Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

mcat psychology / sociology > psych/soc doc > Flashcards

psych/soc doc 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

bottom up processing

A

a stimulus influences our perception
processing sensory information as it is coming in (built from smallest piece of sensory information)

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

top down processing

A

background knowledge influences perception
driven by cognition (brain applies what it knows and what it expects to perceive and fills in the blanks)

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

rods

A

120 million in eye, for night vision
found mostly in the periphery

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

Gestalt Principles
(similarity, pragnanz, proximity, continuity, closure)

A

Similarity - items similar to one another are grouped together
Pragnanz - reality is often organized and reduced to simplest form possible (ex: olympic rings)
Proximity - objects that are close are grouped together
Continuity - lines are seen as following the smoothest path
Closure - objects grouped together are seen as whole

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

cones

A

6-7 million, 3 types: red, green, blue
almost all cones are centered in the fovea

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

blind spot

A

where optic nerve conects to retina, no cones or rods are present

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

order of auditory structures in ear

A
  1. outer ear: PAT/E pinna, auditory canal, tympanic membrane (eardrum)
  2. middle ear: MIS
    malleus, incus, stapes
  3. inner ear: semicircular canals and cochlea
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Sensory adaptation

A

change over time of a receptor to a constant stimulus (downregulation)

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

Sensory amplification

A

upregulation

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

Proprioception

A

sense of balance / position
(cognitive awareness of body in space)
sensors located in muscles are sensitive to stretch. when they contract with muscles, they fire to brain to send information

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

kinaesthesia

A

movement of the body
(more behavioral)
does not include balance information

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

Pain pereception

A

nociception

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

Temperature perception

A

thermoception

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

TrypV1 receptor

A

allows for sensation of temperature and pain
conformational changes due to heat or poking activates cell and sends signal to brain

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

A-beta fibers

A

fast, thick, covered in myelin

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

A-delta fibers

A

smaller diameter than a-beta, less myelin, slower speed of transmission but not slowest

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

C fibers

A

small diameter, un-myelinated, result in lingering sensation of pain

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

olfaction

A

sense of smell

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

gustation

A

sense of taste

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

5 main tastes

A

bitter, sweet, umami (ability to taste glutamate) bind to GCPRs
salty and sour bind to ion channels

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

types of taste buds

A

fungiform (anterior)
foliate (side)
circumvallate (posterior)

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

consciousness

A

awareness of our self and enviornment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

different levels of consciousness

A

can be induced by external factors (ex drugs) or internal mental efforts
1. alertness: awake
2. daydreaming: more relaxed, not as focused, can be self-induced as meditation
3. drowsiness: just before falling asleep or after waking up. can be self-induced in deep mediation
4. sleep: not aware of external or internal environments

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

Waves associated with sleep

A

Beta waves (13-30 Hz): awake/concentration. Increased stress, anxiety, restlessness, constant alertness
Alpha waves (8-13 Hz): daydreaming. disappear in drowsiness but reappear in deep sleep. relaxation.
Theta waves (7 Hz): drowsiness, right after you fall asleep
Delta waves (0.5-3 Hz): deep sleep or coma
* Measured by EEGs *

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

Sleep stages

A

brain goes through distinct brain patterns during sleep
N1 -> N2 -> N3 -> N2 -> REM
how long each stage lasts depends on how long you’ve been asleep and your age

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

Stage 1 sleep

A

Dominated by theta waves. strange sensations: hypnagogic hallucinations (seeing / hearing things that aren’t there)
tetris effect (playing tetris right before bed leads to seeing blocks)
hypnic jerks (feeling of falling)

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

Stage 2 sleep

A

more theta waves, sleep spindles, and K-complexes
deeper stage of sleep, people in N2 are harder to awaken

28
Q

sleep spindles

A

short bursts of activity on an EEG
help inhibit certain perceptions so we maintain a tranquil state during sleep. associated with ability to sleep through loud noises

