Study Guide for Semester Two

Brain Areas: what function does each lobe perform? Be able to identify the lobes on a diagram.

Nature vs Nurture – be able to explain this concept. Be able to give at least five examples of subjects that are in this debate. (examples: homosexuality, intelligence, etc…)

Phineas Gage – what are the details of his case study?

Brain lateralization – what does this mean? What is the corpus callosum? What basic functions does each hemisphere perform?

Brain localization – what does this mean? How did the case of Phineas Gage teach us about this?

Operant Conditioning – be able to explain how it works – know examples – who created this theory? know the difference between reinforcement and punishment as well as positive and negative.

Skinner – be able to explain his experiments, results, conclusions

Classical Conditioning – be able to explain how it works. What is conditioning? What is unconditioned? Who created this theory?

Pavlov – be able to explain his experiment. What did he start out studying? What were the results, conclusions?

Behaviorism – he able to define it and know who created this idea.

Watson – be able to explain his study – what were the results, conclusion?

Law of Effect – be able to explain how this works. Who developed this idea?

Thorndike – be able to explain his puzzle box experiment, the results, conclusion.

Social Learning Theory – Be able to explain how this works. Who developed this idea?

Bandura - Be able to explain the Bobo Doll experiment. What were the results and conclusion?

Sleep - be able to explain each stage of sleep in some detail. How does sleep affect the body? Know the differences between stages – know REM very well – when was it discovered and why? Be able to briefly explain the three sleep problems we discussed in class.

Be able to briefly explain the experiments of Harry Harlow, Philip Zimbardo and Stanley Milgram.

What is autism? What is a savant? What is genius? How does each differ from the others?

What is synesthesia? What are the different types?

Ethics in Psychology

These studies have been highly criticized for their violation of various rules of ethics.  You should be able to explain the basics of each experiment : how was the study conducted? what were some of the ethical issues involved?  what was the study trying to determine?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrNBEhzjg8I&feature=related - Harry Harlow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TAqBbFJtfE  - Stanley Milgram

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK6nKJ4yhdw - Philip Zimbardo

Sleep Problems

Narcolepsy:

Following our video in class about people who suffer from narcolepsy, write a 200 word entry in your blog describing this sleep disorder, how it affected the ma in the video and your personal thoughts and ideas on this disorder.  Be sure to include one picture relevent to your topic.

How do we learn what we learn?

Theories of Learning:

Notes from Class:  http://www.slideshare.net/ValleyPsych101/learning-theorychapter-5-presentation-610421

Classical Conditioning: Ivan Pavlov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoLxEN54ho&feature=related

Behaviorism: John B. Watson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxKfpKQzow8&feature=related

Law of Effect: Edward Thorndike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDujDOLre-8

Sleep and Dreams

Anyone who has suffered through a night of insomnia knows how important a good night's sleep is.  But what is the purpose of dreaming.  We sleep approximately 1/3 of our lives and much of that time is spent in a state of dreaming - so it must be important.  After discussing the current and past theories of why we dream you watched a documentary which detailed many aspects of dreaming.  Your assignment is to write a 200 word video response explaining what you learned and what you think.  Be sure to include at least one relevant picture and site all sources used.  This assignment is due Sunday, March 20th.

http://documentaryheaven.com/why-do-we-dream/

Sensory Deprivation and It's Affect on the Brain

A study was recently conducted to examine the affects of sensory deprivation on the human brain.  Six participants wer subject to various types of isolation - all were given a series of mental tests prior to and after a 48-hour period.  After watching this program, you should be able to formulate ideas about this topic.  On your blog, please write a 200 word (with at least one picture) reflection of what you observed and thought about this subject.  This assignment is due by Sunday, March 6th.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/alone/

Synesthesia

We recently learned about a rare condition called "synesthesia".  Using internet research, explain each of the terms below:

1. Synesthesia

2. grapheme-color synesthesia

3. ordinal-linguistic personification   

4. number-form synesthesia

5. sound-color synesthesia

6. lexical-gustatory synesthesia

Be sure to explain each in as much detail as necessary - site your sources for each answer and post one picture for each term.  This assignment is due by Sunday, March 6th.

