MCAT Bros Flashcards
Conjunctiva
Thin layer of cells that lines the inside of your eyelids from the eye
Cornea
Transparent thick sheet of fibrous tissue that starts to bend light - it is the first part of the eye that light hits
Anterior Chamber
This space is filled with aqueous humour, which provides pressure to maintain the shape of the eyeball - it supplies nutrients and minerals to the cornea/ iris
What happens in a dream, the literal meaning, according to Freud is called?
Manifest content
The hidden meaning of a dream according to Freud is called?
Latent content
What is iconic sensory memory?
Memory of what you see, lasts half a second
What is echoic sensory memory?
Memory of what you hear, lasts 3-4 seconds
What is explicit memory?
Declarative facts/ events that you can clearly and explicitly describe
What is semantic memory?
A type of explicit memory - has to do with words and facts
What is episodic memory?
A type of explicit memory - these are event related memories
What is implicit memory?
Involves things you may not articulate - Previous experiences aid in the performance of tasks without conscious awareness
What kind of memory is stable with aging?
Implicit memory (procedural memories) and recognition memory is stable with aging
What kind of memory declines with aging?
recall, episodic memory, processing speed and the ability to divide attention declines with aging
What is retrograde amnesia?
The inability to recall information previously encoded
What is anterograde amnesia?
The inability to encode new memories
What are the names of Piaget’s stages of development?
Stage 1: Sensorimotor stage
Stage 2: Preoperational stage
Stage 3: Concrete operational stage
Stage 4: Formal operational stage
What develops during the sensorimotor stage of Piaget’s stages
Sensorimotor stage is stage 1: it occurs from 0-2
Children gather information through their senses and learn to move their body around
This stage involves issues such as object permanence and stranger anxiety
What develops during the preoperational stage of Piaget’s stages
The preoperational stage is stage 2: it occurs from 2-7
Children can play pretend and start to use symbols to represent things
This stage is associated with an inability to understand the perspective of others (egocentric stage)
What develops during the concrete operational stage of Piaget’s stages
The concrete operational stage is stage 3: it occurs from 7-11
Children begin to learn empathy and math skills
This stage is associated with understanding concrete events logically and the concepts of conservation and reversibility
What develops during the formal operational stage of Piaget’s stages
The formal operational stage is stage 4: It occurs in kids 12 and up
Children are reasoning more like adults and it continues to develop with time
In this stage a child will be able to think about hypothetical situations and engage in logical through about abstract ideas and problem solving
Fluid intelligence
The ability to reason quickly and abstractly when solving novel logic problems - you can think on your feet and are adaptable
Crystallized intelligence
Refers to accumulated knowledge and verbal skills - The ability to retrieve acquired knowledge
Theory of primary mental abilities
- L.L. Thurnstone
- there are 7 factors of intelligence: word fluency, verbal comprehension, spatial reasoning, perceptual speed, numerical ability, inductive reasoning, and memory
Theory of multiple intelligence
Howard Gardner
There are 9 aspects of intelligence that are independent of one another: logical-mathematical intelligence, verbal-linguistic, spatial-visual, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, then naturalist, and existential intelligence
Triarchic theory of intelligence
Robert Sternberg
3 independent intelligences based on real world success: analytical, creative, and practical intelligence
Theory of general intelligence
Charles Spearman
There is one general intelligence: g factor can predict our intelligence in multiple academic areas
This theory is supported by research
Cognitiva abilities that decline as you age
- Recall - Episodic memory - Process speed - Divided attention
Cognitive abilities that stabilize with age
- Implicit memory (like riding a bike) - Recognition memory
Cognitive abilities that improve with age
- Semantic memory [verbal skills] (improves until 60) - Crystallized intelligence - Emotional reasoning
Where are the language centers in the brain?
