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MCAT > Behavioral Sciences Ch. 1 > Flashcards

Behavioral Sciences Ch. 1 Flashcards

(130 cards)

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1
Q

Who was Franz Gall and what is he known for

A

The first person to link personality and brain; developed phrenology

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2
Q

Who is Pierre Flourens and what is he known for?

A

First person to study brain function via ablation/extirpation

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3
Q

Who is William James and what is he known for

A

The father of American psychology; formed functionalism

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4
Q

Define functionalism

A

how mental processes help people adapt to the environment

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5
Q

What is John Dewey’s core idea?

A

Psychology should focus on study of an organism as a whole as it adapts to the environment

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6
Q

What is Paul Broca known for?

A

Impairments are linked to brain areas

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7
Q

What is Hermann Von Helmholtz known for?

A

First to measure the speed of nerve impulses, linking psychology and physiology

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8
Q

What is Sir Charles Sherrington known for?

A

Inferred the existence of a synapse

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9
Q

List and define the 3 kinds of nerve cells in the central nervous system

A

1) Sensory/afferent neurons: transmit sensory impulses to the brain/spinal cord
2) Motor/efferent neurons: transmit motor info from brain/spinal cord to muscles/glands
3) Interneurons: neurons found between other neurons that are in charge of reflexive behavior

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10
Q

The most numerous neurons are ___

A

Interneurons

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11
Q

Interneurons are mainly found in the __ and __

A

Brain and spinal cord

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12
Q

The peripheral nervous system is divided into the ___ and ___ nervous systems

A

Somatic and automatic

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13
Q

The somatic nervous system includes motor and sensory neurons of ___

A

Muscles, joints, and skin

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14
Q

The automatic nervous system regulates _____

A

Heartbeat, respiration, digestion, glandular secretion, body temperature

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15
Q

The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are part of the ____

A

Automatic nervous system

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16
Q

List the functions of the parasympathetic nervous system

A

Constricts pupils, stimulates saliva, constricts bronchi, slows heartbeat, stimulates peristalsis, stimulates bile release, contracts bladder

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17
Q

List the functions of the sympathetic nervous system

A

Dilates pupils, inhibits saliva, relaxes bronchi, accelerates heart rate, stimulations sweating/piloerection, inhibits peristalsis and secretion, stimulates glucose production and release, secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline, inhibits bladder contraction, stimulates orgasm

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18
Q

List the 3 connective coverings of the brain from the outermost to innermost layer

A

1) dura mater
2) arachnoid mater
3) pia mater

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19
Q

Describe the function of meninges

A

Resorb cerebrospinal fluid

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20
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced where and by what?

