MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 7a Brain Neurotransmitters Behavior

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 7a Brain Neurotransmitters Behavior, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

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Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system?

Answer: Glutamate. Opens cation channels to depolarize postsynaptic neurons.

Flashcard 2: What is the primary function of the parietal lobe in perception and action?

Answer: Somatosensory processing and spatial attention; integrates sensory input. The parietal lobe handles tactile sensations and orients attention in space by merging multisensory data.

Flashcard 3: What is the primary function of the medulla oblongata in the brainstem?

Answer: Autonomic vital functions (breathing, heart rate). Located in the lower brainstem, it controls essential life-sustaining reflexes.

Flashcard 4: What is the primary function of the prefrontal cortex in human behavior?

Answer: Executive control: planning, inhibition, working memory, decision-making. Located in frontal lobe, controls higher-order cognitive functions.

Flashcard 5: What is Wernicke area responsible for in language function?

Answer: Language comprehension (receptive language). Located in left temporal lobe; damage causes receptive aphasia.

Flashcard 6: Which neurotransmitter is most associated with alertness and sympathetic arousal?

Answer: Norepinephrine. Released during stress and fight-or-flight responses.

Flashcard 7: Which forebrain structure relays most sensory information to the cortex (except smell)?

Answer: Thalamus. Acts as the brain's sensory switchboard, routing signals to appropriate cortical areas.

Flashcard 8: Which brain region is most associated with homeostasis and endocrine control via the pituitary?

Answer: Hypothalamus. Links nervous and endocrine systems, maintaining body's internal balance.

Flashcard 9: Which cortical area is responsible for speech production and is typically in the left frontal lobe?

Answer: Broca area. Damage causes expressive aphasia with impaired speech fluency.

Flashcard 10: Which brain structure is most directly responsible for forming new declarative memories?

Answer: Hippocampus. Part of temporal lobe; converts short-term to long-term memories.

Flashcard 11: What is the primary role of Wernicke area in language?

Answer: Language comprehension (receptive language). Located in left temporal lobe; damage causes receptive aphasia.

Flashcard 12: What is Broca area responsible for?

Answer: Speech production (expressive language). Broca's area in the frontal lobe coordinates the articulatory muscles necessary for verbal expression.

Flashcard 13: What is the thalamus, and what is its major function in neural signaling?

Answer: Sensory relay to cortex (except olfaction); also arousal/attention. The thalamus gates sensory information to the cortex while regulating levels of consciousness.

Flashcard 14: What is Wernicke area responsible for?

Answer: Language comprehension (receptive language). Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe decodes auditory input to facilitate understanding of spoken language.

Flashcard 15: Which brain structure primarily controls breathing and heart rate as vital autonomic functions?

Answer: Medulla oblongata. Brainstem region containing vital centers for survival functions.

Flashcard 16: Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Answer: Glutamate. Opens ion channels causing depolarization and neuronal firing.

Flashcard 17: What midbrain structure is classically associated with arousal, sleep-wake regulation, and dopamine nuclei?

Answer: Midbrain. Contains substantia nigra and regulates consciousness levels.

Flashcard 18: What is the primary function of the basal ganglia in behavior?

Answer: Initiation/modulation of movement and habit (procedural) learning. Subcortical nuclei that select and inhibit motor programs.

Flashcard 19: What neurotransmitter is most associated with reward, motivation, and Parkinson disease?

Answer: Dopamine. Depletion in substantia nigra causes motor symptoms of Parkinson's.

Flashcard 20: What is the function of the corpus callosum in brain organization?

Answer: Connects cerebral hemispheres for interhemispheric communication. Largest white matter tract enabling hemispheric coordination.

Flashcard 21: Which cerebral lobe contains the primary visual cortex?

Answer: Occipital lobe. Processes visual information from the eyes at the back of the brain.

Flashcard 22: What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?

Answer: Homeostasis; autonomic control; drives; pituitary regulation. Links nervous and endocrine systems; maintains body balance.

Flashcard 23: What is the primary function of the medulla oblongata?

Answer: Autonomic control of breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Part of brainstem, controls vital life functions.

Flashcard 24: What is the primary function of the cerebellum relevant to behavior?

Answer: Motor coordination and procedural learning. Fine-tunes movements and stores implicit motor memories.

Flashcard 25: What is the primary function of the hypothalamus in behavior and physiology?

