MCAT Study Cards MD Daily -Behavioral (Psych/Soc)

Ear structure] is a thin flap of skin that is stretched tight like a drum and vibrates when sound hits it

Tympanic membrane (Ear Drum)

The cochlea translates sound into [...] to be sent to the brain

The cochlea translates sound into nerve impulses to be sent to the brain

The [ear structure] is a sensory system responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation; it also is involved with motor functions that allow us to keep our balance

The vestibular system is a sensory system responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation; it also is involved with motor functions that allow us to keep our balance

Semicircular canals are responsible for [...]

Semicircular canals are responsible for balance.

The superior olive is located in the [...] and its function is to [...]

The superior olive is located in the brain stem and its function is to localize sound

The [ear structure]is responsible for the startle reflex and vestibulo-ocular reflex

The inferior colliculus is responsible for the startle reflex and vestibulo-ocular reflex

The [... reflex] keeps the eyes fixed on a single point as the head rotates

The vestibulo-ocular reflex keeps the eyes fixed on a single point as the head rotates

Give the auditory pathway:

[...] → [...] → [...] → [...]

Cochlea → vestibulocochlear nerve → medial geniculate nucleus → auditory cortex

Identify the item missing from the auditory pathway:

Cochlea → vestibulocochlear nerve → [...] → auditory cortex

Cochlea → vestibulocochlear nerve → medial geniculate nucleus → auditory cortex

Smell is the detection of volatile or aerosolized chemicals by the [...] chemoreceptors

Smell is the detection of volatile or aerosolized chemicals by the olfactory chemoreceptors

[...] are chemicals given off by animals that have an effect on social foraging, and sexual behavior

Pheromones are chemicals given off by animals that have an effect on social foraging, and sexual behavior

The five categories of taste are:

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[...]

Sweet

Sour

Salty

Bitter

Umamai

[...] refers to the four touch modalities: pressure, vibration, pain, and temperature

Somatosensation refers to the four touch modalities: pressure, vibration, pain, and temperature

The [...] is the minimum distance necessary between two points of stimulation on the skin such that the points will be felt as two distinct stimuli

The two-point threshold is the minimum distance necessary between two points of stimulation on the skin such that the points will be felt as two distinct stimuli

[...] is a temperature that is felt by the skin as neither warm nor cold

Physiological zero is a temperature that is felt by the skin as neither warm nor cold

Nociceptors sense [...]

Nociceptors sense pain

The [... theory] of pain asserts that non-painful input closes the nerve "gates" to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system

The gate control theory of pain asserts that non-painful input closes the nerve "gates" to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system

[...] is the sense that tells you information about your body's position

Proprioception is the sense that tells you information about your body's position

Top-down processing is the recognition of an object by [...]

Top-down processing is the recognition of an object by memories and expectations

Using bottom-up processing, one will process [...] first, then the [...]

Using bottom-up processing, one will process details first, then the whole object

[...] are principles of how our mind groups things

Gestalt principles are principles of how our mind groups things

 

According to the gestalt principle of [...], objects that are placed close together are perceived as being more related than those spaced farther apart

According to the gestalt principle of proximity, objects that are placed close together are perceived as being more related than those spaced farther apart

According to the gestalt principle of [...], we tend to perceive things that physically resemble one another as part of the same object

According to the gestalt principle of similarity, we tend to perceive things that physically resemble one another as part of the same object

According to the gestalt principle of [...], when a shape is not complete, but enough of the shape is shown, our minds will fill in the blanks and construct the whole of the shape

According to the gestalt principle of continuity, when a shape is not complete, but enough of the shape is shown, our minds will fill in the blanks and construct the whole of the shape

According to the gestalt principle of [...], we tend to see complete figures even when part of the information is missing

According to the gestalt principle of closure, we tend to see complete figures even when part of the information is missing

[...] states that people will perceive and interpret ambiguous or complex images as the simplest form(s) possible

Law of Prägnanz states that people will perceive and interpret ambiguous or complex images as the simplest form(s) possible

[...] is when one becomes used to a stimulus

Habituation is when one becomes used to a stimulus

[...] may occur after habituation and is when a second stimulus intervenes causing a resensitization of the original stimulus

Dishabituation may occur after habituation and is when a second stimulus intervenes causing a resensitization of the original stimulus

The [...] theory states that ideas reinforce each other and can be linked to one another

The associative learning theory states that ideas reinforce each other and can be linked to one another

[...] is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior

Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior

[...] increases the likelihood of a behavior

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior

[...] decreases the likelihood of a behavior

Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior

Schedules of reinforcement can be based on [...] or [...]

Schedules of reinforcement can be based on intervals or the ratio of behavior / reward

Positive responses [...] something 

Positive responses add something 

Negative responses [...] something

Negative responses remove something

When a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced, it becomes [...]

When a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced, it becomes extinct

[...] is when behavior that is closer and closer to the target behavior is reinforced

Shaping is when behavior that is closer and closer to the target behavior is reinforced

In classical conditioning, a [...] becomes a [...] that produces a conditioned response

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response

[...] is the acquisition of behavior by watching others

Observational learning or modeling is the acquisition of behavior by watching others

[...] is the process of putting new info into memory

Encoding is the process of putting new info into memory