Study guides › P/S › Psychology
Biological Bases of Behavior
This chapter links behavior to biology: neurons and glia, neurotransmitters, brain regions, hemispheric specialization, plasticity, hormones, genes, and the imaging tools used to study them. You will match structures and chemicals to symptoms and read research scenarios.
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What this chapter covers
- Neurons, Glia & Neural Communication. The MCAT expects you to name neuron parts, glial roles, and the divisions of the nervous system from short scenarios.
- Neurotransmitters & Drugs. Expect questions that pair a neurotransmitter with a disorder or a drug effect, so build the pairs and the logic behind them.
- Brain Structures & the Lobes. Every structure has a signature deficit; questions describe the deficit and ask for the region.
- Lateralization, Plasticity & Hormones. Split-brain results, critical periods, and hormone-behavior pairs all appear as short experiments or scenarios.
- Genes, Heritability & Imaging. Twin-study logic, the meaning of heritability, and matching an imaging tool to a research question are frequent passage themes.
Key points to know
- Signal flow: dendrite, soma, axon hillock, axon, terminal
- Oligodendrocytes myelinate CNS; Schwann cells myelinate PNS
- Agonist enhances or mimics; antagonist blocks
- Dopamine: Parkinson's (low), schizophrenia (excess)
- Hippocampus = new explicit memories; amygdala = fear and emotional memory
- Broca = production; Wernicke = comprehension
- Contralateral control: right hemisphere runs the left body
- Sperry and Gazzaniga: split-brain patients, cut corpus callosum
Try a practice question
Which cell type forms myelin around axons in the brain?
- Schwann cell
- Oligodendrocyte
- Astrocyte
- Microglia
Show the answer
B. Oligodendrocytes myelinate CNS axons. Schwann cells do the same job in the PNS, astrocytes support the blood-brain barrier, and microglia are immune cells.
Common questions
What does this chapter cover?
Biological Bases of Behavior covers Neurons, Glia & Neural Communication, Neurotransmitters & Drugs, Brain Structures & the Lobes, Lateralization, Plasticity & Hormones, Genes, Heritability & Imaging.
What should I know first?
Signal flow: dendrite, soma, axon hillock, axon, terminal Oligodendrocytes myelinate CNS; Schwann cells myelinate PNS Agonist enhances or mimics; antagonist blocks
24 original practice questions accompany this chapter in the app. Spaced review brings missed ideas back at the right time; it helps memory but cannot promise you will not miss an idea again.