Answer: Homeostasis; drives; controls pituitary/endocrine output. Links nervous and endocrine systems via pituitary control.

Flashcard 26: What is the primary function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Answer: Processes touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception. Located in postcentral gyrus; receives sensory input.

Flashcard 27: What is the main function of the hypothalamus in behavior and physiology?

Answer: Homeostasis and endocrine control via the pituitary (drives, ANS). Links nervous and endocrine systems to maintain body equilibrium.

Flashcard 28: Identify the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Answer: Glutamate. Activates AMPA and NMDA receptors to depolarize postsynaptic neurons.

Flashcard 29: What is the primary role of the amygdala in emotion and behavior?

Answer: Threat detection and fear/aggression-related emotional learning. Part of limbic system that processes emotional significance of stimuli.

Flashcard 30: What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

Answer: Coordination of movement and motor learning. Fine-tunes motor commands for smooth, precise movements.

Flashcard 31: Which neurotransmitter is most associated with mood regulation and is a common target of SSRIs?

Answer: Serotonin (5-HT). SSRIs block reuptake to increase synaptic serotonin levels.

Flashcard 32: What is the primary function of the amygdala in emotion and behavior?

Answer: Fear/threat processing and emotional learning. Rapidly detects threats and triggers emotional responses.

Flashcard 33: Which neurotransmitter is the main excitatory signal in the central nervous system?

Answer: Glutamate. Depolarizes neurons, increasing action potential likelihood.

Flashcard 34: What is the function of the reticular formation in arousal and attention?

Answer: Regulates arousal/alertness and sleep-wake transitions. Brainstem network that maintains consciousness and attention.

Flashcard 35: Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory transmitter in the adult central nervous system?

Answer: GABA. Hyperpolarizes neurons; enhanced by benzodiazepines and alcohol.

Flashcard 36: What is the main role of the primary motor cortex?

Answer: Initiates voluntary skeletal muscle movement. Located in precentral gyrus, sends signals to spinal motor neurons.

Flashcard 37: What is the primary function of the cerebellum?

Answer: Coordination, balance, motor learning, movement timing. Fine-tunes motor commands for smooth, precise movements.

Flashcard 38: Identify the lesion location most associated with anterograde amnesia.

Answer: Hippocampus (medial temporal lobe). Damage prevents formation of new declarative memories (H.M. case).

Flashcard 39: What is the primary effect of glutamate as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

Answer: Major excitatory neurotransmitter; increases neuronal firing. Opens sodium channels, depolarizing neurons to trigger action potentials.

Flashcard 40: What is the primary function of Wernicke area in language?

Answer: Language comprehension (receptive language). Left temporal lobe area; damage causes receptive aphasia.

Flashcard 41: What is the primary behavioral role of the amygdala?

Answer: Emotion processing, especially fear and threat detection. Part of limbic system that rapidly evaluates stimuli for danger.

Flashcard 42: Which limbic structure is most associated with fear processing and threat detection?

Answer: Amygdala. Part of limbic system; triggers fight-or-flight responses.

Flashcard 43: What is serotonin most strongly associated with in behavior and mood regulation?

Answer: Mood, sleep, and appetite regulation; implicated in depression/anxiety. Synthesized from tryptophan; low levels linked to mood disorders.

Flashcard 44: Identify the neurotransmitter most directly associated with Parkinson disease symptoms.

Answer: Dopamine deficiency (nigrostriatal pathway). Loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra causes motor symptoms.

Flashcard 45: What is the key behavioral role of norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter?

Answer: Arousal, vigilance, attention; sympathetic stress response. Fight-or-flight neurotransmitter; enhances focus under stress.

Flashcard 46: Which brain structure is most directly responsible for forming new explicit memories?

Answer: Hippocampus. Part of limbic system, converts short-term to long-term memories.

Flashcard 47: Which limbic structure is most critical for forming new explicit (declarative) memories?

Answer: Hippocampus. Converts short-term memories to long-term storage, especially facts and events.

Flashcard 48: Which neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system?

Answer: Glutamate. Opens $Na^+$ channels, depolarizing neurons.

Flashcard 49: What is the main function of the reticular formation in behavior?

Answer: Arousal, alertness, and sleep-wake regulation. Network of neurons maintaining consciousness and sleep cycles.

Flashcard 50: What is the key role of the corpus callosum?

Answer: Connects left and right cerebral hemispheres. Largest white matter tract enabling interhemispheric communication.

