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Behavioral Science Flashcards

1
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

AKA afferent neurons

transmit sensory information to the brain

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2
Q

Motor Neurons

A

AKA efferent neurons

transmit motor information from the brain to the muscles and glands

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3
Q

Interneurons

A

most numerous
located predominantly in the brain and spinal cord

linked to reflexive behaviors (reflex arcs)

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4
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

Brain and Spinal Cord

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5
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

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6
Q

Somatic Nervous System (PNS)

A

afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) neurons

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7
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

part of the PNS

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8
Q

Neurotransmitter responsible for parasympathetic responses in the body?

A

Acetylcholine

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9
Q

Limbic System

A

group of neural structures associated with emotion and memory
forebrain

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10
Q

Medulla Oblongata function

A

regulates vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion

hindbrain // brainstem

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11
Q

Pons function

A

lies above the medulla

contains sensory and motor pathways between the cortex and the medulla

hindbrain // brainstem

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12
Q

Cerebellum function

A

maintains posture and balance and coordinated body movements (inhibited by alcohol)

hindbrain // brainstem

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13
Q

Midbrain function

A

receives sensory and motor information
associated with involuntary reflex responses

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14
Q

Thalamus function

A

important relay station for sensory information (NOT SMELL)

FOREBRAIN

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15
Q

Hypothalamus function

A

HOMEOSTATIC AND EMOTIONS

The 4 F’s:
Feeding
Fighting
Flighting
(Sexual) Functioning

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16
Q

Lateral Hypothalmus

A

“Lacks Hunger”

hunger center

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17
Q

Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)

A

“Very Much Hungry”

satiety center

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18
Q

Anterior Hypothalamus

A

sexual behavior

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19
Q

Posterior Pituitary

A

site of release for antidiuretic hormone (ADH AKA vasopressin) and oxytocin

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20
Q

Pineal Gland

A

releases melatonin

the rhythm gland (circadian)

