PS200

Introduction to Cognitive

Psychology

Unit 1Nichola Cohen Ph.D.

Overview

Get to know each other

Class expectations and the syllabus

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Questions

Syllabus

Please read it!

Reading: Ebook – chapters can be found in Doc Sharing Each week 1 chapter of reading Additional resources in reading tab – check the

reading tab for each unit

Flex seminars

Choice of seminars Wednesday 8PM EST – Christina Migliara Thursday 12PM EST – Nichola Cohen Monday 9PM EST – Brian Kelley

You only need to attend 1 seminar!

Or, you can complete seminar option 2

Discussion board

Each unit has a discussion board

You should post 1 primary response and 2 peer responses to each thread Primary post = 150 words Peer responses = 50 words

Posts must be substantial

You must make reference to the reading 4 points for this!

Deadlines

All assignments and DB posts are due by 11.59 PM EST Tuesday I do accept late work BUT you will lose 1 letter grade per

week for late submission Extensions can be granted for extenuating circumstances

Email me and let me know before the deadline is missed

Projects: Unit 3 and 9 Start thinking about them early Read the rubric!

Exam: Unit 5 30 multiple choice questions 1 short answer question

Questions

Course questions section

Email me

Discussion board

Seminar

One final thing….

Be nice!

What is Cognitive Psychology?

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Developed in the 1960’s

It is the scientific study of mental processes

Utilizes an experimental approach to studying the mind

Investigates processes such as perception, memory, attention, problem solving, decision making

Investigates which parts of the brain contribute to these processes

Information processing models

Models that explain how stimuli are perceived processed, stored and recalled

Sensation and Perception

Sensory organs receive new information from the environment

Sensory store occurs when one or more sensory organ forms an impression

Information is sent to working memory for processing

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Sensation and perception

Sensory organs receive new information from the environment

Sensory store occurs when one or more sensory organ forms an impression

Information is sent to working memory for processing

What is the difference between sensation and perception? Sensation – assesses stimuli, but does not interpret

it Perception – interpretation of sensory information

Working memory

Working memory

Composed of short-term memory (content) and processing (attention, rehearsal etc)

Has limited capacity

Attention is key to working memory

Is the link between sensory information and long term memory

Information in working memory is rehearsed in a loop (rehearsal loop) Phonological loop (words) Visuo-spatial sketchpad (images)

Long-term memory

Long-term memory

Information stored long term

Created as a function of working memory and the rehearsal loop

Most memories stored in the temporal lobes

Memories can be implicit and explicit Explicit: Also known as declarative, are memories

that we are conscious of Semantic – Memories of facts Episodic – Memories of personal experience

Implicit: Also known as procedural, are memories without awareness

Cerebral Cortex

The total surface area of the cerebral cortex is approximately 2,200 to 2,400 cm2

2/3 of this folding is confined within the depths of the sulci

Anatomical LocalizationSulci and Gyri

SU

LC

US

GY

RU

SS

ULC

US

FISSURE

Source: Ludwig & Klingler, 1956, in Tamraz & Comair, 2000

Why is the cortex folded?

Why is the cortex folded?

Can squeeze more area into a smaller space

Neurons are brought closer together to each other

The lobes

Sylvian Fissure

c. 2008 Pearson Allyn & Bacon

Beneath the cortex

Limbic System Diencephalon

How might we determine where in the brain processes

are localized?

How might we determine where in the brain processes

are localized? Study of patients with brain damage

Neuroimaging techniques

Transient lesion techniques

Localization of function

Phineas Gage Explosion forced a

steel rod through his skull

Damaged his frontal lobes

Suffered from major personality changes

Retained speech and many other cognitive functions

Measures Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) response Indirect measure of neural activity

Used to map function of brain

Correlative links between brain and behavior

Electroencephalography (EEG)

How does it work? Electromagnetic Induction

Advantages? Creates ‘virtual lesions’ Safe and reversible Good temporal and spatial resolution Causative links between brain and behavior

Uses? Map functions of cortex Clinical applications