Flashcard 51: What is the primary function of the prefrontal cortex in human behavior?

Answer: Executive functions: planning, inhibition, working memory, decision-making. Located in frontal lobe, controls higher-order cognitive processes.

Flashcard 52: What is the primary function of the primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)?

Answer: Processes touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception. Located in parietal lobe along postcentral gyrus.

Flashcard 53: What is the primary function of the brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla)?

Answer: Vital functions: breathing, heart rate, arousal, reflexes. Controls autonomic functions essential for survival.

Flashcard 54: What is the primary function of the amygdala in emotion and behavior?

Answer: Fear processing and emotional salience. Detects threats and assigns emotional significance to stimuli.

Flashcard 55: What is the primary function of the corpus callosum?

Answer: Connects left and right cerebral hemispheres. Largest white matter tract enabling interhemispheric communication.

Flashcard 56: Which endocrine pathway is activated by stress to produce cortisol: HPA or HPG axis?

Answer: HPA axis. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis releases cortisol under stress.

Flashcard 57: Which cerebral lobe is most associated with primary motor cortex and voluntary movement execution?

Answer: Frontal lobe. Contains motor strip (precentral gyrus) that initiates voluntary movements.

Flashcard 58: What neurotransmitter is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

Answer: Glutamate. Opens ion channels causing depolarization and neural firing.

Flashcard 59: What cerebral lobe is most associated with executive function and personality regulation?

Answer: Frontal lobe (prefrontal cortex). Controls planning, decision-making, and behavioral inhibition.

Flashcard 60: Which endocrine gland releases cortisol as a key stress hormone?

Answer: Adrenal cortex. HPA axis activation triggers cortisol release during stress response.

Flashcard 61: What is the primary function of the frontal lobe in human behavior?

Answer: Executive functions: planning, inhibition, decision-making. Located in prefrontal cortex, controls higher-order cognitive processes.

Flashcard 62: What is the primary difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

Answer: Sympathetic: fight-or-flight; parasympathetic: rest-and-digest. These autonomic divisions opposingly regulate physiological responses to stress and recovery.

Flashcard 63: Which neurotransmitter is most associated with skeletal muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction?

Answer: Acetylcholine. Binds nicotinic receptors to trigger muscle fiber depolarization.

Flashcard 64: Identify the neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction to trigger contraction.

Answer: Acetylcholine. Also important in memory and attention; decreased in Alzheimer's.

Flashcard 65: What structure relays most sensory information to the cortex (excluding olfaction)?

Answer: Thalamus. Acts as sensory gateway; olfaction bypasses it directly to cortex.

Flashcard 66: Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Answer: GABA. Opens chloride channels causing hyperpolarization and reduced firing.

Flashcard 67: Which brainstem structure primarily regulates breathing and heart rate?

Answer: Medulla oblongata. Contains vital centers for autonomic functions.

Flashcard 68: Identify the neurotransmitter class for endorphins and their primary behavioral effect.

Answer: Opioid peptides; analgesia and euphoria. Body's natural painkillers that bind opioid receptors.

Flashcard 69: Which neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction directly triggers skeletal muscle contraction?

Answer: Acetylcholine. Binds nicotinic receptors to depolarize muscle fibers.

Flashcard 70: What is the reticular formation (reticular activating system) responsible for?

Answer: Arousal, wakefulness, and sleep-wake transitions. The reticular formation modulates brainstem activity to control consciousness and alertness.

Flashcard 71: Which brain region is most directly damaged in classic anterograde amnesia cases?

Answer: Hippocampus (medial temporal lobe). Bilateral damage prevents formation of new declarative memories.

Flashcard 72: Identify the lesion site most consistent with: fluent speech with poor comprehension.

Answer: Wernicke area lesion. Produces fluent but meaningless speech (receptive aphasia).

Flashcard 73: Which basal ganglia structure is classically involved in initiating movement and is affected in Parkinson disease?

Answer: Substantia nigra. Produces dopamine; degeneration causes tremor and movement difficulties.

Flashcard 74: Which brain structure is most associated with arousal and sleep–wake regulation?

Answer: Reticular activating system (brainstem reticular formation). Network of neurons that maintains consciousness and alertness.

Flashcard 75: What is the primary function of the primary motor cortex?

Answer: Initiates voluntary skeletal muscle movement. Located in precentral gyrus; controls contralateral movement.

