MCAT Psychology Sensation/Perception & Cognition

Question 1

The theory that dreams are simple byproducts of brain activation during REM sleep

Answer 1

Activation-synthesis theory

Question 2

The inability to recognize objects through sensory mechanisms despite intact function of the underlying sense itself

Answer 2

Agnosia

Question 3

Low amplitude, high frequency brain waves present in a relaxed state

Answer 3

Alpha waves

Question 4

Model of selective attention in which the mind has an attenuator, like a volume knob, that tunes up attended inputs and tunes down unattended inputs, rather than eliminating them

Answer 4

Attenuation model of selective attention

Question 5

The area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information

Answer 5

Auditory cortex

Question 6

Functions to ewualize middle ear pressure with atmospheric pressure so that pressure on both sides of the TM is equal

Answer 6

Auditory (Eustachian) Tube

Question 7

Mental shortcut of making judgments on the frequency of something occurring based on how readily it is available in our memories

Answer 7

Availability heuristic

Question 8

Membrane in the cochlea that supports the organ of Corti, which contains hearing receptors

Answer 8

Basilar membrane

Question 9

A tendency to draw conclusions based on what one already believes rather than sound logic

Answer 9

Belief bias

Question 10

The maintenance of beliefs even in the face of evidence to the contrary

Answer 10

Belief perseverance

Question 11

Waking EEG waves seen during alert focus with oscillations between 12.5 Hz and 30 Hz

Answer 11

Beta waves

Question 12

Sensory processing that begins with sensory receptors and works up to complex integration of information in the brain

Answer 12

Bottom-up processing

Question 13

Region in the left hemisphere of the frontal lobe involved in language production

Answer 13

Broca’s area

Question 14

Part of working memory that controls the visuospatial sketchpad, phonological loop, and episodic buffer

Answer 14

Central executive

Question 15

The curled structure in the inner ear that contains the membranes and hair cells used to transduce sound waves into action potentials

Answer 15

Cochlea

Question 16

Language dysfunction characterized by poor speech repetition despite intact comprehension and fluent speech

Answer 16

Conduction aphasia

Question 17

Photoreceptors in the retina of the eye that respond to bright light and provide color vision

Answer 17

Cones

Question 18

A tendency to search only for information that confirms a preconceived conclusion

Answer 18

Confirmation bias

Question 19

Awareness of self; internal states, and the environment

Answer 19

Consciousness

Question 20

The clear portion of the tough outer layer of the eyeball, found over the iris and the pupil

Answer 20

Cornea

Question 21

The minimum noticeable difference between any two sensory stimuli 50% of the time

Answer 21

Difference threshold

Question 22

Disorders that involve abnormalities in the amount, quality, or timing of sleep

Answer 22

Dyssomnias

Question 23

Part of wokring memory that interacts with information in long-term memory

Answer 23

Episodic buffer

Question 24

A theory of visual perception that proposes that certain neurons fire for specific features of a visual stimulus, such as shape, color, movements, etc.

Answer 24

Feature detection theory

Question 25

Sensory receptors found in the inner ear that respond to vibrations in the cochlea caused by sound waves and changes in position and acceleration (used for balance)

Answer 25

Hair cells

Question 26

Mental shortcuts used for problem-solving; sometimes sacrifices accuracy for speed

Answer 26

Heuristic

Question 27

Models that use computers as an analogy for understanding cognitive processes such as attention, perception, and memory

Answer 27

Information-processing models

Question 28

A pigmented membrane found just in front of the lens of the eye. The __ regulates the diameter of the pupil in response to the brightness of light

Answer 28

Iris

Question 29

Large and slow wave with a duration of half second that occurs during Stage 2 sleep

Answer 29

K-complex

Question 30

Innate feature unique to humans that allows mastery of language from limited exposure during childhood

Answer 30

Language Acquisition device

Question 31

Asserts that the language one speaks determines their thoughts and perceptions of the world

Answer 31

Linguistic relativity hypothesis

Question 32

A tendency to fixate on ideas and solutions that have worked in the past, even if they may not apply to the current situation

Answer 32

Mental set

Question 33

Occurs during Stage 3 when an individual appears terrified and may sit up or walk around