A

By cells in the ventricles of the brain

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21
Q

List the 3 divisions of the human brain

A

1) hindbrain
2) midbrain
3) forebrain

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22
Q

The __brain and __brain divide to create 5 swellings within a mature neural tube

A

Hind and forebrain

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23
Q

Define rhombencephalon

A

Hindbrain

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24
Q

Define mesencephalon

A

Midbrain

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25
Define prosencephalon
Forebrain
26
List the functions of the hindbrain
Controls vital functions like balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, arousal
27
The hindbrain divides to form the ___ and ___
Myelencephalon and metencephalon
28
What is the myelencephalon. Where does it originate from and what does it become?
Originates from the hindbrain to become medulla oblongata
29
List the functions of the medulla oblongata
Regulates breathing, heart rate, and digestion
30
Define the metencephalon. Where does it originate from and what does it become?
Originates from the hindbrain to become the pons and cerebellum
31
List the functions of the pons
Contains sensory and motor pathways between the cortex and medulla
32
List the functions of the cerebellum
Maintains posture and coordination
33
Describe the functions of the midbrain
Receives sensory and motor information from body to trigger involuntary reflexes
34
The superior colliculus receives _ information
Visual
35
The inferior colliculus receives __ info
Auditory
36
The superior and inferior colliculus are part of the ___
midbrain
37
List the functions of the forebrain
Complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes; in charge of emotion and memory
38
The forebrain forms the ___ and ___
Telencephalon and diencephalon
39
The cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and limbic system are formed by the ____
telencephalon
40
The thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, and pineal gland are formed by the ____
Diencephalon
41
Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) detects ___ via ____
Broad patterns of neural activity via radioactive gas
42
____ produce cross sectional images of brain tissue
CT/CAT scans
43
What brain mapping technique detects radioactive sugar that has been inject, absorbed, and dispersed in the body
PET
44
What brain mapping technique uses magnetic fields and hydrogen atoms to detect hydrogen-dense regions of the body?
MRI
45
and fMRI measures changes in __ to monitor neural activity
blood flow
46
Describe the functions of the thalamus
Relay station for incoming sensory information and transmits info to regions of the cerebral cortex
47
The thalamus does not relay ___
smell
48
List the functions of the hypothalamus
Four F's: feeding, fighting, flight, fornicating | Regulate metabolism, temperature, and water balance
49
What is the primary regulator of the autonomous nervous system?
The hypothalamus
50
List and describe the subdivisions of the hypothalamus:
1) Lateral hypothalamus: hunger center 2) Ventromedial hypothalamus: satiety center 3) Anterior hypothalamus: sexual behavior, sleep regulation, body temperature
51
The ___ hypothalamus is the hunger center
Lateral
52
The ___ hypothalamus is the satiety center
Ventromedial
53
The ___ hypothalamus is the sexual, sleep, and temperature center
Anterior
54
Define vasopressin
Antidiuretic hormone
55
Vasopressin and oxytocin is released from the ___
Posterior pituitary
56
List the functions of the basal ganglia
Muscle movement coordination and relay of information to the brain and spinal cord
57
What structures is the extrapyramidal system associated with and what is it's function?
Information about the body is carried from the basal ganglia to the CNS
58
The extrapyramidal system carries information to the central nervous system with the use of ___
Motor neurons
59
What disease is associated with the destruction of parts of the basal ganglia?
Parkinson's
60
The limbic system is involved in ___ and ___
Emotion and memory
61
Where is the septal nuclei found? What is it?
In the limbic system | Pleasure center
62
The amygdala is part of the ___ system
Limbic
63
The hippocampus is part of the ___ system
Limbic
64
The hippocampus communicates with the limbic system via the __
Fornix
65
Describe the functions of the anterior cingulate cortex
Higher order cognitive processes (i.e. impulse control and decision making)
66
The cerebral cortex is also called the __
Neocortex
67
Describe the functions of the prefrontal cortex
Is in charge of executive functions and supervision and direction of other brain regions
68
The frontal lobe is made up of the ___ cortex and __ cortex
Prefrontal and motor
69
The ___ and ___ brain structures communicate to regulate attention and alertness
Prefrontal cortex and reticular formation
70
Which of the following is not a function of the prefrontal cortex: a) directing and supervising brain regions b) telling you what you have to remember c) communicating with the reticular formation to regulate attention
b); the prefrontal cortex tells you to remember something, but not what that something is
71
Define association area and give an example
An area that integrates input from regions of the brain, i.e. the prefrontal cortex