29
Q

K-complexes

A

suppress cortical arousal and keep you asleep. helps sleep-based memory consolidation. can make them occur by touching someone sleeping
occur during N2

30
Q

Stage 3

A

slow wave sleep, characterized by delta waves. where sleep walking / talking occurs

31
Q

REM stage

A

Rapid-eye movement. most of your other muscles are paralyzed. most dreaming occurs here, and it is the most important stage for memory consolidation
combination of alpha, beta, and asynchronous waves, similar to beta waves seen while away
“paradoxical sleep” because brain is active and awake but body prevents it from doing anything
prefrontal cortex activity is decreased (area that is responsible for logic)

32
Q

Circadian rhythms

A

regular body rhythms across a 24 hour period. controlled by melatonin produced by the pineal gland.
controls body temperature, sleep cycle, etc.
daylight and artificial light are regulators
change over time, young people stay up later than older people

33
Q

daydreaming

A

eyes move rapidly under eyelids and brainwaves look like they are completely awake

34
Q

Sigmund Freud dream theory

A

dreams are our unconscious thoughts and desires that need to be interpreted
little scientific support (like an iceberg)
Manifest content - what happens in dream
Latent content - what is hidden meaning of dream

35
Q

Evolutionary biology dream theory

A

Dreams provide threat simulation to prepare for real world, allows for problem solving

36
Q

Other dream theories

A
  • maintain brain flexibility
  • consolidate thoughts to long-term memory and clean up thoughts
  • preserve and develop neural pathways (infants spend most of time in REM)
37
Q

Activation Synthesis Hypothesis

A

brain gets a lot of neural impulses in the brainstem, and these are sometimes interpreted by the frontal cortex
dreams are brain trying to make meaning of random brain activity

38
Q

sleep deprivation

A

sleep disorder correlating to increased irritability and decreased memory function
people are more susceptible to obesity (increased cortisol)
increased risk for depression
- get back on track by paying back “sleep debt”

39
Q

insomnia

A

sleep disorder characterized by persistent trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
can be treated with medications (risk for dependence / tolerance)
exercising or relaxing before bed can help

40
Q

narcolepsy

A

sleep disorder characterized by fits of sleepiness and going into REM sleep at any time. individuals cannot prevent falling asleep.
indications of genetic condition, linked to absence of alertness neurotransmitter

41
Q

sleep apnea

A

sleep disorder characterized by decreased / halted breathing while sleep, wake up just long enough to gasp for air and fall back asleep without realizing
can occur 100x a night
individuals don’t get enough N3 (slow-wave) sleep
snoring and fatigue are indications
(1 in 20 people)

42
Q

sleep walking / sleep talking

A

sleep disorders occuring in stage 3 sleep. harmless. occur more in children that have more stage 3 sleep

43
Q

obstructive sleep apnea vs central sleep apnea

A

obstructive sleep apnea - sleep apneas occur due to tissues blocking airflow
central sleep apnea - sleep apneas occur without obstruction, problem is in system for ventilation

44
Q

cheyne-stokes breathing

A

period of oscillations then flat pattern in polysomnography

45
Q

hyperventilation

A

causes high pCO2 and low pO2
can be caused by medication and obesity
chronically elevated pCO2 can lead to right heart failure

46
Q

hypnotism

A

getting a person to relax and focus on their breathing, and they become more susceptible to suggestion
more alpha waves (awake but relaxed)
dangerous to use hypnosis to retrieve memories as memories are malleable
can refocus attention to reduce pain as it inhibits attention & reduces activity in areas that process sensory input

47
Q

two theories for how hypnosis works

A

1 - dissociation theory says that hypnotism is an extreme form of divided consciousness
2 - social influence theory says that people do and report what is expected of them, like actors caught up in their roles

48
Q

meditation

A

trained state of self-regulating attention and awareness
can be guided and focused or unfocused where the mind wanders freely
more alpha waves than normal relaxation
increased theta waves in deep meditation
regular deep meditation can increase activity in prefrontal cortex, right hippocampus, and right anterior insult
can be helpful for ADHD and aging

