In this episode, we cover motivation and emotion–key concepts that will show up in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT.

We start with the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. We then go into various theories including evolutionary, arousal, drive-reduction, incentive, three needs theory, Maslow’s hierarchy, and the correlation between harmful behaviors like addiction and motivation. 

Lastly we get into emotion, covering its three components, the relationship between emotion and the brain, and an array of theories including evolutionary, James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer, Lazarus, and facial feedback theories. Additionally, we discuss the influence of culture on emotion and delves into emotional disorders.

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Jump Into the Conversation:

[00:00] Introducing MCAT Basics

[02:09] Defining Motivation

[03:00] The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

[04:30] Theories of Motivation - Evolutionary, Arousal, Drive-reduction, Incentive, Three Needs and Maslow’s Hierarchy, 

[19:30] The correlation between harmful behaviors like addiction and motivation. 

[26:07] Defining emotion

[27:50] The psychological, cognitive, and behavioral components of emotion

[31:11] The theories of emotion -  evolutionary perspective of emotion,  James Lang theory, the Cannon Barr theory, and the Schachter Singer theory.

[41:09] The facial feedback theory

[46:28] Emotional disorders that you're most likely to see on the MCAT- depressive disorders anxiety based disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorders.

In this episode, we focus on the cardiovascular system and its connection to fluid mechanics. Beginning with an exploration of cardiovascular anatomy, the discussion covers various aspects of the heart: its function, contraction mechanism, the diverse cell types found within it, and its essential role in regulating blood pressure. 

Finally, in the latter part of the episode, several fluid mechanics topics pertinent to the MCAT and their application to the cardiovascular system are addressed. These include total peripheral resistance, viscosity, the continuity equation, and the Bernoulli equation, offering insights into their relevance in understanding cardiovascular dynamics.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

[00:00] Intro

[02:32] Circulatory system overview

[08:48] Blood's journey from the heart through systematic circulation

[11:49] The reason the heart needs one-way valves

[15:14] The path of blood flow through the body

[16:52] Function of the heart

[22:21] QRS complex

[24:24] Cells that make up the heart

[28:33] Hormonal control of blood pressure and its relationship to the heart

[40:39] Application of physics fluids to cardiovascular system

[43:31] Peripheral resistance

[48:38] Viscosity 

[51:54] Continuity equation

[55:02] Bernoulli equation

This podcast addresses translational motion. First, vectors are covered. Then, the variables of acceleration, velocity, and position are discussed. Next, the host discusses the relationship between those three variables. Finally, it covers free fall, projectile motion, air resistance, and friction.

The example link for this segment is provided here:  Geogebra Example

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Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[01:57] What is translational motion

[04:08] Vectors

[14:21] Velocity, acceleration, and position/displacement

[20:08] The relationship between acceleration, velocity, and position 

[34:53] Free fall and projectile motion

[44:40] The four equations to know for projectile motion

[47:20] Air resistance and friction

This podcast explores cell organelles, organized into five categories: organelles found in all cells, eukaryotic cells, plant and bacterial cells, human and bacterial cells, human cells only, and plant cells only. The organelles discussed include ribosomes, vacuoles, cytoskeleton, plasma membrane, peroxisome, proteasome, nucleus, nucleolus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, cell wall, flagella, mitochondria, melanosome, and chloroplasts.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[01:59] Definition of “Cell Organelles”

[03:59] Organelles found in all cells - ribosomes, vacuoles, cytoskeleton, plasma membrane, peroxisome, proteasome

[22:42] Organelles that show up in eukaryotes only - nucleus,  nucleolus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome

[40:03] Orgnalles shared by plants and bacteria - cell wall and flagella

[46:40] Organelles found in human cells only -  mitochondria, melanosome, and chloroplasts

This podcast discusses chemical kinetics and solubility. It begins with an exploration of kinetics, including the general concept, collision theory, rate laws, and the Arrhenius equation. Next, it delves into solubility, covering the general concept, solubility product (Ksp), the common ion effect, selective precipitation, and Henry’s law.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[02:37] What is general kinetics

[08:53] Collision Theory

[11:08] Rate Laws

[21:15] Arrhenius Equation

[28:00] What is Solubility

[32:08] Solubility Product (Ksp)

[43:49] The Common Ion Effect

[45:22] Selective precipitation

[48:35] Henry’s Law

This podcast focuses on the eye. It begins with a brief overview of the eye's anatomy and physiology. The discussion then shifts to rods, cones, and the phototransduction pathway. The final section addresses perception.