Mental Abilities: Genius, Savant and Autism

Post your answers to the following questions on your psychology blog by Sunday, March 6th. Be sure to site your sources for each answer and include at least three relevant pictures.

1. Explain in detail what "savant syndrome" means.

2. What does genius mean?  Explain the difference between genius and savant.

3. What is a stroke and how could it affect your mental functioning?

4. What is a functional MRI and how does it help us understand brain activity?

5. What is the corpus callosum and what role does it play in your brain's activity?

6. What is epilepsy and how might it affect your brain's abilities?

7. What is autism?

8. What is Asperger's Syndrome?

Nature vs. Nurture - Intelligence

Video responses #6, #7 and #8 -

Genius - From where does it come?  The three videos we watched and discussed in class presented people who have unique abilities which come from a variety of sources.  Is intelligence something with which we are born?  Does it come from a stimulating environment with parents who push us to be our best? Can it come from brain injuries or childhood diseases? What is the difference between genius and savant?  You should be able to speak intelligently to each of these questions. 
Post three seperate entries - one for each video linked at the site below - each consisting of at least 150 words and one picture.  This assignment is due by Sunday, February 27th at midnight.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/my-brilliant-brain-make-me-genius/  (3 seperate videos)

Nature vs. Nurture: Homosexuality

Video Response #5
Probably the most controversial topic in the Nature vs. Nurture Debate concerns how a person develops their sexuality - specifically, whether a person is heterosexual or homosexual.  Watch the video from class (in two parts) and state your response in 200 or more words and include at least one picture which respresents the topic.  * What did you learn? What did you find interesting? What are your opinions or ideas on the topic?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3pvAk7Zz5U&feature=related  (part 1 of the 60 Minutes program)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS6J_gg89ms&feature=related (part 2)

Video Responses - Assignments for February 2nd through February 7th

If you missed any of the videos shown in class the links can be found below, in my previous posts.

Video Response #2 - Write a 200 word minimum response to the video about "mind-reading" with MRI's.  Include reference to what you learned, what you found interesting and what you think.  Be sure to include at least one picture which represents the topic.

Video Response #3 - Write a 200 word minimum response to the video: "living with traumatic brain injury".  Include reference to what you learned, what you found interesting and what you think.  Be sure to include at least one picture which represents the topic.

Video Response #4 - Write a 300 word minimum response to the video: "mind of a murderer".  Include reference to what you learned, what you found interesting and what you think.  Be sure to include at least one picture which represents the topic.

Be sure to site any resources used.  Due date is Tuesday, February 8th.  See you all Tuesday!

The Future of Mind-Reading

Advancing technology now allows us to see the brain at work.  Functional MRIs show the brain while it is actually working, processing information and give us the unique ability to see what the brain looks like while a person is thinking.  Scientists have determined what certain thoughts look like and therefore, can "read" your mind.  Where will technology take us in the near future?  What is the future of mind-reading?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jc8URRxPIg

The Brain - Damage

How does brain damage affect a person's life? The videos from class discuss the results of brain damage.  The first video deals with minor to severe damage and the changes it causes for the victims.  Video number two goes inside the mind of dangerous criminals to determine what role brain damage plays in their anti-social behavior.

Video - Living with Traumatic Brain Injury:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgtHvBF4t-E

The Mind of a Murderer - Brain Damage and Criminal Behavior:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5NKsuXmkDM

The Human Brain

Inside the Teenage Brain:  (video shown in class)  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/view/
In your blog, write a response to the video - minimum 200 words including at least one picture which represents your topic.  Video response #1

Brain Power (part 1 of 5 videos):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEGJzHKXDa4   

3-D view of the brain:  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain/3d/index.html

Phineas Gage Websites:   
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXiM-nDYzX0 --- video clip from class

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Phineas-Gage-Neurosciences-Most-Famous-Patient.html?c=y&page=2 --- article from smithsonian magazine

http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2006/12/04/the-incredible-case-of-phineas-gage/ 

Semester Two