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MCAT - Behavioural Sciences > Chapter 1 - Behaviour and Biology > Flashcards

Chapter 1 - Behaviour and Biology Flashcards

1
Q

What were the main contributions of Franz Gall?

A

Phrenology: Associated development of a trait with growth of its relevant part of the brain.

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2
Q

What were the main contributions of Pierre Floures?

A

Extripation/Ablations: Concluded that different brain regions have specific functions.

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3
Q

What were the main contributions of William James?

A

“Father of American Psychology”; Pushed for importance of studying adaptations of the individual to their environment.

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4
Q

What were the main contributions of John Dewey?

A

Credited with the landmark article on functionalism; argued for studying the entire organism as a whole.

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5
Q

What were the main contributions of Paul Broca?

A

Correlated pathology with specific brain regions, such as speech production from Broca’s area.

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6
Q

What were the main contributions of Hermann Von Helmholtz?

A

Measured speed of a nerve impulse.

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7
Q

What were the main contributions of Sir Charles Sherrington?

A

Inferred the existence of synapses.

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8
Q

How are the CNS and PNS different in organization?

A

CNS: Includes the brain and spinal cord.
PNS: Includes most of the cranial and spinal nerves and sensors.

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9
Q

What is the difference between Afferent and Efferent Neurons?

A

Afferent: Sensory neutrons that bring signals from a sensor to the CNS.
Efferent: Motor neurone that bring signals from the CNS to an effector.

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10
Q

How do the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems differ?

A

Somatic: Responsible for voluntary actions; most notably, moving muscles.
Autonomic: Responsible for involuntary actions, like heart rate, bronchial dilation, dilation of the eyes, exocrine gland function, and peristalsis.

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11
Q

What are Interneurons?

A

Found between other neurons and are the most numerous of the three types. They’re located predominantly in the brain and spinal cord and are often linked to reflexive behaviour.

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12
Q

What are Reflex Arcs?

A

Neural circuits that control reflexive behaviour.

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13
Q

Define the roles and functions of the Sympathetic Nervous System.

A

Promotes a fight-or-flight response, with increased heart rate and bronchial dilation, redistribution of blood to locomotor muscles, dilation of the eyes and slowing of digestive and urinary functions.

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14
Q

Define the roles and functions of the Parasympathetic Nervous System.

A

Promotes a rest-and-digest function, slowing heart rate, constricting the bronchi, redistributing blood to the gut, promoting exocrine secretions, constricting the pupils, and promoting peristalsis and urinary function.

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15
Q

What is the name of the thick sheath of connective tissue that covers the brain?

A

The Meninges

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16
Q

What is the role of the Meninges?

A

Protects the brain, keeping it anchored within the skull. Re-absorbs cerebrospinal fluid, as well.

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17
Q

What are the three layers that compose the Meninges?

A
  1. Dura Matter
  2. Arachnoid Matter
  3. Pia Matter
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18
Q

What is Cerebrospinal fluid?

A

The aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal cord rest; it is produced by specialized cells that line the ventricles (internal cavities) of the brain.

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19
Q

What are the three major divisions of the brain?

A
  1. Forebrain
  2. Midbrain
  3. Hindbrain
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20
Q

What are the principal structures and functions of the Forebrain?

A
  1. Cerebral Cortex: complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioural processes.
  2. Basal Ganglia: Movement.
  3. Limbic System: Emotion and memory.
  4. Thalamus: Sensory relay station.
  5. Hypothalamus: Hunger, thirst, emotion.
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21
Q

What are the principal structures and functions of the Midbrain?

A
  1. Inferior + Superior Colliculi: Receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body; reflexes to auditory and visual stimulation.
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22
Q

What are the principal structures and functions of the Hindbrain?

A
  1. Cerebellum: Refined motor movement, balance.
  2. Medulla Oblongata: Vital functioning (breathing, digesting etc.)
  3. Reticular Formation: Arousal and alertness.
23
Q

What are some of the methods used for mapping the brain?

A
  • Studying humans with brain lesions
  • Expiration
  • Stimulation or recording with electrodes (cortical mapping, single-celled electrode recordings, electroencephalogram [EEG])
  • Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF).
24
Q

What four structures surround and protect the brain?

A

From most deep to most superficial:

  1. Meninges
  2. Bone
  3. Periosteum
  4. Skin
25
Q

What are the roles and functions of the Thalamus?

A
  • Serves as an important relay station for all senses except for smell.
  • Sorts and transmits sensory impulses to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.
  • A sensory “way station”.
26
Q

What are the roles and functions of the Hypothalamus?

A
  • Serves homeostatic functions and is a key player in emotional experience during high arousal states, sexual behaviour, and aggression.
  • Also helps control some endocrine functions and ANS functions (drive behaviour i.e hunger thirst and sex).
  • THE FOUR F’S*
  • Feeding
  • Fighting
  • Flighting
  • (Sexual) Functioning
27
Q

What are the three subdivisions of the Hypothalamus?

