Psychology: Neuroscience & Sensation

Free MCAT study guide — Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

The Nervous System

Structure	Function
Frontal lobe	Executive function, motor cortex, Broca's (speech production)
Parietal lobe	Somatosensory cortex, spatial awareness
Temporal lobe	Auditory cortex, Wernicke's (comprehension), hippocampus
Occipital lobe	Visual processing (V1)
Cerebellum	Coordination, balance, motor learning
Hypothalamus	Homeostasis: hunger, thirst, temperature, circadian rhythm
Thalamus	Sensory relay station (everything except smell)
Amygdala	Fear, emotion processing
Hippocampus	Memory formation (short-term → long-term)

Neurotransmitters

NT	Function	Clinical Relevance
Dopamine	Reward, motivation, movement	↓ in Parkinson's, ↑ in schizophrenia
Serotonin (5-HT)	Mood, sleep, appetite	↓ in depression (SSRIs block reuptake)
GABA	Main inhibitory NT	Benzodiazepines enhance GABA
Glutamate	Main excitatory NT	Learning, memory; excess = excitotoxicity
Acetylcholine	Memory, muscle contraction	↓ in Alzheimer's, blocked by curare
Norepinephrine	Alertness, fight-or-flight	SNRIs for depression

Sensation & Perception

Key Point: Rods: dim light, peripheral vision, black/white. Cones: bright light, central (fovea), color (RGB).