Key topics include visual field processing, differences between binocular and monocular cues, and feature detection (covering both Magno and Parvo pathways). 

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[02:10] Anatomy & physiology of the eye

[16:02] Phototransduction pathway

[26:59] Perception 

[28:13] Visual field processing

[31:34] Binocular versus monocular queues

[35:02] Visual feature detection - Gestalt principles

[38:18] Parallel Processing

[39:12] Parvo versus Magno pathways

To continue our discussion on the immune system, in this episode, we will cover the second type of immune system – the adaptive immune system. 

We start with covering some vocabulary that you’ll need to know to understand the immune system, then we move into the cells that make up the adaptive immune system. Then we break down the two branches of the adaptive immune system -  humoral immunity including the discussion of B cells and cell-mediated immunity highlighting T cells.  

Don’t miss our previous episode on the other type of immune system, the innate immune system. 

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[02:01] Review on the difference between innate vs. adaptive immue system

[02:32] General Vocabulary terms for the adaptive immune system

[07:05] The cells that make up the adaptive immune system

[13:09] The humoral immune system and B cells

[26:07] Cell mediated immunity and T Cells

[34:38] Antigen activation

The immune system is split up into two main categories - the adaptive immune system and the innate immune system. 

This episode will cover the intricacies of the innate immune system beginning with an overview of its constituent cells. We will then explore three pivotal elements of the system: anatomical barriers, the general inflammatory response, and the complement system. This will show up in the bio/biochem section of the MCAT.

For additional reading on this topic, you can refer to the NIH’s Innate Immune System paper.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutoring from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:06] Topics covered in this episode

[02:09] The goal of the innate immune system

[04:57] The cells that make up the innate immune system

[11:47] Anatomical barriers to the innate immune system

[19:53] General inflammatory response of the innate immune system

[42:49] Complement system

[45:33] MCAT Advice of the day - take as much time as you need to study for the MCAT

This episode of MCAT Basics covers several separation and purification techniques you may see on the MCAT. We’ll cover these techniques in three distinct categories: small molecules, proteins, and cells. 

Within the small molecule category, we’ll discuss extraction, crystallization and recrystallization, and chromatography (TLC and HPLC).

For proteins, we cover SDS-page, precipitation, soelectric focusing, and chromatography variations. Lastly, we’ll explain, within the world of cells, centrifugation, flow cytometry, and microfluidics. 

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT. 

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutorig from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:07] Topics covered in this episode

[02:24] Techniques for small molecules - extraction, crystallization and recrystallization, and chromatography (TLC and HPLC)

[28:24] Techniques for proteins - SDS-page, precipitation, isoelectric focusing, and chromatography variations

[54:47] Techniques for cells - centrifugation, flow cytometry, and microfluidics. 

This episode of MCAT Basics covers the world of circuits. We will explore electrical circuits and their fundamental principles.

We’ll start with dissecting the essential parameters that form the backbone of circuits: voltage, current, resistance, and power. These are the building blocks upon which all circuit dynamics are based.

Next, we'll explore a variety of circuit elements, from resistors to batteries, capacitors, and switches. Each of these components plays a vital role in shaping the behavior of circuits and understanding their functionality.

Finally, we'll delve into Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Law, two fundamental principles that govern circuit behavior. By grasping these laws, you'll gain essential insights into how circuits operate and how to analyze their dynamics effectively.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT and use promo code PODCAST to receive a five percent discount on your first session.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] MCAT Tutorig from MedSchoolCoach

[00:34] Welcome to MCAT Basics

[01:07] Topics covered in this episode

[02:14] Circuit Variables - voltage, current resistance, power

[22:59] Circuit Elements - resistors, sources of voltage, capacitors, and switches

[44:28] Ohm's Law

[45:24] Kirchhoff's Law