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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Cognition, Consciousness and Language > Flashcards

Cognition, Consciousness and Language Flashcards

1
Q

cognition

A

how our brains process and react to information

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2
Q

dual-coding theory

A

states that both verbal association and visual images are used to process and store information

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3
Q

information processing model

A
  • thinking requires sensation, encoding and storage of stimuli
  • stimuli muse be analyzed by the brain (rather than responded to automatically) in useful decision making
  • decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated and adjusted to help solve new problems
  • problem solving is dependent not only on the person’s cognitive level but also on the context and complexity of the problem
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4
Q

cognitive development

A

development of one’s ability to think and solve problems across the lifespan

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5
Q

Jean Piaget

A

influential figure in developmental psych

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6
Q

schema

A

pattern that includes a concept, a behavior or a sequence of events

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7
Q

adaptation

A

how new information is processed

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8
Q

assimilation

A

process of classifying new information into an existing schema

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9
Q

accomodation

A

process by which a schema is modified to encompass new information that does not fit into an existing schema

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10
Q

sensorimotor state

A

first state of cognitive development; birth-2yo; circular reactions begin; end of sensorimotor stage is marked by development of object permanence

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11
Q

primary circular reactions

A

repetition of a body movement that originally occurred by chance, such as sucking the thumb

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12
Q

secondary circular reactions

A

manipulation is focused on something outside the body, such as repeatedly throwing a toy

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13
Q

representational thought

A

marked by dvlpmt of object permanence; child has begin to create mental representations of external objects and events

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14
Q

preoperational stage

A

2yo-7yo; characterized by symbolic thinking, egocentrism and centration

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15
Q

symbolic thinking

A

ability to pretend, play make believe and have an imagination

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16
Q

centration

A

tendency to focus on only one aspect of a phenomenon, or inability to understand the concept of conservation

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17
Q

concrete operational stage

A

7yo-11yo; children can understand conservation and consider the perspectives of others; able to engage in logical though as long as they are working with concrete objects or information that is directly available; can not yet think abstractly

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18
Q

formal operational stage

A

11yo-; ability to think logically about abstract ideas

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19
Q

Lev Vygotsky

A

educational psychologist; proposed that the engine driving cognitive development is the child’s internalization of their culture

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20
Q

fluid intelligence

A

problem-solving skills

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21
Q

crystallized intelligence

A

related to the use of learned skills and knowledge

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22
Q

delirium

A

rapid fluctuation in cognitive function that is reversible and caused by medical causes

