1. Cognitive Psychology

2. Neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the human nervous system & in particular, its connections w/ the human brain Freud & others began studying the mind (conscious & unconscious) 100+ years ago Interest specifically in the brain is more recent (1970s) Why? Computer technology (electroencephalograms or EEG) emerged Allowed psychologists & neuroscientists to study the living brain Measures electrical activity in the brain 1990 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tech developed & allows researches to see blood flow activity in real-time

3. How the Brain Works Did You Know? Human brain accounts for 2% of body weight but 20% of energy used Brain is made of millions of neurons Neurons store information & communicate using electrical pulses Cerebrum is the largest/most developed portion of the brain – controls memory, understanding, & logic Split in two hemispheres Hippocampus stores short & long term memory & is connected to the emotional system

5. Major Research Findings on the Brain Left Brain Characteristics Is verbal Able to sequence Sees the trees Is structured Traditionally emphasised in school Right Brain Characteristics Does spatial-visual things Likes random patterns Sees the forest Is fluid and spontaneous Traditionally only accessed in elementary school Brain is divided in two halves called hemispheres Each hemisphere processes information differently Are equally important in terms of the minds function

6. Major Research Findings on the Brain Left Brained People Are systematic Solve problems by examining the pieces Are sequential/excellent planners Are analytical and logical Good at remembering names Able to control feelings Right Brained People See patterns Solve problems by looking at the whole thing Are random Are intuitive Good at interpreting body language Recall faces Are open about feelings Let’s look at which hemisphere dominates our thoughts

7. Cognitive Process: How We Think Encounter a Problem Encode or Store Information Infer possible relationships Map Information Apply Possible Responses Does the Answer Work? Yes = go on No = go back Respond

8. Thinking & Reasoning Cerebral cortex is where thinking occurs Humans ability to think/reason makes our species unique We go through the cognitive process to solve problems (even answering a yes or no question) Thinking occurs through either deductive or inductive reasoning Deductive Reasoning: applies general assumptions to specific cases Inductive Reasoning: collects specific information to form a general assumption

9. Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning Look at the following examples of reasoning. Which type does each represent? I enjoy sports  I am a man  All men enjoy sports All humans have brains  Sonia is a human  Sonia has a brain Men & sports is inductive while Sonia’s brain is deductive Deductive reasoning is usually more accurate b/c inductive reasoning can start with false assumptions You will do an exercise at the end of class on this The NINE DOT problem (blackboard)

10. Perception Our brain registers everything our eyes see & interprets it in order for us to understand (while awake) This process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting our sensations is called perception Brain naturally groups similar items together This organizes info & avoids repetition Brain works on a set of assumptions & fills in gaps by guessing – i.e. closure occurs when information given is incomplete (brain fills missing information)

11. What shape do you see?

12. Perception Brain works on a set of assumptions & fills in gaps by guessing – i.e. closure occurs when information given is incomplete (brain fills missing information) Our Brain sees the pure WHITE triangle

13. What shape do you see?

14. Perceptual Constancy With the circles removed people will see one of two things. 1. Three separate triangles (maybe incomplete) 2. A disconnected large triangle Brain also works to maintain perceptual constancy As we move towards something, it appears to become bigger Our brain tells us it is the same size as before, we are just closer W/out this we would be re-evaluating the world with every step we took (talk about stressful) Applies to size, shape or colour

15. Perceptual Sets Refers to our brains tendency to perceive one thing and not another Sets are influenced by our Experiences & Expectations These shape how we view the world Perceptions are a mix of what our sense take in & what our experiences suggest Lets examine some perceptual sets

21. Controlling the Brain A goal of psychology is to learn how to improve human lives – learning to control the brain may help do that Research suggests that everything we do changes our brains How could we control our brain? Ideas? Meditation – gamma waves show that Buddist monks are able to find happiness unlike any other method Yoga – research has proven it reduces anxiety/depression

22. Our Brain & Language Language development moves from simple to complex Skinner argued that language occurs through associating words w/ things, by imitating sounds modeled by others & positive reinforcement (operant/observational learning) Chomsky (NOAM!) says the rate at which children learn language is too great to be explained by observation – must be biologically imbedded (LAD & UG)

23. The “Teenage Brain” Teens & adults use their brains differently Even for similar things (i.e. interpreting emotions) Is it Biology? Crucial brain development occurs b/w 10 & 25 Last part to form is frontal/temporal lobes These parts are responsible for judgment, reasoning, planning, organization & impulse control Explains why teenage behaviour can be erratic Is it Socialization? Adolescence is not considered a troubling time period (except in Western culture) Why? Teens in western culture spend too much time with each other & not interacting with adults in a positive manner

24. Internet & Our Brains Read the handout Which opinion do you believe to be true? Why?