MCAT behavioural Sciences Section
Bank with Answers.
The Primary Effect - ANS>>The psychological tendency to remember the first items in a
series or list better than items in the middle or at the end. This occurs because people
give more attention to, and spend more time processing, initial information, leading to a
stronger memory of those first items.
state dependency effect - ANS>>A memory phenomenon where recall is better when
the internal state during retrieval matches the internal state during the initial learning or
encoding of the information. This internal state can be a physiological one, such as the
effects of a drug or a physical feeling like being cold, or it can be a psychological state,
like a particular mood or level of stress. For instance, you might remember information
better if you learned it while intoxicated and are tested in the same intoxicated state.
Misinformation effect - ANS>>A psychological phenomenon where exposure to
inaccurate information after an event can distort one's memory of that event, leading to
the formation of false memories
Dual-Coding Effect (Dual Coding Theory) - ANS>>____________ suggests that our
brains process information more effectively when presented through both verbal and
visual channels
Spreading of Activation Theory - ANS>>A theory of memory that explains how
activating one concept in a semantic network causes related concepts to become more
active. The most likely memory error is a false memory or false recollection, where you
recall an object or event that wasn't presented but is from the same category or
associated with the presented concepts.
Categorical Bias - ANS>>The phenomenon where perception or memory for stimuli is
distorted by the categories they belong to, causing objects from the same category to
seem more similar and objects from different categories to seem more different than
they actually are
Spatial Memory - ANS>>The brain's ability to learn, store, and recall the location and
arrangement of objects, places, and directions, allowing for navigation and
understanding of one's environment
Piaget's theory of cognitive development - ANS>>What theory proposes that children
progress through four distinct stages of intellectual development: sensorimotor,
properational, concrete operational, and formal operational. These stages describe how
children's thinking becomes more complex and abstract as they mature
,Psychodynamic approach - ANS>>What approach views psychological disorders as
arising from internal, often unconscious, conflicts, unresolved childhood issues, and
past experiences that influence current behavior.
Behaviorists approach - ANS>>What approach views psychological disorders as
learned behaviors resulting from faulty conditioning and environmental influences,
rather than internal mental states
Trait theory - ANS>>A personality theory that focuses on identifying, describing, and
measuring individual differences in personality traits
humanistic Approach - ANS>>What approach views psychological disorders not as
illnesses to be cured but as a blockage of a person's innate potential for growth, self-
actualization, and inherent goodness.
Unconditioned - ANS>>An ________________ stimulus is something that naturally and
automatically triggers a reflexive response in an organism without any prior learning or
conditioning
Conditioned - ANS>>A _____________ stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that,
after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, becomes capable of eliciting a
conditioned response. In simpler terms, it's a stimulus that initially doesn't cause a
specific reaction, but through learning, it comes to trigger that reaction.
Discriminatory stimulus - ANS>>A signal or cue that precedes a behavior and indicates
that a particular response is likely to be reinforced
Signaling Stimulus - ANS>>A ____________ stimulus, also known as a discriminative
stimulus (SD), is a cue or event that signals to an individual that a specific behavior will
lead to a particular consequence, such as reinforcement
Interoceptive awareness - ANS>>The ability to perceive and interpret internal bodily
sensations, such as:
Hunger and thirst
Pain and discomfort
Heart rate and breathing
Muscle tension and fatigue
Emotional states (e.g., anxiety, calm)
It involves the integration of signals from various organs and systems in the body,
sending information to the brain where it is processed and interpreted.
Autonomic Nervous system - ANS>>The part of the nervous system responsible for
control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the
heartbeat, and digestive processes. Known as the rest and digest system
, The Reticular Activating System - ANS>>A network of neurons in the brainstem that
plays a crucial role in regulating arousal, sleep-wake cycles, attention, and
consciousness. It acts as a filter for sensory information, determining what reaches the
conscious mind and what is ignored.
Limbic system - ANS>>A group of interconnected brain structures that play a crucial
role in regulating emotions, memory, and motivation. It is responsible for:
- Emotional processing
- Memory formation and retrieval
- Motivation and reward
- Hormonal regulation:
Somatic Nervous System - ANS>>Part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for
voluntary body movements and relaying sensory information from the body to the
central nervous system.
Top-Down processing - ANS>>The cognitive process where your brain uses existing
knowledge, expectations, and past experiences to interpret new sensory information,
essentially "filling in the blanks" to understand the world.
Affective - ANS>>____________ processes refer to emotions, feelings, and attitudes,
encompassing both their experience and the regulation of these experiences in daily life
physiological processes - ANS>>_______________. processes are the biological
mechanisms within the body, such as brain activity, hormone function, and nervous
system responses, that influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
cognitive processes - ANS>>_____________ processes refer to the mental operations
involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and retrieving information. They are essential
for everyday activities, such as understanding conversations, making decisions, and
adapting to new situations.
Correlation Study - ANS>>____________ studies research the statistical relationships
between variables by observing and measuring them without manipulation. They
identify patterns and associations, determining if variables increase or decrease
together, or if one increases as the other decreases
A case study - ANS>>_____________ study is a detailed, in-depth analysis of a specific
individual, group, event, or situation. It's a research approach used to understand a
complex issue or phenomenon within its real-life context.
Longitudinal Study - ANS>>___________________. study is an observational research
design where the same group of individuals (a cohort) is studied and data is collected
from them repeatedly over an extended period of time. This allows researchers to track
changes, developments, or patterns in their subjects over weeks, months, years, or
Bank with Answers.