49
Q

depressant drugs

A

drugs that lower body’s basic functions and neural activity (ex - heart rate, reaction time)
most popular is alcohol but includes barbiturates, benzodiazepines (ABB)

50
Q

alcohol

A

most popular depressant drug
causes people to think more slowly, disrupts their REM sleep/formation of memories, and removes inhibitions

51
Q

barbiturates

A

type of depressant drug
used to induce sleep or reduce anxiety / depress your central nervous system
side effects are reduced memory, judgement, and ability to concentrate
taken with alcohol can lead to death

52
Q

benzodiazepines

A

most commonly prescribed suppressant for sleep aids or anti-anxiety effects
enhances brain’s response to GABA which open GABA-activated chloride channels in neurons and make neurons more negatively charged
3 types: short and intermediate are usually for sleep, long acting is usually for anxiety

53
Q

opiates

A

type of drug used to treat pain and anxiety, not a depressant drug (own category)
ex: heroin and morphine
used to treat pain because they act at body’s receptor sites for endorphins
lead to euphoria, causing recreational use

54
Q

stimulants

A

stimulate or increase intensity of neural activity or body functions
includes caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and ecstasy (CCAMEN)

55
Q

caffeine

A

stimulant drug
inhibits adenosine receptors
can disrupt sleep
physiologically addicting
withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, and irritability

56
Q

nicotine

A

stimulant drug
disrupts sleep and can suppress appetite
at high levels, can cause muscles to relax and release stress-reducing neurotransmitters to counteract hyper-alertness
physiologically addicting
withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, and irritability

57
Q

cocaine

A

strong stimulant drug
releases so much dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine that it depletes your brain’s supply, causing an intense crash and depression when it wears off
regular users can experience suspicion, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and cardiac failure

58
Q

amphetamines and methamphetamines

A

stimulant drugs
trigger release of dopamine
cause euphoria for up to 8 hours
highly addictive
long-term addicts may lose ability to maintain normal level of dopamine

59
Q

hallucinogens

A

drugs that cause many types of hallucinations and altered perception, sometimes have medical uses
includes marijuana, ecstasy, LSD (MELsd)
some hallucinogens are used for PTSD treatment, allowing people to access painful memories detached from strong emotions

60
Q

marijuana

A

mild hallucinogen drug
main active chemical is THC, which heightens sensitivity to sounds, tastes, and smells
reduces inhibition and impairs motor / coordination skills
disrupts memory formation and short-term recall
stays in body for up to a week
used as medicine to relieve pain and nausea

61
Q

ecstacy

A

synthetic drug that is both a stimulant and hallucinogen
increases dopamine, serotonin, and euphoria
stimulates the body’s nervous system
can damage neurons that produce serotonin, which has several functions including moderating mood
causes hallucinations and heightened sensations (ex: artificial feeling of social connectedness)

62
Q

LSD

A

hallucinogen drug
interferes with serotonin, which causes people to experience hallucinations
visual hallucinations instead of auditory

63
Q

homeostasis with drug use

A

body tries to maintain temperature, heartbeat, metabolism, etc
regular drug users’ CNS might recognize external cues and responds before drug is consumed
ex: if taking amphetamines, body tries to lower HR

64
Q

routes of drug entry

A

OIITI
Oral - ingesting something, one of the slowest routes as it goes through GI tract (half hour)
Inhalation - breathing / smoking, once inhaled drug goes straight to brain (10 seconds)
Injection - most direct method, can be very dangerous (within seconds)
Transdermal - drug is absorbed through skin, drug needs to be potent, released into bloodstream (several hours)
Intramuscular - drug is injected into muscle, can deliver drugs to system quickly or slowly (ex: epipen = fast, vaccines = slow)
faster routes of entry have more addictive potential

65
Q
A

mcat psychology / sociology (3 decks)

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