Chapter 5: Part I. Click on the following link and watch Part I of the video:
What are the main principles of “operant conditioning,” and what examples were provided in the video?
2. What are the main principles of “classical conditioning,” and what examples were provided in the video?
3. What is the main difference between classical and operant conditioning?
4. What examples can you provide from your own experiences that illustrate operant or classical conditioning?
Part II. Visit the following website, https://www.bfskinner.orgLinks to an external site.
Answer the questions below:
Who was B.F. Skinner, and what importance does he have in psychology?
What do you think are the most significant accomplishments of B.F. Skinner?
What is the Project Pigeon, The Baby Box, and Walden Two?
What are the implications of B.F. Skinners work, and how can you use the information from his work to improve your life?
Chapter 6
Visit the following website,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFoUvF9PiWoLinks to an external site.
Answer the questions below
What was the video about?
How do you think you would adapt to memory loss as severe as Clive Wearing?
How do you think you would adapt to your partner/spouse’s memory loss? What changes do you think it would bring to your life?
In what way does seeing that video affect you personally?
Elizabeth Loftus is one of the most famous psychologists around the world. She is a professor at UCI, and conducts research on memory. She has made some bold statements against “recovered memories,” thus her research can be controversial at times. Visit the following website to learn more about her research, and then answer the questions below: http://www.soceco.uci.edu/cls/faculty/loftus.uciLinks to an external site.
After browsing around, what three things did you learn?
Scroll down and click on the article, “False Claims about False Memory Research.” SKIM the article. What main point is she trying to make in this article? Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
Please provide all answers similar to the format below (have to cite timestamps for the evidence):
Part I
The main points in the video were to explore how complex the brain is and how it influences behavior. For instance, the speaker mentions that the brain consists of approximately 10 trillion cells (1:38) and over 200 different types of neurons (1:49). Neurons are the fundamental units that receive, process, transmit information to other cells through electrical impulses and chemical signals (3:32).There are many regions in the brain with different functions. For example, the limbic system regulates emotions, sexual desire, and basic bodily functions (6:24). Another important part is the cerebrum which is the brain’s largest part that is responsible for conscious thought, perception, and integration of sensory information (8:33).
The most interesting for me was the case studies on amnesia, specifically on how the hippocampus’s role in memory formation and retrieval. Richard remembers some information about OJ Simpson but only old memories, not the recent information about him being accused of murder (23:48).
One of the points that was brought out in the video that helped me to understand human behavior was the neuron functionality and behavior initiation, which explains all behavior originates from the action of neuron (2:07). Excitatory and inhibitory synapses determine if the next neuron will fire and at what rate, thereby affecting behavior (3:56) Neurotransmitters like endorphins can influence mood and pain perception (16:24). Additionally, like mentioned in answer1, understanding the brain’s structure helps correlate specific behaviors with the corresponding brain regions.
Part II
There are 86 billion neurons in the average human brain. Features that neurons have in common with other cells in the body are surrounded by a cell membrane, have a nucleus that contains genes, and contain cytoplasm, mitochondria and other organelles. Neurons are unique because they have dendrites and axons that transmit signals and communicate with each other through an electrochemical process. Synapses and neurotransmitters are inside neurons.
I learnt that neurons are the oldest cells in my body through human anatomy class in highschool. Neuron’s evolutionary advantage provides stability and consistency in neutral connections, which is crucial for the storage of memories and learned complex behavior throughout a human’s lifetime.
There are four basic neutral speeds. There is a relationship between the type of information conveyed by an axon and the speed at which it conducts impulses. The axons that convey urgent information, have thicker nerve fiber, therefore conduct impulses faster.
Glial cells are referred to as the “forgotten brain cells” because they often get overlooked by researchers compared to other neurons but they have crucial roles in supporting neural function. 5 ways that glia differs from neurons are neurons have 2 “processes” called axons and dendrites when.glial cells have only 1, neurons generate action potentials while glials have resting potentials, neurons have synapse that use neurotransmitters… glial cells don’t have chemical synapses, glial cells outnumber neurons by 10-50 times more, and they also have more functions including insulating neurons (oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells), nourishing neurons, and modulating synaptic transmission. If my glia suddenly stopped functioning, the entire nervous system cannot function properly due to impaired neural signaling which leads to disruptions in cognition, movement, sensory, and overall brain’s health.
