Fall 2024- Syllabus and Course Schedule

Psych. 310, Cognition

Professor - Erik Nilsen

 

Lecture: Tuesday, Thursday 1:50 - 3:20 p.m.

Human Computer Interaction Lab - BioPsy 121

Labs: BioPsy 121 Wednesday. 9:40 - 11:10 a.m. or 11:30 - 1:00 p.m.

 


Readings and texts to be announced in class and specified on syllabus.  Obtaining them is your responsibility.  One book required to purchase.

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.

 

Connection to Class Moodle Site for Assignments and Class Communication

Connection to Google Drive for (some) Course Readings and other Resources


Course Overview
This course is designed to give you hands-on experience in scientific thinking, reasoning, and experimentation in the area of cognitive psychology. You will read about and participate in classic experiments in human cognition, critically evaluate these experiments, discuss their implications, as well as examine recent approaches (cognitive science, neural networks, evolutionary psychology) to cognition. In short, the course will allow you to directly work on and experience the types of tasks facing a modern-day research scientist in cognitive psychology.

 

Course Expectations and Assignments
This course will involve reading a great deal of primary source journal articles. It is expected that you will (thoughtfully) read the material before the class session.  I also expect active participation in all class discussion and activities.  Attendance is expected at all class sessions and is essential for all lab days.  These are days where the emphasis will be on experiential learning which cannot be made up for in other ways. If you have a known conflict with any of these dates, talk with me at least two weeks in advance and alternative arrangements (read more work ; ^ ) can be made.

Grading

35% Reaction Papers

Before specified class sessions in which we discuss an article, you are to read it and write some comments on the article. This can include a brief summary of the stated purpose of the article, how well the authors fulfilled that purpose, and what methods they used. You can also write any questions about concepts that were either unclear in the article or which need further elaboration. If you find any connection with other articles we have discussed in class or from your own experience, include these insights as well. Each paper should be less than 3 pages and take no more than one hour to write (above and beyond the reading time).  The papers will be used to inform class discussions, and some of them will undergo peer and/or instructor review.

35% Lab Reports

The lab section of this course is meant to provide hands on experience in cognitive psychology. Students will conduct experiments directly related to the principles learned in the lecture portion of the course. These experiments will be done online using a variety of sources from the internet including the CogLab 2.0 software. Students will also provide written reports (Using APA guidelines) of experimental findings collected throughout the semester.

15% Class Participation

Consistent contributions to in-class activities, class discussion, group work is expected. If you are not in class, you cannot participate! If you are here in body only, but have not prepared your mind, it may be duly noted!

15% Individual Research Project

For the final project you will be writing a complete APA empirical scientific paper. We will discuss a couple of options for completing this assignment.

Summary of Learning Objectives:

My overarching goals for Psy 310 are for you to acquire an understanding of the various theoretical perspectives, and research methods associated with cognitive psychology and to apply this understanding by formulating an individual research project. The learning objectives for this class include:

For the journal article and book discussions and laboratory exercises:

1. Explaining cognitive psychologists’ perspectives on the study of mental processes by:

2. Engaging in high-level discussion in response to scholarly readings by:

For the individual research project:

3. Demonstrating independence and intellectual maturity in the production of knowledge by:

 

Fall 2024 Office Hours - Mon. 1:30 - 2:30, Thurs. 12:30 - 1:30. BioPsy 236.

Zoom consultation by 24 hour advance appointment Tues. 12:30 - 1:30. email nilsen@lclark.edu. Cell Phone (503) 734-5614.

I try to respond to e-mails promptly, by noon the following day if sent after 5 p.m.


Day & Date

Topic 

T Sept. 3

 

Introduction - Prehistory of Memory and Mnemonics!!

Peruse the World Memory Championship Website. Here is a list of a huge number of Memory World Records.

Read this article before class and be ready to discuss this case study and it's implications for using this strategy for learning foreign vocabulary. What strategies have you used to learn a foreign language or other academic material?

 

W Sept. 4

LAB

Read the articles and be ready to discuss them with special attention to the ART theory. Reaction paper to come after you get your Walk On! Stay tuned.

Lab #1 - Get Your Walk On! Cognitive Benefits of Walking in Nature and more!

Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological science, 19(12), 1207-1212.

Berman, M. G., Kross, E., Krpan, K. M., Askren, M. K., Burson, A., Deldin, P. J., ... & Jonides, J. (2012). Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depressionJournal of affective disorders140(3), 300-305.

