PS200 UNIT 1 SEMINAR OPTION 2

PS200

The topics discussed in the Unit 1 Seminar were the different kind of assignments we will have, for example: discussion boards, quizzes, seminar options, and reading. Discussion boards are important because it is the way we, as a class, can convene and bounce thoughts off each other.

The important quizzes that are planned are for units 1,2,4,5,7, and 8. Learning activities should be completed before attempting any quiz. Our final exam happens in unit 9. The final will be worth 100 points and will be 50 multiple choice questions. The seminar also discussed rubrics, deadlines, and our digital books.

Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mental processes. Cognitive psychology has the ability to examine he we acquire, store, transform, and use knowledge. Cognitive psychology takes more of an experimental approach to the study of the mind. It is how processes such as perception, memory, attention, problem solving, language, and decision making.

Cognitive neuroscience is the investigation of which parts of the brain actually contribute to cognitive processes. How we determine where in the brain the process is localized. There are 3 techniques or methods to cognitive neuroscience:

The Lesion method was created by Phineas Gage. An explosion occurred and forced a steel rod through his skull damaging his frontal lobes causing major personality changes. Despite his injury, he was able to retain his speech and many other cognitive functions.

1. Lesion method
2. Neuroimaging techniques
3. Transient lesion techniques

The two types of imaging are Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and the regular MRI. The difference between the two are that fMRI test studies brain function while a regular MRI simply applies to the brain’s anatomy.

Event-Related Potential Technique (ERP) is a study of the brain’s activity by sticking scalp electrodes and measuring the fluctuations in the brain’s electrical activity in response to a stimulus.

There is also another technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Magnetic pulses are applied to a living person’s brain and temporarily “shut off” a small area of the brain.

Everything we do (or just about) we do involves some kind of cognitive process.