MCAT psychology Kaplan Chapter 1
Practice Exam 2026/2027 Updated
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1. Franz Gall
- ANS - Hypothesized phrenology (1758-1828); Believed brain
anatomy is linked to behavior, intellect, and personality
2. Phrenology
- ANS - Idea that well developed traits would cause regions of the
brain to expand, causing deformations of the skull. Therefore, skull
could be studied to determine areas of intelligence. This
hypothesis was false.
3. Pierre Flourens
- ANS - Used extirpation (AKA ablation) of pigeons and rabbits to
determine that surgically removing one part of brain weakens the
entire brain's function. (1794-1867)
4. Extirpation (AKA ablation)
- ANS - surgical removal of various areas of the brain and
observation of consequential behavior. Used by Pierre Flourens
5. William James
- ANS - Known as father of American psychology. Believed in
importance of studying human adaptations to various
, environments. Such ideas aided in development of functionalism.
(1842 - 1910)
6. Functionalism
- ANS - System of thought in psychology that studied how mental
processes aid an individual in adaptation to various environments.
7. John Dewey
- ANS - Important name in functionalism. Criticized reflex arc.
Believed psychology should focus on organism as a whole in
adaptation to environment (1896)
8. reflex arc
- ANS - Breaks the process of reacting to a stimulus into discreet
parts
9. Paul Broca
- ANS - first person to demonstrate that specific functional
impairments can be directly related to specific lesions of the brain.
i.e. Broca's area (1860)
10. Hermann Von Helmholtz
- ANS - First to measure speed of nerve impulse - in terms of
reaction times. Transitioned psychology into natural science.
(1821-1894)
11. Sir Charles Sherrington
- ANS - First to infer the existence of synapses - one error he made
, was thinking synaptic transmission was electrical, when it is in fact
mostly chemical.
12. 3 types of nerve cells
- ANS - sensory neurons, motor neurons, interneurons
13. Sensory neurons
- ANS - AKA afferent neurons. Transmit sensory information from
receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
14. Motor neurons
- ANS - AKA efferent neurons. Transmit motor information from the
brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
15. interneurons
- ANS - Neurons between other neurons. Most numerous of the 3
types. Mainly located on brain and spinal cord. Linked to reflexive
behavior.
16. Two main components of the nervous system
- ANS - Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
17. Central nervous system
- ANS - Made up of brain and spinal cord
18. Peripheral nervous system
- ANS - Made up of nerve tissues and fibers outside of brain and
Practice Exam 2026/2027 Updated
Verified Questions and Solutions A+
Pass Guaranteed
1. Franz Gall
- ANS - Hypothesized phrenology (1758-1828); Believed brain
anatomy is linked to behavior, intellect, and personality
2. Phrenology
- ANS - Idea that well developed traits would cause regions of the
brain to expand, causing deformations of the skull. Therefore, skull
could be studied to determine areas of intelligence. This
hypothesis was false.
3. Pierre Flourens
- ANS - Used extirpation (AKA ablation) of pigeons and rabbits to
determine that surgically removing one part of brain weakens the
entire brain's function. (1794-1867)
4. Extirpation (AKA ablation)
- ANS - surgical removal of various areas of the brain and
observation of consequential behavior. Used by Pierre Flourens
5. William James
- ANS - Known as father of American psychology. Believed in
importance of studying human adaptations to various
, environments. Such ideas aided in development of functionalism.
(1842 - 1910)
6. Functionalism
- ANS - System of thought in psychology that studied how mental
processes aid an individual in adaptation to various environments.
7. John Dewey
- ANS - Important name in functionalism. Criticized reflex arc.
Believed psychology should focus on organism as a whole in
adaptation to environment (1896)
8. reflex arc
- ANS - Breaks the process of reacting to a stimulus into discreet
parts
9. Paul Broca
- ANS - first person to demonstrate that specific functional
impairments can be directly related to specific lesions of the brain.
i.e. Broca's area (1860)
10. Hermann Von Helmholtz
- ANS - First to measure speed of nerve impulse - in terms of
reaction times. Transitioned psychology into natural science.
(1821-1894)
11. Sir Charles Sherrington
- ANS - First to infer the existence of synapses - one error he made
, was thinking synaptic transmission was electrical, when it is in fact
mostly chemical.
12. 3 types of nerve cells
- ANS - sensory neurons, motor neurons, interneurons
13. Sensory neurons
- ANS - AKA afferent neurons. Transmit sensory information from
receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
14. Motor neurons
- ANS - AKA efferent neurons. Transmit motor information from the
brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
15. interneurons
- ANS - Neurons between other neurons. Most numerous of the 3
types. Mainly located on brain and spinal cord. Linked to reflexive
behavior.
16. Two main components of the nervous system
- ANS - Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
17. Central nervous system
- ANS - Made up of brain and spinal cord
18. Peripheral nervous system
- ANS - Made up of nerve tissues and fibers outside of brain and
