Comprehensive Behavioral Sciences MCAT Review: Sensory, Cognition, and Sleep

What is sensory adaptation?

The process by which our sensitivity to unchanging stimuli diminishes over time.

What does Weber's Law state?

The principle that the change needed to notice a difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.

What is the absolute threshold of sensation?

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.

What is somatosensation?

The ability to perceive touch, temperature, pain, and body position.

What is the vestibular system responsible for?

Maintaining balance and spatial orientation.

What is Signal Detection Theory?

A theory that explains how we detect signals amidst noise, involving sensitivity and decision criteria.

What is the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing?

Bottom-up processing starts with sensory input, while top-down processing uses prior knowledge to interpret sensory information.

What are Gestalt principles?

Rules that describe how we organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes.

What is the structure of the eye?

Includes components such as the cornea, lens, retina, and optic nerve, which work together to process visual information.

What is the phototransduction cascade?

The process by which light is converted into electrical signals in the photoreceptors of the retina.

What are the two types of photoreceptors in the retina?

Rods and cones.

What is the function of rods in vision?

Responsible for vision in low light conditions.

What is the function of cones in vision?

Responsible for color vision and detail in bright light conditions.

What is feature detection in visual processing?

The ability to identify specific elements of visual stimuli, such as edges, shapes, and movements.

What is the auditory structure responsible for?

Processing sound waves and converting them into neural signals.

What is proprioception?

The sense of body position and movement.

What is the somatosensory homunculus?

A representation of the body in the brain that illustrates the amount of sensory cortex devoted to each body part.

What are pheromones?

Chemical signals released by an individual that affect the behavior of others of the same species.

What is the structure and function of olfaction?

The sense of smell, involving olfactory receptors that detect airborne chemicals.

What is gustation?

The sense of taste, involving taste buds that detect different flavors.

What are the stages of sleep?

Includes NREM (non-rapid eye movement) and REM (rapid eye movement) stages.

What are circadian rhythms?

Biological processes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, affecting sleep and wakefulness.

What is the activation synthesis hypothesis of dreaming?

The theory that dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.

What are common sleep disorders?

Include insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy.

What is hypnosis?

A state of focused attention and increased suggestibility, often used for therapeutic purposes.

What are psychoactive drugs?

Substances that alter perception, mood, or consciousness.

What are depressants?

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

What are stimulants?

Drugs that increase neural activity and speed up body functions.

What are hallucinogens?

Substances that cause altered perceptions and sensations.

What is drug dependence?

A condition characterized by compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences.

What is the reward pathway in the brain?

A group of neural structures that mediate the feelings of pleasure and reward.

What is tolerance in relation to drug use?

A reduced response to a drug after repeated use, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect.

What is withdrawal?

Physical and mental symptoms that occur after stopping or reducing intake of a drug.

What are Substance Use Disorders?

Conditions characterized by an individual's inability to control their use of substances despite negative consequences.

What is the Spotlight Model of Attention?

A theory suggesting that attention is like a spotlight that can focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

What are the three stages of the Information Processing Model?

Sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory.

What is the purpose of encoding strategies?

To enhance the storage and retrieval of information in memory.

What are retrieval cues?

Stimuli that help in recalling information from memory.

What is the difference between free recall, cued recall, and recognition?

Free recall requires retrieving information without cues, cued recall uses prompts, and recognition involves identifying previously learned information.

What is memory reconstruction?

The process of recalling memories that may be distorted or altered by new information.

What is the role of schemas in cognitive development?

Schemas are mental structures that help organize and interpret information.

What are Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development?

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages.

What is the difference between assimilation and accommodation?

Assimilation involves integrating new information into existing schemas, while accommodation involves altering schemas to fit new information.

What are the three components of emotion?

Physiological arousal, cognitive appraisal, and behavioral response.

What is the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)?

A part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions.

What is stress?

A psychological and physiological response to perceived challenges or threats.

What are maladaptive coping mechanisms?

Ineffective strategies that individuals use to deal with stress, which can lead to further problems.

What is the function of the cerebellum?

To coordinate voluntary movements and maintain balance.

What is the role of neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

What is the significance of hemisphere differences in the brain?

Different hemispheres are associated with different cognitive functions, such as language and spatial abilities.

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

A progressive neurological disorder that leads to memory loss and cognitive decline.

What is Korsakoff syndrome?

