MCAT Review

Cofactor

chemical compound that tightly and loosely binds with an enzyme or other protein molecules

Co-enzymes

non-protein, organic molecules that carry chemical groups between enzymes (NAD and FAD)

Agonists

mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site, strengthening effect

Antagonist

blocks/impedes the regular activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor

2 regions of electron density

Linear- 180

3 regions of electron density

Trigonal Planar-120

4 regions of electron density

Tetrahedral-109.5

5 regions of electron density

Trigonal Bipyramidal-90,120,180

6 regions of electron density

Octahedral-90,180

3 electron regions + 1 lone pair

Trigonal Pyramidal

Luteinizing Hormone

induces ovulation

Progesterone

steroid hormone secreted by ovaries to prepare uterus for implantation of fertilized ovum and subsequent pregnancy

GnRH

stimulates anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH

FSH (males)

triggers spermatogenesis and stimulates sertoli cells

FSH (females)

stimulates the development of ovarian follicles

TSH

stimulates the thyroid to produce T4 and T3 which stimulate metabolism

Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone

stimulates the anterior pituitary to release GH

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)

stimulates production and release of cortisol

Antidiuretic Hormone

increases permeability of the collecting duct to water. Allows more water to be resorbed, concentrating urine while decreasing urine volume.

Aldosterone

increases collecting duct’s ability to absorb Na+ and Cl- secrete K+ and H+, increase water reabsorption, and BP

Prolactin

production of milk

Prostaglandins

group of lipids made at site of tissue damage or infection that are involved in dealing with injury and illness

Calcitonin

stimulates osteoblasts to build bone, puts calcium into bone

Parathyroid Hormone

stimulates osteoclasts, gets rid of calcium from bone

Oral (Birth-1yr)

Infant’s pleasure, centers around mouth

Anal (1-3 yrs)

child’s pleasure focuses on anus and from elimination → toilet training

Phallic (3-6 yrs)

child’s pleasure focuses on genitals

Latency (6 yr-puberty)

children spend more time and interest mainly with same sex peers

Genital (beyond puberty)

individuals are attracted to opposite sex partners

Beta

awake, alert, or REM stage

low amplitude, high frequency

Alpha

awake, resting, or drowsy state

low amplitude, high frequency

Theta

typical of early stages of sleep

NREM

moderate amplitude, moderate frequency

Delta

deep stages of sleep

REM

large amplitude, low frequency

Refraction of Index

intrinsic property of tissue

Buffering capacity

\+/- 1 pH unit from pKa

50S

large subunit of bacterial ribosome

60S

large ribosomal subunit of eukaryotic cells

70S

intact prokaryotic ribosomes

80S

intact eukaryotic ribosomes

Desmosomes

anchoring junctions bind to adjacent cells like Velcro

Tight Junctions

impermeable junctions

Gap Junctions

allow for intercellular communication

External motivation

social pressure, form of extrinsic motivation

Base Rate Fallacy

error people make when they ignore the base rates

Hindsight Bias

tendency for a person to overestimate how well he or she could have predicted an outcome

Observer Bias

bias by observer contaminated results

Public Verifiability

reason other scientists are attempting to replicate original findings

Distress

behavior demonstrates unusual or prolonged levels of stress

Maladaptiveness

behavior negatively impacts the person’s life or poses a threat

Statistical Deviancy

takes into account if the behavior is statistically rare

Variation of Social Norms

takes into account if the behavior violates social norms

Affective component of behavior

emotional experience evoked by the attitude object

Behavioral component of behavior

typical responses made when the individual is in the presence of the attitude object

Cognitive component of behavior

individual’s beliefs about the attitude object

Life course persepective

various stages of life and their impact on each other

Social Epidemiology

social determinants of health and disease

Galvanic Cell

Cathode: +

Anode: -

Electrolytic/Voltaic Cell

Cathode: -

Anode: +

Constitutional Isomers

Not the same connectivity but same number of atoms

Conformational Isomers

compounds can be interconverted by rotation about single bonds

Geometric Isomers

Isomerism at double bond (cis/trans)

Optical Isomers

differential ability to rotate plane polarized light

Enantiomers

non-superimposable mirror images

\
Diastereomers

not mirror images, differ in their chiral designation at least one (but not all) stereocenters

James-Lange

arousal → heart pounding, sweating → fear (emotion)

Cannon-Bard

arousal → heart pounding, sweating & fear (emotion) simultaneously

Schacter-Singer

arousal → heart pounding, sweating & cognitive label (I’m scared) → fear (emotion)

Sensorimotor (0-2 yrs)

Object Permanence

Preoperational (2-7 yrs)

Egocentrism

Concrete Operational (7-11 yrs)

Conservation of Mass

Formal Operational (12+)

Deductive Reasoning, Theoretical thought, etc.

Deductive reasoning

general to specific

Inductive reasoning

specific to general

Illness Experience

how a person adjusts to interruptions in their health. Understand and cope with their illness which impacts their self identity. Experience the symptom and assume and the sick role.

Sick Role

ill individuals have certain rights and responsibilities. Ill person cannot fulfill the same duties that a healthy person can, they express a certain level of social deviance

Folkways

Right vs. Rude

Mores

Right vs. Wrong

Taboos

Right vs. Forbidden

Laws

Right vs. Illegal

E=

hf

c=

lambda\*v

W (block on slope)

W=F\*d

Ff=Fn \* muk

Fn= mgcos(theta)

Ff=mgcos(theta)\*muk

W=mgcos(theta)\*muk\*d

Mean

average score

Mode

frequent response

Median

midpoint of all scores

Standard Deviation

variance, consistency of responses

Weber’s Law

constant ratio between change in stimulus magnitude needed to produce the JND and the magnitude of the original stimulus

Absolute Threshold

minimum stimulus that is needed to activate a sensory system

Just Noticeable Difference

refers to the minimum difference in magnitude between two stimuli before one can perceive this difference

Signal Detection Theory

changes in our perception of a stimulus can be dependent on internal and external factors

Source Monitoring Errors

made when memory is not updated

Categorization

semantic memory

Short Term Memory

20 seconds

Hawthorne Efffect

change in behavior when participant knows they are being watched, WON’T result in behavior that you think the researcher would approve of

Demand Characteristics

research design provides cues to the participants regarding the hypothesis

Secure Attachment

children use the caregiver as a secure base to explore the room. Comforted by parent and show preference for caregiver

Avoidant Attachment

kid doesn’t care when the parent leaves and/or comes back

Resistant/Ambivalent Attachment

kid cares when the parent leaves but doesn’t care when they come back-care is inconsistent

Frontal Lobe

specialized motor control, learning, planning, and speech

Parietal Lobe

somatic/voluntary sensory functions