Module 1 Psych Soc Strategy - Biological Basis of Behavior

  • Getting started with psychology

    We're giving ourselves a little breathing room at the start, taking two modules for the biological basis of behavior, our first psychology topic. Later we’ll be working through a psychology topic each module, but for now, let's get our foothold in the science side of the course. We need to get acclimatized to MCAT review. Distribute completion of the nervous system assignments over the first two modules.

  • How deep do I dive?

    Much of this section is oriented towards anatomy and physiology. The new MCAT isn't so brutal about the hard science side of the nervous system. Focus on how the ideas fit within the framework of psychology.

  • Workflow

    In our experience, students benefit greatly from a basic, straightforward work-flow to follow as we move subject by subject through psychology. This basic approach works really well if you keep a regular discipline. The first step with each section is to get oriented with TBR or Kaplan. Read their materials and do some of their practice items. Save the even numbered practice items for a later cycle. Use the Integrated Course conceptual review to make yourself accountable and organize your knowledge base. Watch the Khan videos if you need to supplement. Each module the work builds towards completion of the course practice items. Make the Integrated Course set of 50 practice items the final stage in the workflow in each psychology section. The practice items are comprehensive and sophisticated. After completing the practice items, you graduate to the next section. We aim to complete all twelve sections before the exam with good lead time to devote to comprehensive review and full length practice.

Suggested Assignments

Study the conceptual treatment of The Biological Basis of Behavior in your MCAT book-set and complete the odd numbered problems.

Review the conceptual vocabulary for The Human Nervous System using the illustrated conceptual primer on this site.

Get oriented to the Essential Concepts ANKI Deck with the Human Nervous System cards. 

Integrated Course practice items: 

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