72
Define projection area and give an example
An area that performs rudimentary perceptual/motor tasks, i.e. the primary motor cortex
73
Describe the functions of the primary motor cortex
Initiates voluntary motor movements by sending neural impulses down the spinal cord toward the muscles
74
Broca's area is typically found in the __ hemisphere
Dominant
75
The (dominant/nondominant) hemisphere is typically left
Dominant
76
The somatosensory cortex is found in the ___ lobe
Parietal
77
List the functions of the parietal lobe
Somatosensory processing, spatial processing, orientation
78
The visual cortex is found in the ___ lobe
Occipital
79
The striate cortex is also called the ___ cortex
Visual
80
Wernicke's area is found at the ___ lobe
Temporal
81
The hippocampus is located in the ___ lobe
Temporal
82
Memory processing, emotion, and language occurs at the ___ lobe
Temporal
83
What defines the dominant hemisphere?
Stimulation during language reception and production
84
The (left/right) hemisphere is involved in analytic function, detail management, and language
Left
85
The (left/right) hemisphere is involved in intuition, creativity, holistic integration, cognition, and spatial processing
Right
86
Acetylcholine is found in: a) the CNS only b) the PNS only c) both the CNS and PNS d) neither the CNS or PNS
c)
87
The loss of cholinergic neurons in the hippocampus is associated with what disease?
Alzheimer's
88
Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine are all __ amines
Catecholamines and monoamines/biogenic amines
89
List the functions of epinephrine and norepinephrine
Alertness and wakefulness
90
The primary neurotransmitter(s) of the sympathetic nervous system are
epinephrine and norepinephrine
91
What neurotransmitter prompts the flight or fight response?
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
92
(epinephrine/norepinephrine) acts as a local neurotransmitter
norepinephrine
93
Low levels of epinephrine are associated with ___, whereas high levels are associated with ___
depression | Anxiety and mania
94
Epinephrine is secrete by the ___ to act as a hormone
Adrenal medulla
95
High concentrations of dopamine in the basal ganglia do what?
Smooth muscle movements and maintain postural stability
96
A loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia is associated with what disease?
Parkinson's
97
Serotonin is a ___amine
monoamine/biogenic amine
98
List the functions of serotonin
Regulates eating, mood, sleeping, and dreaming
99
Describe how GABA works and its purpose
GABA produces inhibitory postsynaptic potentials to help stabilize neural activity
100
What neurotransmitter causes the hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic potential?
GABA
101
Give 2 examples of proteinogenic amino acids
Glycine and glutamate
102
List the mechanisms and functions of Glycine
Increases the chloride influx into the neuron to hyperpolarize the postsynaptic membrane
103
Glycine is (inhibitory/excitatory)
Inhibitory
104
Glutamate is (inhibitory/excitatory)
Excitatory
105
Define neuromodulators/neuropeptides
Peptides involved in neurotransmission; do not act directly as neurotransmitters but rather increase or decrease the action of neurotransmitters.
106
Neuromodulators/neuropeptides cause a chain of events in the (presynaptic cell/postsynaptic cell)
Postsynaptic cell
107
Give an example of a neuromodulator
Epinephrine
108
Neuromodulators are (slower/faster) and have (shorter/longer) effects than neurotransmitters
Slower; longer
109
List the functions of endorphins
Pain management
110
Which is faster: the endocrine or nervous system?
Nervous
111
What brain structure links the endocrine and nervous systems?
Hypothalamus
112
The anterior pituitary secretes hormones into the ____
Hypophyseal portal system
113
Where on the kidneys are hormones secreted?
On the adrenal gland
114
The adrenal medulla releases __ and __
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
115
The adrenal cortex produces ___
Corticosteroids, testosterone, and estrogen
116
Cortisol is a ___
Corticosteroid
117
Define neurulation
Initial development of nervous system
118
What is the first step of neurulation
The ectoderm overlying the notochord begins to furrow
119
The neural groove is formed by the furrowing of the ___
Ectoderm
120
Define neural crest
Cells at the edge of the neural fold
121
The neural crest migrates to form the ___, ___, and ____
Dorsal root ganglia, melanocytes, calcitonin-producing cells
122
Embryonic brain is formed by the ____
Folding of the neural tube
123
The central nervous system is formed by the ___ during neurulation
Neural tube
124
The alar plate differentiates into ___ and ___
sensory neurons and basal plate
125
The basal plate differentiates into ___
Motor neurons
126
The embryonic brain first consists of _ # of swellings with later differentiates into __#
3 then 5
127
While the neural tube forms the ___ nervous system, the neural crest forms the ___ nervous system
Central; peripheral
128
Define moro reflex
Reaction to abrupt head movements by flinging and retracting arms
129
Define the babinski reflex
Big toe movement when foot is stroked
130
Describe the general progression of social skills during development
Parent-oriented, to self-oriented, to other-oriented

MCAT (13 decks)

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