behavioral sciences - cognition, consciousness, and language

page 55 of MCAT review sheets document

information processing model

the brain encodes, stores, and retrieves information much like a computer

Piaget’s stages

4 in total

sensorimotor (0-2 years)

child manipulates the environment to meet physical needs through circular reactions + object permanence at the end of this stage

preoperational (2-7 years)

pretend-play, symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and centration

concrete operational (7-11 years)

feelings of others, conservation, math

formal operational (11 years and older)

abstract thought and problem-solving, moral reasoning

types of problem solving

trial-and-error, algorithms, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning

deductive reasoning

form conclusions from rules

inductive reasoning

form conclusions from evidence

mental set

a pattern of approach for a given problem

functional fixedness

the tendency to use objects only in the way they are normally utilized, creates problems to problem-solving

heuristics

“rules of thumb”

confirmation bias

the tendency to focus on information that fits and individual’s beliefs, while rejecting information that goes against those beliefs

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal

alterness

state of being awake and thinking

hypnosis

individuals appear to be in normal control of their faculties but are in a highly suggestible state

meditation

quieting of the mind

consciousness-altering drugs

depressants, stimulants, opiates and opioids

mesolimbic pathway

mediates drug addiction (causes withdrawal symptoms based on an increased tolerance)

phonology

the actual sound of speech

morphology

the building blocks of words

semantics

the meaning of words

syntax

rules dictating word order

pragmatics

changes in language delivery depending on context

theories of language development

nativist (biological), learning (behavioral), social interactionist

nativist theory

language acquisition is innate

learning theory

language acquisition is controlled by operant conditioning and reinforcement by parents and caregivers

social interactionist theory

language acquisition is caused by a motivation to communicate and interact with others

Whorfian Hypothesis

linguistic relativity

Broca’s area

produces speech

Wernicke’s area

language comprehension

Arcuate Fasciculus

connects Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area

aphasia

language deficit

Broca’s aphasia

difficult to generate speech

Wernicke’s aphasia

lack of comprehension

conduction aphasia

can’t repeat words

stage 1 of sleep

light sleep, THETA waves

stage 2 of sleep

slightly deeper, THETA waves, lowered HR + temp + respiration

stages 3 and 4 of sleep

deep sleep, DELTA waves, SWS, sleep disorders occur in this stage

rapid eye movement stage of sleep (REM)

BETA waves, mind appears awake of EEG

sleep cycle

1-2-3-4-3-2-REM or 1-2-3-4-REM

circadian rhythm

24 hours, melatonin for sleep, cortisol to stay awake

dreaming

mostly during REM

activation-synthesis theory

dreams result from brain activation during REM sleep, activation in brain, synthesis in cortex

sleep disorders

dyssomnias and parasomnias

selective attention

allows one to pay attention to particular stimulus while determining if additional stimuli in the background require attention

divided attention

uses automatic processing to pay attention to multiple activities at one time