Flashcard 76: Identify the neurotransmitter most associated with reward, motivation, and addiction.

Answer: Dopamine. Released in reward pathways; dysfunction linked to Parkinson's and schizophrenia.

Flashcard 77: Which neurotransmitter is most associated with sympathetic arousal and the fight-or-flight response?

Answer: Norepinephrine. Released by adrenal medulla and locus coeruleus.

Flashcard 78: What is the key behavioral role of GABA as a neurotransmitter?

Answer: Major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. Reduces neural excitability; dysfunction causes seizures/anxiety.

Flashcard 79: What is the primary role of the primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)?

Answer: Processes touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception. Located in parietal lobe, receives sensory input from body.

Flashcard 80: What is the primary role of the thalamus in the nervous system?

Answer: Sensory relay to cortex (except olfaction). Acts as a gateway filtering sensory information before reaching cortex.

Flashcard 81: Which cerebral lobe contains primary visual cortex?

Answer: Occipital lobe. Processes visual information at the back of the brain.

Flashcard 82: Which brain structure primarily coordinates balance, posture, and fine motor control?

Answer: Cerebellum. Located at the back of the brain, it smooths and coordinates movements.

Flashcard 83: What is the primary function of the basal ganglia?

Answer: Movement initiation and habit/procedural learning. Includes caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus for motor control.

Flashcard 84: What brain structure is most directly responsible for forming new declarative memories?

Answer: Hippocampus. Part of the temporal lobe critical for converting short-term to long-term memory.

Flashcard 85: What is the main function of Wernicke area?

Answer: Language comprehension (receptive language). Located in temporal lobe, damage causes receptive aphasia.

Flashcard 86: What is dopamine most strongly associated with in behavior on the MCAT?

Answer: Reward/motivation and motor control; implicated in addiction and Parkinson disease. Key neurotransmitter in reward pathways and voluntary movement.

Flashcard 87: What is the primary function of the pons in the brainstem?

Answer: Sleep/arousal and relay to cerebellum. Contains nuclei for REM sleep and connects to cerebellum.

Flashcard 88: Which neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction to trigger skeletal muscle contraction?

Answer: Acetylcholine. Binds nicotinic receptors on muscle fibers to initiate contraction.

Flashcard 89: What is the primary function of the corpus callosum?

Answer: Connects the left and right hemispheres. Largest white matter tract enabling interhemispheric communication.

Flashcard 90: What is the function of the corpus callosum in brain organization?

Answer: Connects left and right cerebral hemispheres for interhemispheric transfer. Largest white matter tract enabling hemispheric communication.

Flashcard 91: Identify the neurotransmitter most associated with mood regulation and depression.

Answer: Serotonin. Low levels associated with major depressive disorder; SSRIs increase its availability.

Flashcard 92: What is the primary function of the hippocampus in memory?

Answer: Consolidation of declarative memories; spatial navigation. Forms new explicit memories and cognitive maps of environment.

Flashcard 93: What cerebral lobe contains the primary auditory cortex and is key for language comprehension?

Answer: Temporal lobe. Houses Wernicke's area for understanding spoken language.

Flashcard 94: What is GABA, and what is its primary effect on postsynaptic neurons?

Answer: Major inhibitory neurotransmitter; increases inhibition (hyperpolarizes). GABA binds to receptors that promote chloride influx, reducing neuronal firing rates.

Flashcard 95: What is the primary function of the basal ganglia?

Answer: Initiation and modulation of movement; habit learning and reward. The basal ganglia modulate motor patterns and reinforce behaviors through reward-based learning.

Flashcard 96: What cerebral lobe contains the primary visual cortex?

Answer: Occipital lobe. Processes all visual information from the eyes.

Flashcard 97: What is the key behavioral association of GABA?

Answer: Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. Reduces neural activity; benzodiazepines enhance its effect.

Flashcard 98: What neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory transmitter in the central nervous system?

Answer: GABA. Hyperpolarizes neurons to reduce neural excitability.

Flashcard 99: What is the main function of the thalamus in sensory processing?

Answer: Relay station for sensory signals to cortex (except olfaction). All sensory pathways synapse here before reaching cortex.

Flashcard 100: What is the primary effect of GABA as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system?

Answer: Major inhibitory neurotransmitter; decreases neuronal firing. Opens chloride channels, hyperpolarizing neurons to prevent firing.