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23
Q

mental set

A

tendency to approach similar problems in the same way

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24
Q

functional fixedness

A

inability to consider how to use an object in a nontraditional manner

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25
algorithm
formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem
26
deductive (top-down) reasoning
starts from a set of general rule and draws conclusions from the information given
27
inductive (bottum-up) reasoning
seeks to create a theory via generalizations
28
heuristics (rules of thumb)
simplified principles used to make decisions
29
availability heuristic
used when we try to decide how likely something is
30
representativeness heuristic
involves categorizing items on the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical or representative image of that category
31
base rate fallacy
using prototypical or stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numerical information
32
disconfirmation principle
evidence obtained from testing demonstrated that the solution does not work
33
confirmation bias
tendency to focus on information that fits an individuals beliefs while rejecting information that goes against them
34
overconfidence
tendency to erroneously interpret one's decisions, knowledge, and beliefs as infallible
35
belief perseverance
refers to the inability to reject a particular belief despite clear evidence to the contrary
36
recognition-primed decision model
sorting through a wide variety of information to match n event at hand to a pattern
37
multiple intelligences
seven types of intelligence: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal
38
IQ (intelligence quotient) calculation
mental age/chronological age X 100
39
reticular formation
neural structure in the brainstem that functions to keep the cortex awake and alert
40
electroencephalography (EEG)
sleep is studied using this to record brain wave activity occurring during the course of a night's sleep
41
beta waves
high frequency; occur when person is awake and attending to a mental task that requires attention
42
alpha waves
occur when we are awake but relaxing with our eyes closed; somewhat slower than beta waves
43
Stage 1 sleep
detected by appearance of theta waves; irregular wave forms with slower frequencies and higher voltages
44
Stage 2 sleep
theta waves along with sleep spindles and K complexes
45
Stages 3 and 4 sleep
known as slow-wave sleep (SWS); SWS has been associated with cognitive recovery and memory consolidation, as well as increased growth hormone release
46
delta waves
low frequency, high voltage
47
non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM)
stages 1-4
48
rapid eye movement sleep (REM)
interspersed between cycles of NREM sleep; arousal levels reach that of wake cycle but muscles are paralyzed; dreaming; memory consolidation;
49
sleep cycle
single complete progression through the sleep stages
50
pineal gland
releases melatonin which regulates circadian rhythm
51
cortisol
steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex; related to sleep-wake cycle
52
corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)
causes release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary, which stimulates cortisone release; cortisol contributes to wakefulness
53
activation-synthesis theory
dreams are cased by widespread, random neural activity
54
problem-solving dream theory
dreams are a way to solve problems while sleeping
55
cognitive process dream theory
dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness
56
neurocognitive models of dreaming
seek to nigh biological and psychological perspectives on dreaming
57
dyssomnias
disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep or avoid sleep
58
parasomnias
abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
59
insomnia
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
60
narcolepsy
lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep
61
cataplexy
loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours
62
sleep paralysis
sensation of being unable to move despite being awake
63
sleep apnea
inability to breathe during sleep
64
night terrors
periods of intense anxiety that occur during slow-wave sleep
65
REM rebound
earlier onset and greater duration of REM sleep compared to normal
66
hypnosis
highly suggestible state
67
alcohol
increases activity of the GABA receptor, a chloride channel that causes hyper polarization of the membrane; increases dopamine levels, causing a sense of mild euphoria;
68
alcohol myopia
inability to recognize consequences of actions
69
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) and characterized by severe memory impairment with changes in mental status and loss of motor skills
70
barbiturates and benzodiazepines
anxiety-reducing and sleep medications; increase GABA activity, causing sense of relaxation
71
amphetamines
increased arousal by decreasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake; increase in heart rate and blood pressure; prolonged use can cause stroke or brain damage; withdrawal
72
cocaine
increased arousal by decreasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake; increase in heart rate and blood pressure; prolonged use can cause stroke or brain damage; withdrawal
73
crack
form of cocaine that can be smoked
74
ecstasy ("E", MDMA)
acs as a hallucinogen combined with amphetamine; increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, blurry vision, sweating, nausea and hyperthermia
75
opium
opiates and opioids; heroin; cause a decreased reaction to pain and a sense of euphoria;
76
hallucinogens
cause distortion of reality, enhancement of sensory experiences, and introspection; increased heart rate and BP, dilation of pupils, sweating and increased temp
77
marijuana
active chemical is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); inhibits GABA activity indirectly increases dopamine activity; increased heart rate, increased appetite and lowered BP
78
drug addiction
- highly related to mesolimbic reward pathway - includes nucleus accumbens, ventral segmental area, and medial forebrain bundle - acccounts for positive reinforcement of substance use
79
sensorium
refers to concentrating on one aspect environment
80
selective attention
focusing on one part of the sensorium while ignoring other stimuli
81
divided attention
ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time
82
phonology
refers to the actual sound of language
83
phonemes
speech sounds
84
morphology
structure of words
85
morphemes
building blocks of words
86
semantics
association of a meaning with a word
87
syntax
how words are put together to form a sentence
88
pragmatics
dependence of language on context and pre-existing knowledge
89
prosody
rhythm cadence and inflection of our voices
90
language acquisition timeline
``` 9-12mo: babbling 12-18mo: about one word per month 18-20mo: explosion of language and combining words 2-3yrs: longer sentences 5yrs: language rules largely mastered ```
91
nativist (biological theory) of language
some innate capacity for language; critical period
92
learning (behaviorist) theory of language
BF Skinner; operant conditioning; reinforcement;
93
social interactionist theory of language
focuses on the interplay between biological and social processes
94
Whorfian (linguistic relativity) hypothesis
out perception of reality is dependent on the content of our language
95
Broca's area
inferior frontal gyrus of frontal lobe; controls motor function of speech
96
Wernicke's area
superior temporal gyrus of temporal lobe; language comprehension
97
arcuate fasciculus
bundle of axons that connects Broca's and Wernicke's
98
aphasia
deficit of language production or comprehension
99
Broca's (expressive) aphasia
can comprehend speech but can not produce language
100
Wernicke's (receptive) aphasia
motor production and fluency of speech is retained but comprehension is lost
101
conduction aphasia
arcuate fasciculus is damaged; unable to repeat something that has been said

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (6 decks)

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