Psychology MCAT Flashcards
Wernicke’s area
part of temporal lobe; LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION
Broca’s area
part of frontal lobe; SPEECH
Components of brainstem
midbrain, medulla oblongata, pons
Reticular activating system (RAS)
part of brainstem; modulates alertness and arousal
Inferior and superior colliculi
(part of midbrain)
- Inferior colliculi process auditory input
- Superior colliculi process visual input
Substantia nigra
(part of midbrain)
- midbrain dopaminergic nucleus
- produce dopamine to help coordinate voluntary movements
- In Parkinson’s disease, dopaminergic neurons in this region degenerates.
SAME DAVE
Sensory neurons are Afferent neurons
Motor neurons are Efferent neurons
Dorsal (back) location for Afferent neuron (sensory)
Ventral (abdomen) location for Efferent neurons (motor)
Tip: Afferent = send info up to brain or spinal cord for processing
Efferent = neurons that make effect (action)
Tunnel vision
Focus just on objects within your central field
- part of fight-or-flight response (by sympathetic nervous system) to acute stress
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
measure brain activity through electrodes placed on the scalp
computed tomography (CT)
Taking X-ray in 360 degree to yield 3D image.
Good for static structure
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
strong magnetic field to image structures within body. MRI is better at imaging soft tissue and does not involve ionizing radiation.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
radiolabeling glucose as fludeoxyglucose (FDG), which emits positrons as it decays.
More decay = more glucose being metabolized = more intense neural activity
PET can help visualize both bran structure and activity.
functional MRI (fMRI)
- based on difference in magnetic properties btw oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in venous blood to visualize blood flow.
- image brain structure and measure brain activity
What is “Reliability” of a test?
Reliability = consistently produce the same results over time
What is “Validity” of a test?
Validity = the test measures what is intended to be measured
Spreading of activation theory
When the representation of a concept is activated in memory, the activation spreads to concepts that are semantically or associatively related to it.
Effect of GABA on anxiety
GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, exerting anti-anxiety effect.
Hawthorne effect
(Observer effect)
A phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior or performance due to the awareness of being observed.
Looking-glass self
People shaping their self-concepts based on their understanding of how others perceive them.
Self-serving bias
A set of biases in which people take credit for their successes and deny responsibility for failures.
“I” and “me” according to psychologist George Mead
“I” = the part of self with desires, freedom and creativity. The one’s response to the “me”
“Me” = the social self. The attitude, roles, meanings, pressures and role takings.
Self-handicaping
The process of developing (anticipating failure) behavioral rnx and expectations that minimize personal responsibility for the failure.
Self-perception theory
People observe themselves in order to figure out the reasons they act as they do.
Egocentric bias
Tendency to overstress changes btw the past and present to make oneself appear more worthy and competent than one actually is.
Actor-observer bias
We often blame our own actions on external situations but the actions of others on their personality.
T/F
Sex is a biological category assigned at birth while gender is a social construct.
True
Craving (a drug-related symptom)
A strong desire to ingest a drug
Theories of emotions
Operant conditioning
Positive/ Negative reinforcement
Positive/ Negative punishment