A
  1. Lateral Hypothalamus (hunger centre)
  2. Ventromedial Hypothalamus (satiety centre stop eating signal)
  3. Anterior Hypothalamus (sexual behaviour centre)
28
Q

What are the roles and functions of the Basal Ganglia?

A

A group of structures in the middle of the brain that coordinate smooth muscle movement as they receive information from the cortex to relay to the brain and spinal cord. (Parkinson’s disease is associated with its damage or destruction).

29
Q

What are the roles and functions of the Limbic System?

A

Memory and Emotion via:

  1. Septal Nuclei
  2. Amygdala
  3. Hippocampus
30
Q

What is the Septal Nuclei?

A

A pleasure centre often linked to addictive behaviour.

31
Q

What does the Amygdala account for?

A

Defensive and aggressive behaviours such as fear and rage. When damaged, these reactions are reduced. Lesions result in docility and hyper sexual states.

32
Q

What does the Hippocampus account for?

A

Learning and memory processes (specifically long term and can redistribute remote memories to cerebral cortex. Communicates via a long projection called the fornix.

33
Q

What is Anterograde Amnesia?

A

Not being able to establish new long-term memories whereas memories formed before brain injury remain in tact.

34
Q

What is Retrograde Amnesia?

A

Refers to memory loss of events that transpired before brain injury.

35
Q

What are the roles and functions of the Cerebral Cortex?

A

Responsible for complex perceptional and cognitive behaviour. The outer surface; sometimes called the neocortex (a reminder that the cortex is the most recently evolved brain region). Not smooth; has numerous bumps and folds called gyro and sulci. Divided into two hemispheres.

36
Q

What are the four lobes that separate the surface of the cortex?

A
  1. Frontal Lobe
  2. Parietal Lobe
  3. Occipital Lobe
  4. Temporal Lobe
37
Q

What does the Frontal Lobe account for?

A

Executive functioning, impulse control, long-term planning (pre-frontal cortex), motor function (primary motor cortex) and speech.

38
Q

What does the Parietal Lobe account for?

A

Sensation of touch, pressure, temperature, pain (somatosensory), spatial processing, orientation and manipulation.

39
Q

What does the Occipital Lobe account for?

A

Visual processing via the visual/striate cortex. Also implicated in Learning and motor control.

40
Q

What does the Temporal Lobe account for?

A

Sound processing (auditory cortex), speech perception (Wernicke’s Area), memory, emotion (limbic system)

41
Q

What is the difference between ipsilateral and contralateral communication between the brain and the body?

A

Ipsilateral: occurs when cerebral hemispheres communicate with the same side of the body.
Contralateral: occurs when cerebral hemispheres communicate with the opposite side of the body.

42
Q

What is the Dominant Hemisphere?

A

Typically defined as the hemisphere that is more heavily stimulated during language reception and production.

43
Q

What are the 7 key neurotransmitters and their functions?

A
  1. Acetylcholine: voluntary muscle control
  2. Dopamine: Smooth movements and posture
  3. Endorphins: Natural pain killer
  4. Epinephrine/Norepinephrine: Wakefulness, alertness, fight or flight response
  5. GABA/Glycine: Brain “stabilizer”
  6. Glutamate: Brain excitation
  7. Serotonin: Mood, sleep, eating, dreaming
44
Q

Which 5 key endocrine organs influence behaviour and what hormones do they use?

A
  1. Hypothalamus: controls release of pituitary hormones
  2. Pituitary Gland: master gland of secretion
  3. Adrenal Medulla: Produces adrenaline (epinephrine), cortisol (a stress hormone), and testosterone with the help of the testes.
45
Q

What are the Sample Group and Control Group in Family Studies, respectively?

A

Sample: Genetically related individuals
Control: Unrelated people (general population)

46
Q

What are the Sample Group and Control Group in Twin Studies, respectively?

A

Sample: Monozygote (identical) twins
Control: Dizygote (fraternal) twins

47
Q

What are the Sample Group and Control Group in Adoption Studies, respectively?

A

Sample: Adoptive Family
Control: Biological Family

48
Q

What is Neurulation?

A

Occurs when a furrow is produced from ectoderm overlying the notochord and consists of the neural groove and the neural folds. As the neural fold grows, the cells at their leading edge are called neural crest cells. When neural folds fuse, this creates the neural tube, which will form the CNS.

49
Q

What are the four Primitive Reflexes of development?

A
  1. Rooting
  2. Moro
  3. Babinski
  4. Grasping
50
Q

What behaviour is associated with the Rooting Reflex?

A

Turns head toward any object touching the cheek.

51
Q

What behaviour is associated with the Moro Reflex?

A

In response to sudden head movement, arms extend and slowly retract; babies usually cry.

52
Q

What behaviour is associated with the Babinski Reflex?

A

Extension of big toe and fanning of other toes in response to brushing the sole of the foot.

53
Q

What behaviour is associated with the Grasping Reflex?

A

Holding onto any objects placed in the hand.

54
Q

What are the two main themes that dictate the stages of motor development in early childhood?

A

Gross motor development precedes from head to toe; and from core to the periphery.

MCAT - Behavioural Sciences (12 decks)

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