Exam and Assignment Dates

1. Exam and Assignment Dates • Midterm 1 Feb 3rd and 4th • Midterm 2 March 9th and 10th • Final April 20th and 21st • Idea journal assignment is due on last day of class

2. Class Web Site • Is not on WebCT / Blackboard !! • Is actually at: • http://classes.uleth.ca/201001/psyc2320a/

3. To get you thinking… • A bit of philosophy, a bit of biology

4. First, some philosophy • I see, I hear, I feel… • Who is I - Do you mean my brain sees, hears, and feels or do you mean something else?

5. First, some philosophy • Brains and Minds - Are they the same thing? • If not, what is the difference?What is a good analogy?

6. Philosophy of Mind • Monism -

7. Philosophy of Mind • Monism - mind and brain (body and soul) are not different things

8. Philosophy of Mind • Monism - mind and brain (body and soul) are not different things • Dualism -

9. Philosophy of Mind • Monism - mind and brain (body and soul) are not different things • Dualism - mind and brain are fundamentally different

10. Philosophy of Mind • What might constitute evidence for or against either of these two alternatives?

11. What are Brains Made Of? About one trillion neurons (1,000,000,000,000) Assorted other cells called “glial cells”

12. Neurons Have Three Parts (Usually)

13. Neurons Relay Signals From Other Neurons to Other Neurons

14. Neurons are Cells with Electrically Charged Membranes channels membrane

15. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals Axon - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - at rest, charges balance each other

16. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - when stimulated, membrane briefly lets charges switch sides

17. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - “depolarization” opens channels nearby that allow more charges to switch

18. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - Chain-reaction, called an action potential, propagates along the axon.

19. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - Chain-reaction, called an action potential, propagates along the axon.

20. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - Chain-reaction, called an action potential, propagates along the axon.

21. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + - Chain-reaction, called an action potential, propagates along the axon.

22. Neurons Carry Information as Electrochemical Signals Action potential can travel very fast - on the order of 100 meters per second (360 km/hr !)

23. Signals Jump from Neuron to Neuron Across Synapses

24. Signals Jump from Neuron to Neuron Across Synapses Neurotransmitter molecules carry signal across synapse What does this have to do with cognition ?

25. Signals Jump from Neuron to Neuron Across Synapses Neurotransmitter molecules carry signal across synapse The synapse is the site of action of the vast majority of psychoactive drugs!

26. Neurons are linked Together to Form “Pathways” Visual Cortex eye Optic Nerve

27. Neurons are Linked Together to Form “Pathways” Different regions are specialized for different functions

28. Neurons are Linked Together to Form “Pathways” Different regions are specialized for different functions Regions are reciprocally connected

29. Philosophy of Mind The Hard Problem - How does the movement of sodium and potassium ions across a membrane generate an experience?

30. Sensation • What is sensation?

31. Sensation • What is sensation? • Sensation is acquiring information about the outside world.

32. Perception • What is perception?

33. Perception • What is perception? • Perception is interpreting information about the outside world.

34. The Senses • Name the “senses”

35. The Senses • Vision • Hearing • Taste • Smell • Touch “Conscious Senses” • Temperature • Balance • Body Position “Subconscious Senses (sometimes)”

36. The Senses • All of these senses are really just systems that extract information about how you and the rest of the universe are interacting

37. The Senses • All of these senses are really just systems that extract information about how you and the rest of the universe are interacting What IS sensory information?

38. Information is Contained in Energy • Hearing is the perception of vibrations in the air

39. Information is Contained in Energy • Hearing is the perception of vibrations in the air • Vision is the perception of electromagnetic radiation

40. Information is Contained in Energy • Hearing is the perception of vibrations in the air • Vision is the perception of electromagnetic radiation • Taste and smell are the perceptions of chemicals

41. Information is Contained in Energy • Hearing is the perception of vibrations in the air • Vision is the perception of electromagnetic radiation • Taste and smell are the perceptions of chemicals • Touch is the perception of force on your skin

42. Sensation Starts with “Receptors” • Receptors transduce incoming signals into neural signals to be sent along axons to the brain • transduction - converting one type of energy into another type of energy (e.g. mechanical sound energy into electrochemical neural signals)

43. Next Time: Hearing