The Primary Effect - ANS>>The psychological tendency to remember the first items in a
series or list better than items in the middle or at the end. This occurs because people
give more attention to, and spend more time processing, initial information, leading to a
stronger memory of those first items.
state dependency effect - ANS>>A memory phenomenon where recall is better when
the internal state during retrieval matches the internal state during the initial learning or
encoding of the information. This internal state can be a physiological one, such as the
effects of a drug or a physical feeling like being cold, or it can be a psychological state,
like a particular mood or level of stress. For instance, you might remember information
better if you learned it while intoxicated and are tested in the same intoxicated state.
Misinformation effect - ANS>>A psychological phenomenon where exposure to
inaccurate information after an event can distort one's memory of that event, leading to
the formation of false memories
Dual-Coding Effect (Dual Coding Theory) - ANS>>____________ suggests that our
brains process information more effectively when presented through both verbal and
visual channels
Spreading of Activation Theory - ANS>>A theory of memory that explains how
activating one concept in a semantic network causes related concepts to become more
active. The most likely memory error is a false memory or false recollection, where you
recall an object or event that wasn't presented but is from the same category or
associated with the presented concepts.
Categorical Bias - ANS>>The phenomenon where perception or memory for stimuli is
distorted by the categories they belong to, causing objects from the same category to
seem more similar and objects from different categories to seem more different than
they actually are
Spatial Memory - ANS>>The brain's ability to learn, store, and recall the location and
arrangement of objects, places, and directions, allowing for navigation and
understanding of one's environment
Piaget's theory of cognitive development - ANS>>What theory proposes that children
progress through four distinct stages of intellectual development: sensorimotor,
properational, concrete operational, and formal operational. These stages describe how
children's thinking becomes more complex and abstract as they mature
,Psychodynamic approach - ANS>>What approach views psychological disorders as
arising from internal, often unconscious, conflicts, unresolved childhood issues, and
past experiences that influence current behavior.
Behaviorists approach - ANS>>What approach views psychological disorders as
learned behaviors resulting from faulty conditioning and environmental influences,
rather than internal mental states
Trait theory - ANS>>A personality theory that focuses on identifying, describing, and
measuring individual differences in personality traits
humanistic Approach - ANS>>What approach views psychological disorders not as
illnesses to be cured but as a blockage of a person's innate potential for growth, self-
actualization, and inherent goodness.
Unconditioned - ANS>>An ________________ stimulus is something that naturally and
automatically triggers a reflexive response in an organism without any prior learning or
conditioning
Conditioned - ANS>>A _____________ stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that,
after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, becomes capable of eliciting a
conditioned response. In simpler terms, it's a stimulus that initially doesn't cause a
specific reaction, but through learning, it comes to trigger that reaction.
Discriminatory stimulus - ANS>>A signal or cue that precedes a behavior and indicates
that a particular response is likely to be reinforced
Signaling Stimulus - ANS>>A ____________ stimulus, also known as a discriminative
stimulus (SD), is a cue or event that signals to an individual that a specific behavior will
lead to a particular consequence, such as reinforcement
Interoceptive awareness - ANS>>The ability to perceive and interpret internal bodily
sensations, such as:
Hunger and thirst
Pain and discomfort
Heart rate and breathing
Muscle tension and fatigue
Emotional states (e.g., anxiety, calm)
It involves the integration of signals from various organs and systems in the body,
sending information to the brain where it is processed and interpreted.
Autonomic Nervous system - ANS>>The part of the nervous system responsible for
control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the
heartbeat, and digestive processes. Known as the rest and digest system
, The Reticular Activating System - ANS>>A network of neurons in the brainstem that
plays a crucial role in regulating arousal, sleep-wake cycles, attention, and
consciousness. It acts as a filter for sensory information, determining what reaches the
conscious mind and what is ignored.
Limbic system - ANS>>A group of interconnected brain structures that play a crucial
role in regulating emotions, memory, and motivation. It is responsible for:
- Emotional processing
- Memory formation and retrieval
- Motivation and reward
- Hormonal regulation:
Somatic Nervous System - ANS>>Part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for
voluntary body movements and relaying sensory information from the body to the
central nervous system.
Top-Down processing - ANS>>The cognitive process where your brain uses existing
knowledge, expectations, and past experiences to interpret new sensory information,
essentially "filling in the blanks" to understand the world.
Affective - ANS>>____________ processes refer to emotions, feelings, and attitudes,
encompassing both their experience and the regulation of these experiences in daily life
physiological processes - ANS>>_______________. processes are the biological
mechanisms within the body, such as brain activity, hormone function, and nervous
system responses, that influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
cognitive processes - ANS>>_____________ processes refer to the mental operations
involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and retrieving information. They are essential
for everyday activities, such as understanding conversations, making decisions, and
adapting to new situations.
Correlation Study - ANS>>____________ studies research the statistical relationships
between variables by observing and measuring them without manipulation. They
identify patterns and associations, determining if variables increase or decrease
together, or if one increases as the other decreases
A case study - ANS>>_____________ study is a detailed, in-depth analysis of a specific
individual, group, event, or situation. It's a research approach used to understand a
complex issue or phenomenon within its real-life context.
Longitudinal Study - ANS>>___________________. study is an observational research
design where the same group of individuals (a cohort) is studied and data is collected
from them repeatedly over an extended period of time. This allows researchers to track
changes, developments, or patterns in their subjects over weeks, months, years, or
