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MCAT Kaplan: Behavioral > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Sensation

A

aligns w/ transduction–> conversion of physical, electromagnetic, & other information from internal & external envts. to electrical signals in the nervous system

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2
Q

Perception

A

processing of info to make sense of its significance

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3
Q

Sensory receptors

A

sensory nerves that respond to stimuli

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4
Q

Distal stimuli

A

in the distance. ex: campfire

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5
Q

Proximal stimuli

A

in close proximity

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6
Q

Psychophysics

A

relationship between physical nature of stimuli & sensational/perception they evoke

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7
Q

Sensory ganglia

A

collection of cell bodies outside the CNS

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8
Q

Projection Areas

A

areas in the brain that analyze sensory input

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9
Q

Photoreceptors

A

respond to electromagnetic waves in the visible spectrum (sight)

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10
Q

Hair cells

A

respond to movement of fluid in the inner ear structures (hearing, rotational, & linear acceleration)

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11
Q

Nociceptors

A

respond to painful or noxious stimuli (somatosensation)

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12
Q

Thermoreceptors

A

respond to changes in temperature (thermosensation)

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13
Q

Osmoreceptors

A

respond to the osmolarity of the blood (water homeostasis)

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14
Q

Olfactory receptors

A

respond to volatile compounds (smell)

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15
Q

Taste receptors

A

respond to dissolved compounds (taste)

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16
Q

Absolute threshold

A

the minimum of stimulus energy that will activate a sensory system

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17
Q

Subliminal perception

A

refers to the perception of a stimulus below a given stimulus

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18
Q

Threshold of conscious perception

A

the minimum stimulus energy that will create a signal large enough in size & long enough in duration to be brought into awareness

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19
Q

Difference Threshold

A

the minimum difference in magnitude between 2 stimuli before one can perceive this difference
-440 Hz vs 441 Hz

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20
Q

Weber’s Law

A

Just Noticeable Difference (JND) for a stimulus is proportional to the magnitude of the stimulus

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21
Q

Signal Detection Theory

A

refers to the effects of nonsensory factors, such as experiences, motives, and expectations on perception of stimuli. Accounts for response bias

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22
Q

Adaptation

A

refers to a decrease or increase in sensitivity to a stimulus

23
Q

Sclera

A

exposed portion of eye covered by this thick layer (white of the eye)

24
Q

Choroid and retinal vessels

A

eye supplied with these nutrients

25
Cornea
gathers and filters incoming light
26
Iris
controls size of pupil, colored part of eye, divided front of the eye into anterior & posterior chamber, 2 muscles: dilator and constrictor pupillae
27
Lens
refracts incoming light to focus it onto the retina
28
Aqueous humor
produced by the ciliary body. Nourishes the eye and gives the eye its shape. Drains through the canal of Schlemm
29
Retina
rods: detect light/dark, contains rhodopsin cones: color. short/medium/long, in the fovea part of macula pathway: rods/cones--> bipolar cells--> ganglion cells--> optic nerve
30
Retinal Disparity
space between eyes; allows for binocular vision and depth
31
Horizontal & amacrine cells
integrates signals from ganglion cells and performs edge-sharpening
32
Support
vitreous= inside, sclera/choroid= outside
33
Parallel Processing
color, form, and motion at same time
34
Magnocellular cells
motion, high temporal resolution
35
Parvocellular cells
shape, high spatial resolution
36
Visual pathway
eye--> optic nerves--> optic chiasm--> optic tracts--> lateral geniculate nucleus-> visual radiations--> visual cortex
37
Outer ear
pinna (auricle)= channel sound waves to external auditory canal to tympanic membrane (eardrum)
38
Middle ear
connected to nasal cavity by Eustachian tube. Ossicles: acronym MIS and HAS Malleus: Hammer Incus: Anvil Stapes: Stirrup, footplate of stapes rests in the oval window of cochlea
39
Inner ear
Bony labyrinth: filled w/ perilymph Membranous labyrinth: filled w/ endolymph. Consists of cochlea (sound), utricle & sacculae (linear acceleration) & semicircular canals (rotational acceleration and balance)
40
Projection Areas
superior olive: localizes sounds, in brain stem inferior colliculus: startle reflex, used by eyes/ears in the vestibulo-ocular reflex which keeps the eyes fixed on a single point as the head rotates
41
Auditory pathway
cochlea--> vestibulocochlear nerve--> medial geniculate nucleus--> auditory cortex
42
Place theory
location of hair cell on a basilar membrane determines perception of pitch when that hair cell is vibrated
43
Smell
detection of volatile or aerosolized chemicals by the olfactory chemoreceptors (olfactory nerves) in the olfactory epithelial. Smell info bypasses the thalamus
44
Pheromones
chemicals given off by animals that have an effect on social foraging, and sexual behavior
45
Taste
the detection of dissolved compounds by taste buds in papillae. Sweet/sour/salty/bitter/umamai
46
Somatosensation
refers to the four touch modalities: pressure, vibration, pain, and temp
47
Two-point threshold
minimum distance necessary between 2 points of stimulation on the skin such that the points will be felt as two distinct stimuli
48
Physiological zero
the normal temp of skin to which objects are compared to
49
Nociceptors
pain reception. Gate theory of pain. Decrease in JND for pain
50
Kinesthetic reception
proprioception
51
Top-down processing
the recognition of an object by memories and expectations. Little attention to detail. Uses background knowledge
52
Bottom-up processing
Details--> whole. Recognition of objects by feature detection. Not influenced by background knowledge
53
Gestalt principles
proximity, similarity, continuity, closure. All are governed by the law of Pragnanz

MCAT Kaplan: Behavioral (10 decks)

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