MCAT (Psychological, Social, and Biological) 2

Question 1

A researcher studies how repeated exposure to a neutral stimulus paired with a fear-inducing stimulus eventually causes the neutral stimulus alone to elicit fear. Which learning paradigm best describes this?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning

Answer

Classical conditioning pairs a neutral conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus alone elicits a conditioned response.

Question 2

Which brain structure is most critically involved in the formation of new declarative memories?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Answer

The hippocampus is essential for consolidating new declarative (explicit) memories, including episodic and semantic information.

Question 3

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which level must generally be satisfied before an individual can focus on esteem needs?

Accepted Answer

Belongingness and love needs

Answer

In Maslow's hierarchy, belongingness and love needs (social needs) fall below esteem needs and must be reasonably met first.

Question 4

A patient cannot recognize faces even though visual acuity is intact. This condition is called:

Accepted Answer

Prosopagnosia

Answer

Prosopagnosia is the selective inability to recognize familiar faces, typically associated with damage to the fusiform face area.

Question 5

Which neurotransmitter is primarily depleted in Parkinson's disease, leading to motor deficits?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Parkinson's disease results from loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, disrupting the motor control circuit.

MCAT - Medical College Admission Test Practice Test

MCAT - Medical College Admission Test Practice Test

MCAT (Psychological, Social, and Biological) 2