A chronic neurocognitive disorder caused by thiamine deficiency, often associated with alcohol misuse.

What is the limbic system's role in emotions?

It regulates emotional responses and is involved in memory and motivation.

What are the universal emotions?

Emotions that are recognized across cultures, such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust.

What is the significance of cognitive aging?

It refers to the changes in cognitive abilities as individuals grow older, which can affect memory and processing speed.

What is in-attentional blindness?

A psychological phenomenon where an individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus in plain sight.

What is change blindness?

A failure to notice changes in a visual stimulus when it occurs during a visual disruption.

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in decision making?

It is involved in complex cognitive behavior, decision making, and moderating social behavior.

What are semantic networks?

A network of concepts that are interconnected, facilitating the retrieval of related information.

What is the relationship between language and cognition?

Language influences thought processes and the way individuals conceptualize the world.

What are lesion studies?

Research methods that involve damaging specific brain areas to observe changes in behavior.

What is experimental ablation?

A technique used to remove or disable a part of the brain to study its function.

Name a modern method for studying the brain.

Techniques such as fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or PET (Positron Emission Tomography).

What is the endocrine system's role in behavior?

It influences behavior through hormones that affect mood, motivation, and stress responses.

What are the stages of fertilization?

Egg and sperm unite, leading to the formation of a zygote.

What is implantation in the context of development?

The process where the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall.

What are germ layer derivatives?

The three primary layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) that develop into different tissues and organs.

Define gestation.

The period of development of the embryo or fetus in the womb.

What are major motor milestones?

Key physical development stages that infants typically reach, such as sitting, crawling, and walking.

What are neonatal reflexes?

Automatic responses present at birth, such as the rooting or grasp reflex.

What changes occur in the brain during adolescence?

Significant structural and functional changes that affect behavior and cognitive abilities.

How do temperament and heredity relate?

Temperament is influenced by genetic factors, affecting personality and behavior.

What do twin studies help researchers understand?

The role of genetics versus environment in behavior and psychological traits.

Define heritability.

A measure of how much of a trait's variation can be attributed to genetic factors.

What are regulatory genes?

Genes that control the expression of other genes, influencing development and behavior.

What is gene-environment interaction?

The way genetic predispositions and environmental factors influence behavior.

What is the adaptive value of behavioral traits?

The extent to which certain behaviors enhance survival and reproduction.

Explain the physiological concept of positive feedback.

A process that amplifies responses or processes in the body, often leading to a specific outcome.

What is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

A psychological theory that categorizes human needs into a five-level pyramid, from basic to self-actualization.

Define incentive theory.

A theory suggesting that behavior is motivated by external rewards.

What factors influence food, sex, and drug behaviors?

Biological and sociocultural factors play significant roles in these behaviors.

What are the components of attitude?

Cognitive, affective, and behavioral components that shape how we respond to objects or situations.

How do attitudes influence behavior?

Attitudes can shape how individuals act in various situations.

What is cognitive dissonance theory?

A theory that explains the discomfort felt when holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes.

What is the situational approach in psychology?

An approach that emphasizes the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior.

What is psychoanalytic theory?

A theory developed by Freud that focuses on unconscious motivations and conflicts.

What does humanistic theory emphasize?

The importance of personal growth and self-actualization.

What is behaviorist theory?

A theory that focuses on observable behaviors and the effects of learning.

What is trait theory?

A theory that suggests personality is made up of broad dispositions, or traits.

What was the Bobo Doll Experiment?

A study demonstrating observational learning, where children imitated aggressive behavior towards a doll.

What are defense mechanisms?

Psychological strategies used to cope with reality and maintain self-image.

What is the death drive in Freud's theory?

A concept suggesting an instinctual drive towards destruction and aggression.

What are the categories of mental disorders?

Various classifications of mental health issues, including anxiety, mood, and personality disorders.

What is the biological basis of schizophrenia?

A focus on genetic, neurochemical, and structural brain abnormalities associated with the disorder.

What is the biological basis of depression?

Involves neurotransmitter imbalances and genetic predispositions affecting mood regulation.

What are anxiety disorders?

Mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear or anxiety.

What is dissociative identity disorder?

A condition where a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states.

What are somatic symptom disorders?

Disorders characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by medical conditions.

What are personality disorders?

A group of mental health disorders characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior.

What are sleep-wake disorders?

Disorders that affect sleep patterns, including insomnia and sleep apnea.