MCAT Psychology: Foundations of Biological Psychology

Franz Gall is known for his founding of phrenology, a pseudoscience that claimed to determine personality traits and mental abilities based on the shape and size of the skull. He also contributed to the research on brain function.

William James was a prominent American psychologist and philosopher who is best known for his theories on the functions of the mind and the development of functionalism in psychology.

John Dewey is credited with founding functionalism in psychology and emphasizing the importance of studying organisms holistically in their environment.

Paul Broca was a French physician and anatomist who is best known for his research on the localization of speech in the brain. He discovered that lesions in a specific part of the brain (now known as Broca's area) can cause a loss of function related to speech production.

Hermann von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to various fields including physiology, psychology, and optics. He was the first to measure the speed of nerve impulse, which helped in advancing the understanding of neuroscience. His work also played a crucial role in establishing psychology as a more scientific discipline.

Sir Charles Sherrington was a British neurophysiologist who was the first to discover synapses, which are the junctions between two nerve cells that allow them to communicate with each other. While Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo da Vinci were all notable figures in their respective fields, they were not credited with the discovery of synapses.

Interneurons are a type of neuron found in the brain and spinal cord that primarily function to relay signals between sensory neurons and motor neurons. They play a crucial role in reflexes, which are rapid, automatic responses to stimuli that help protect the body from harm.

CT stands for Computed Tomography, which utilizes X-rays taken at different angles to produce detailed cross-sectional slice images of the body. While Central Time is a time zone and Cerebral Thrombosis is a medical condition, they are not related to the abbreviation CT in the context of medical imaging.

A PET scan measures brain activity by recording the distribution of a radioactive sugar that is injected and absorbed by the brain tissue.

EEG stands for Electroencephalography, which involves placing electrodes on the scalp to measure the electrical activity of the brain.

rCBF stands for regional Cerebral Blood Flow, which is a measurement used in neuroimaging to detect brain activity based on blood flow to different regions of the brain.

An MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to map out hydrogen dense areas of the body, creating detailed images for medical diagnosis.

fMRI stands for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which is similar to a traditional MRI but also measures changes in blood flow in the brain, allowing researchers to study brain activity.

Most of the brain functions in a contralateral manner, meaning one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. For example, the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body.

The term 'ipsilaterally' specifically describes the phenomenon where one side of the brain controls the same side of the body, predominantly pertaining to functions such as hearing and sensory processing. For example, information from the left ear is transmitted to the left side of the brain for processing.

The nondominant hemisphere is usually the right side of the brain and is responsible for functions like intuition, music, spatial reasoning, mood recognition, and intonation of language. It is not associated with control of motor skills, language processing, logical reasoning, mathematical abilities, memory formation, or problem-solving skills.

Acetylcholine plays a crucial role in the central nervous system by regulating attention and arousal, and its loss is linked to Alzheimer's disease. In the peripheral nervous system, acetylcholine is responsible for transmitting nerve impulses to muscles, causing muscle contractions.

The correct answer explains the functions of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the sympathetic nervous system, emphasizing their role in the fight or flight response, alertness, wakefulness, and mood regulation.

Dopamine plays a key role in regulating smooth movement, postural stability, and motivation in the brain. It is not directly involved in managing sleep patterns, blood sugar levels, or heart rate.

The Dopamine Hypothesis of Schizophrenia suggests that delusions, hallucinations, and agitation in schizophrenia are associated with an imbalance of dopamine in the brain, either by having too much dopamine or increased sensitivity to it.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep, eating, and dreaming. An imbalance of serotonin levels can lead to various mental health conditions. Too little serotonin is associated with depression, while too much serotonin can lead to manic states.

GABA acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain by stabilizing neural activity and causing hyperpolarization of the post-synaptic membrane. This leads to a decrease in the firing of neurons, helping to regulate brain activity.

Glycine acts similarly to GABA in neurotransmission by hyperpolarizing the post-synaptic membrane through increasing chloride influx into neurons. This results in a more negative state for the neuron.

Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a key role in learning and memory processes.

Neuromodulators, such as neuropeptides, have slower onset of action compared to normal neurotransmitters and their effects last longer. Endorphins, which are neuropeptides, are an example of neuromodulators.

Endorphins and enkephalins are chemicals produced by the body that act as natural painkillers, helping to reduce pain and promote feelings of well-being.

The endocrine system is responsible for producing and releasing hormones that regulate various bodily functions and processes.