Answer 33

Night Terror

Question 34

The understanding that an object continues to exist once they are out of sight

Answer 34

Object permanence

Question 35

The structure in the cochlea of the inner ear made up of the basilar membrane, the auditory hair cells, and the tectorial membrane

Answer 35

Organ of Corti

Question 36

The portion of the ear consisting of the pinna and the external auditory canal

Answer 36

Outer ear

Question 37

The membrane that separates the middle ear from the inner ear

Answer 37

Oval window

Question 38

An overestimation of the accuracy of one's knowledge and judgments

Answer 38

Overconfidence

Question 39

A system whereby many aspects of a stimulus are processed simultaneously instead of in a step-by-step or serial fashion

Answer 39

Parallel processing

Question 40

Abnormal behaviros during sleep, including somnambulism and night terrors

Answer 40

Parasomnia

Question 41

Part of the working memory that allows for repetition of verbal information to aid with encoding

Answer 41

Phonological loop

Question 42

Region of the brain responsible for the production of melatonin, a hormone that influences sleep/wake cycles and seasonal functions

Answer 42

Pineal gland

Question 43

A receptor that responds to changes in the body position, such as stretch on a tendon, or contraction of a muscle

Answer 43

Proprioceptor

Question 44

A hole in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to enter the eyeball

Answer 44

Pupil

Question 45

Bursts of quick eye movements present in the last stage of sleep

Answer 45

Rapid eye movement (REM)

Question 46

Final stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement and Beta waves, which are seen in individuals when they are awake

Answer 46

REM stage

Question 47

A mental shortcut in which one judges the likelihood of things based on typical mental representations or examples of those things

Answer 47

Representativeness heuristic

Question 48

States that if multiple tasks exceed the limit of attention, they cannot be done simultaneously

Answer 48

Resource model of attention

Question 49

Structures in the brainstem that are important for alertness and arousal (as in wakefulness)

Answer 49

Reticular Formation, also known as the Reticular Activating System

Question 50

The innermost layer of the eyeball. The__ is made up of photoreceptors, bipolar cells, and a layer of ganglion cells

Answer 50

Retina

Question 51

Photoreceptors in the retina that respond to dim light and provide black and white vision

Answer 51

Rods

Question 52

Mental frameworks or blueprints that shape and are shaped by experience

Answer 52

Schemas

Question 53

The white portion of the tough outer layer of the eyeball

Answer 53

Sclera

Question 54

The process by which one input is selected out of the field of environmental stimuli

Answer 54

Selective attention

Question 55

Predisposition to observe something because it has previously been encountered frequently

Answer 55

Selective priming

Question 56

Three loop-like structures in the inner ear that contain sensory receptors to monitor balance

Answer 56

Semicircular canals

Question 57

A theory that attempts to predict how and when someone will detect the presence of a given sensory stimulust amidst all of the other sensory stimuli in the background

Answer 57

Signal detection theory

Question 58

Sleepwalking

Answer 58

Somnablusim

Question 59

Model for visual attention, with a spotlight representing one's attention and its ability to move focus onto different targets

Answer 59

Spotlight model

Question 60

A receptor that responds to changes in temperature

Answer 60

Thermoreceptor

Question 61

Waves of low to moderate intensity and intermediate frequency present during stage 1 of sleep

Answer 61

Theta waves

Question 62

A type of information processing that occurs when the brain applies experience and expectations to interpret sensory information

Answer 62

Top-down processing

Question 63

The membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The __ is also known as the eardrum

Answer 63

Tympanic membrane

Question 64

The area of the occipital lobe responsible for processing visual information

Answer 64

Visual cortex

Question 65

Allows for the repetition of visuospatial information (images) to aid with encoding it into memory

Answer 65

Visuospatial sketchpad

Question 66

This law pertains to sensory perception and dictates that two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion in order for their differences to be perceptible

Answer 66

Weber's Law

Question 67

The area of the brain, located in the posterior section of the temporal lobe, that is involved with the comprehension of speech and written language

Answer 67

Wernicke's Area

Question 68

Short-term memory for information in immediate awareness, consisting of four components: a central executive, a phonological loop, a visuospatial sketchpad, and an episodic buffer

Answer 68

Working memory