central nervous system = brain + spinal cord

peripheral nervous system = cranial + spinal nerves
1) somatic
2) autonomic = para and symp

Question 3

What are the main parts of the forebrain and their functions?

Answer 3

thalamus = relay station for sensory info

hypothalamus = homeostasis + endocrine system through a portal system that connects to anterior pituitary

basal ganglia = smooth movement + posture

limbic system = controls emotion and memory
- septal nuclei = pleasure, addiction
- amygdala = fear and aggression
- hippocampus = consolidates memories

cerebral cortex
- frontal = executive function, motor function
- parietal = somatosensation, spatial processing
- occipital = vision
- temporal = sound processing, speech perception, memory, emotion

Question 4

What is the most important peptide neurotransmitter to know?

Answer 4

endorphins = natural painkillers produced by the brain
- neuromodulator: slow, longer effects than NT

Question 5

Describe the disorders associated with dopamine.

Answer 5

Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia: delusions, hallucinations, and agitation arise from either too much dopamine or oversensitivity to it

Parkinson’s Disease: associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia
- bradykinesia, postural instability

Question 6

What is released from the adrenal cortex? the adrenal medulla?

Answer 6

cortisol, testosterone, estrogen

epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 7

How does the nervous system develop?

Answer 7

Neurulation: neural tube = CNS, neural crest cells differentiate into many tissues

Question 8

What are primitive reflexes?

Answer 8

exist in infants and disappear with age
1. rooting: infants turn their heads towards anything that brushes their cheek
2. Moro: extends arms, slowly retracts and cries in response to sensation of falling
3. Babinski: brush sole of foot, toes spread apart
4. grasping

Question 9

How do motor skills develop?

Answer 9

gross to fine, head-to-toe order, core-to-periphery

Question 10

Describe social development in infants.

Answer 10

parent-oriented (separation anxiety, stranger anxiety) –> self-oriented (parallel play) –> other-oriented

Question 11

What is a threshold?

Answer 11

minimum stimulus that causes a change in signal transduction
- absolute threshold = minimum stimulus energy that is needed to activate a sensory system
- threshold of conscious perception = creates signal large enough in size and duration to be brought to awareness
- JND = minimum difference in magnitude between 2 stimuli before one can perceive the difference

Question 12

What is signal detection theory?

Answer 12

effect of nonsensory factors on perception of stimuli
- RESPONSE bias: stim may or may not be given, asked if it was, either hit, miss, false alarm, or correct negatives

Question 13

Visual pathway

Answer 13

optic nerves, optic chiasm, optic tracts, LGN of the thalamus, visual radiations to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe

Question 14

Auditory pathway

Answer 14

vestibulocochlear nerve–>MGN of the thalamus–> auditory cortex of temporal lobe

Question 15

What is responsible for pain perception?

Answer 15

nociceptors
- gate theory of pain: pain sensation is reduced when other somatosensory signals are present