Language is in the left hemisphere
The Broca’s area controls speaking/language expression located in the frontal lobe
The Wernicke’s area is where sound processing and language understanding occurs in the temporal lobe
Limbic System
A set of structures in the brain (Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Thalamus, and Hippocampus)
This system is responsible for the storage/retrieval of memories, especially ones tied to emotions
Thalamus
The thalamus is the sensory relay station: all senses except smell pass through the thalamus which directs the impulse to the appropriate cortex
Amygdala
Amygdala is the aggression center - it produces anger/violence and fear/anxiety
- if there is damage to this area it can result in drunken behaviors
Hippocampus
Hippocampus plays a key role in forming new memories - converts short term memory to long term memory - if there is damage to the area new memories cannot be made
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system - controlling endocrine system and triggering the release of hormones
Which side of the brain shows more activity with positive emotions and what side shows more activity with negative emotions
Positive emotions evoke more activity on the left side and negative emotions evoke more activity on the right side
Two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest)
What happens to the body when the sympathetic branch of the nervous system is activated?
- Pupils dilate - decrease in salivation - increase in respiration and heart rate (more O2) - increase in glucose release (glucagon) - increase in adrenaline and norepinephrine - decrease in digestion
What happens to the body when the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system is activated?
- Pupils constrict - increase salivation - normal respiratory and heart rate - increase glucose storage (insulin) - increase digestion
6 universal emotions according to Paul Ekman
Happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger and surprise
James - Lange theory of emotion
Event causes a physiological response -> the interpretation of the physiological response leads to the emotion
Cannon-Bard theory of emotion
The event causes a physiological response and emotion at the same time
Schachter-Singer theory of emotion
“Schachter two factor” Event causes a physiological response and a cognitive interpretation of the response simultaneously which then causes an emotion
Lazarus theory of emotion
The cognitive labeling of the event that occurred leads to an emotional response and a physiological response based on the label of the event
Parts of the frontal lobe
- Motor cortex (body movements) - Broca’s area (speech production)
Components of the Parietal lobe
Somatosensory cortex (touch/ pressure/ pain) - spatial manipulation
Occipital lobe function
Vision
Temporal cortex function
Sound (Wernicke’s area located here)
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs
1) Physiological [food, water, sleep]
2) Safety [needs are associated with stability, security, and protection]
3) Love [need to belong and be accepted, intimacy]
4) Self-esteem [confidence and recognition for skill]
5) Self- actualization [maximum potential]
Three components of attitude?
ABC MODEL
- Affective (emotional - how we feel about things)
- Behavioural (how we act or behave towards things)
- Cognitive
What are the names of Freud’s psychosexual development stages
Old Age Parrots Love Grapes Oral stage (0-1) Anal stage (1-3) Phallic stage (3-6) Latent period(6-12) Genital stage (12+)
Development that occurs in Freud’s oral stage
Stage 1: 0-1
Focus is the mouth, baby develops a sense of trust and comfort
Fixation here causes issues of dependency and aggression [smoking or biting finger nails and overeating seen in adults]
Development that occurs in Freud’s Anal stage
Stage 2: 1-3
Focus on the anus (toilet training); leads to control and independence in the child, encourages child to feel positive outcomes
Fixation here causes problems with orderliness and messiness
Development that occurs in Freud’s Phallic stage
Stage 3: 3-6
Discover the difference between males and females (Oedipus [want to posses mother and replace father for males] and Electra [see mother as competition for father in females] complex
Fixation at this stage causes homosexuality and exhibitionism
Development that occurs in Freud’s latent period
Stage 4: 6-12
Period of exploration - intellectual pursuits and social interactions and communication skills are developed
Development that occurs in Freud’s genital stage
Stage 5: 12+
Focus on strong sexual interests and on the needs of others
The goal is to establish balance between various life areas
What are the names of Erikson’s Psychosocial development stages
1) Trust vs Mistrust (0-1)
2) Autonomy vs Shame/doubt (1-3)
3) Initiative vs Guilt (3-6)
4) Industry vs Inferiority (6-12)
5) Identity vs Role Confusion (12-20)
6) Intimacy vs Isolation (20-40)
7) Generativity vs Stagnation (40-65)
8) Integrity vs Despair (65+)
Stages of Kohlberg Moral Development
1) Pre-Coventional (7-10) 1A) Obedience vs punishment 1B) Self interest 2) Conventional (10-16) 2A) Conformity and interpersonal accord 2B) Authority and social order 3) Postconventional stage (only achieved by 15% of people) 3A) Social contract 3B) Universal principles