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21
Q

Basal Ganglia function

A

coordinates muscle movement and relay information to the brain

destroyed/damaged in Parkinson’s disease

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22
Q

Amygdala

A

LIMBIC SYSTEM

defensive and aggressive behaviors

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23
Q

Amygdala

A

LIMBIC SYSTEM

defensive and aggressive behaviors

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24
Q

Hippocampus

A

LIMBIC SYSTEM

learning and memory

helps consolidate information to form long-term memories

communicates with other portions of the limbic system via the FORNIX

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25
Brain lobes and function
Frontal -- executive function Parietal -- touch, temp, and pain Temporal -- hearing Occipital -- vision
26
Broca's area
FRONTAL LOBE vitally important for speech production
27
Wernicke's area
TEMPORAL LOBE associated with language reception and comprehension
28
Neurotransmitter
chemical used by neurons to send signals to other neurons
29
Catecholamines
Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine
30
Neurotransmitter responsible for sympathetic responses?
Norepinephrine
31
Neurulation
ECTODERM overlying the notochord begins to furrow, forming a NEURAL GROOVE surrounded by two neural folds (3-4 weeks gestation)
32
Neural Crest
cells at the leading edge of the neural fold in neurulation MIGRATE to other sites in the body to become different tissues
33
Neural Tube
neural furrow that eventually forms the CNS BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD
34
Family Study
looks at relative frequency of a trait in a family compared to population assumption that genetically related individuals are more similar genotypically than unrelated study the inheritability of a trait LIMITATION: cannot distinguish environmental factors from genetic ones (all family in same environment)
35
Photoreceptors
respond to electromagnetic waves in the visible spectrum (sight)
36
Mechanoreceptors
respond to pressure or movement
37
Nociceptors
respond to painful or noxious stimuli
38
Thermoreceptors
respond to changes in temperature
39
Osmoreceptors
respond to osmolarity of the blood
40
Olfactory receptors
respond to volatile compounds (smell)
41
Taste receptors
respond to dissolved compounds (taste)
42
Threshold (physiologic element of perception)
the minimum amount of stimulus that renders a difference in perception (i.e. sends an action potential)
43
Absolute Threshold
minimum of stimulus energy that is needed to activate a sensory system
44
Difference Threshold
"just-noticeable difference" minimum change in magnitude to perceive that two different stimuli are, in fact, different
45
Weber's Law of Perception
observation that difference thresholds are proportional and must be computed as percentages i.e. a 1-100 Hz change is noticeable but a 1000-1010 isn't (instead a 100% increase is...NOT a 100 Hz increase)
46
Parallel Processing
brain's ability to analyze information regarding color, form, motion, and depth simultaneously
47
Two-point threshold of somatosensory perception
the minimum distance necessary between two points stimulation on the skin such that the points will be perceived as two distinct stimuli
48
Gate theory of pain
special "gating" mechanism can turn pain signals on or off why rubbing an injury seems to reduce the pain
49
Bottom-Up Processing
data-driven processing object recognition by parallel processing and feature detection individual sensory stimuli combined to make cohesive image
50
Top-Down Processing
conceptually driven processing driven by memories and expectations that allow the brain to recognize the whole object and then recognize components based on these expectations
51
Gestalt Principles
set of general rules that account for the fact that the brain tends to view incomplete stimuli in organized, patterned ways
52
Law of Proximity (Gestalt)
elements close to one another tend to be perceived as a unit
53
Law of Similarity (Gestalt)
objects that are similar tend to be grouped together
54
Law of Good Continuation (Gestalt)
elements that appear to follow in the same pathway tend to be grouped together
55
Subjective Contours (Gestalt)
perceiving contours and, therefore, shapes that are not actually present in the stimulus
56
Law of Closure (Gestalt)
when a space is enclosed by a contour, the space tends to be perceived as a complete figure
57
Pinna
technical term for the outer ear funnels the sound to the inner ear
58
Malleus
AKA the hammer part of the middle ear one end attached to the ear drum and the other the anvil
59
Cochlea
contains the receptors for hearing
60
The _________ is responsible for balance and motor coordination.
HINDBRAIN
61
Experiments of Pierre Fluorens
Removed (ablated) certain parts of the brain to show that specific parts of the brain served different purposes. Remove a lobe and observe the animals behavior. Determine the function of the part removed.
62
Function of the right hemisphere (nondominant hemisphere) of the brain?
creativity (art and imagination) and spatial awareness in 3D space (sense of direction)
63
Result of low levels of endorphins?
Higher pain
64
Results of varying levels of serotonin?
Mood swings and mood instability
65
Result of high levels of dopamine?
Hallucinations
66
Result of low levels of acetylcholine?
Muscle weakness and paralysis
67
Studies of William James
foundation of FUNCTIONALISM studied how the mind adapts to the environment
68
Babinski Reflex
primitive reflex found in INFANTS by fanning of the toes when rub bottom of foot disappears with age
69
Wernicke's Aphasia
involves impaired comprehension but fluent production of speech region of brain where somatosensory cortex of parietal lobe overlaps with auditory cortex of the temporal lobe
70
Which study design has a HIGH degree of internal validity?
Randomized Control Trial internal validity (cause --> effect) -- effects not explained by other factors assign participants randomly to treatment or control
71
Stage 2 Sleep
NREM THETA WAVES that induce sleep spindles and K complexes
72
Stage 3-4 Sleep
NREM slow brain waves called DELTA WAVES environmental stimuli no longer produce reactions
73
REM Sleep
EEG resembles waking brain activity, including BETA WAVES (similar to alpha waves)
74
Reaction Formation
psychological defense mechanism in which a person goes beyond denial and behaves in the OPPOSITE way to which they think and feel i.e. you hate an employee, but treat them with excessive kindness
75
Dominant culture, subculture, and counter-culture definition.
Dominant - learned values, beliefs, and behaviors held by the majority Subculture - values and norms do NOT oppose the dominant culture, but group is characteristically different Counter-culture - values and norms OPPOSE the dominant culture
76
Symbolic Interactionism
meaning and value attached to symbols individual interactions based on these symbols MICRO-SOCIOLOGY COOLEY and MEAD
77
Secularization
reduced power of religion as religious involvement declines
78
Religiosity
the EXTENT to which a religion is internalized and incorporated into an individuals life
79
Power vs authority?
Power = ability to control and influence others Authority = whether others believe power to be legitimate
80
Reliability vs validity in a study?
Reliability - produces similar results when repeated (REPEATABILITY) Validity - the overall ACCURACY of the study (TRUE RESULTS)
81
Role strain vs role conflict?
Role Strain - competing expectations within a SINGLE ROLE Role Conflict - competing expectations for TWO or MORE ROLES
82
Cognitive-behavioral therapy vs psychoanalytical therapy vs humanistic therapy?
CBT - change negative thoughts and maladaptive behaviors Psychoanalytical - uncover how unconscious conflicts rooted in childhood shape behaviors Humanistic Therapy - attempts to empower individuals to move toward self-actualization

MCAT (6 decks)

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