 

Today we are literally going to take a walk in the park (weather willing) living out the promise of ART theory that we will discuss as we walk! Wear good walking shoes, bring your water bottle and favorite music to walk to if you are so inclined!

 

Th Sept. 5

 

Hunter, M. R., Gillespie, B. W., & Chen, S. Y. P. (2019). Urban nature experiences reduce stress in the context of daily life based on salivary biomarkers. Frontiers in psychology10, 722.

Silvia, P. J., Fayn, K., Nusbaum, E. C., & Beaty, R. E. Openness to Experience and Awe in Response to Nature and Music: Personality and Profound Aesthetic Experiences.

This is an "Awesome" article that even references an LC Psych. prof! See if you can find out who it is!

 

 

T Sept. 10

Morris (2005) Strategies for Learning Proper Names: Expanding Retrieval Practice, Meaning and Imagery.

REACTION PAPER (submit on the moodle by class time today)

This paper presents us with 3 experiments - In layman's terms, describe the name memorization techniques used in these studies. How do they differ in their operational definitions across the experiments. Briefly describe the reasons behind conducting the 2nd and 3rd experiments, why didn't they just stop at 1! Finally, if you were going to tell your mother the best method to help her memorize the names of people on her upcoming National Convention of ????? what would you recommend that she do based on this study?

Beaton et. al. (2005) Facilitation of receptive and productive foreign vocabulary learning using the keyword method: The role of image quality.

Linkword Languagescommercial site derived from research on mnemonics and language learning.

Read the Beaton (2005) paper and pay special attention to Appendix 1. what features do you find that distinguish between the "good keyword" versus the "poor keyword" images? In class today, you will work in small groups to come up with a short (5 - 9) list of differences along with recommendations about how to generate effective keyword images. Check out two languages of the free online demo's at the Linkword Languages website (notice who designed these courses!). Comment on the quality of the keyword images of the demo's using your criteria derived from the research paper (with several illustrative examples). Does Gruneberg practice what he preaches? A brand new updated slick web site for Gruneberg's company can be found at http://www.unforgettablelanguages.com/

W Sep. 11 LAB

Lab #2 Mnemonic Techniques.

Due on the class moodle on Wed., Sep. 18th. before class.

Part 1 - Presidents (or Unforgettable 44) and Name Mnemonics.

Part 2 - Coglab 2.0 Exp. Link Word.

 

Animaniacs teach the US presidents with music and mnemonic.

Sporcle is a fun website that has some activities that may help you learn the president's names.

Mnemosyne is a FREE software package that helps you memorize lists of material by optimizing the spacing of rehearsal for Lists of your creation. Use it for the Mnemonics Lab if you like!

Short interview introducing the Unforgettable (Fierce) 44 book. Whoopi Goldberg approved!

Maguire (2002) Routes to remembering: the brains behind superior memory

Autistic man is a "Living Camera"

Simon Reinhard setting world record for memorizing card deck (with awesome soundtrack)! Alez Mullen, memory athlete, explains how it is done! (view first 4 minutes)

Einstein's Brain Glial Cells Rock!

Real Rain Man Kim Peak

Brain Man Daniel Tammet learns Icelandic in a week!

Th Sep. 12

 

Read Chapters 1 - 3 of Hermann Ebbinghaus' landmark Dissertation on Memory.

Hermann Ebbinghaus (1885) Über das Gedechtnis: Untersuchungen zur experimentellen Psychologie. English Translation (Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology)

REACTION PAPER (submit rough draft on moodle by class time today and final version by 5 p.m. Friday Sep. 13th)

For chapters 1 - 3, your reaction paper should highlight how he defined memory and it's measurement. Also describe in a few paragraphs what experimental procedures and operational definitions he used to make the study of memory possible from an empirical, scientific standpoint.

 

T Sep. 17

Group Assignments for Ebbinghaus Presentation

For Chapters 5 - 9, the following groups will prepare a ten - twelve minute presentation for the rest of the class. Have everyone in the group participate in the presentation

(1) What new phenomena is studied in this chapter and what new concepts are defined

(2) choose 1 table of figures and write an explanation of what it reveals

(3) general conclusions and/or "laws" of memory does Ebbinghaus derive from this chapter?

(4) find at least one example of more recent research that has built on Ebbinghaus' contribution in this area.

 

Chapter 5. Rapidity of Learning Series of Syllables as a Function of Their Length 

 

 

Chapter 6. Retention as a Function of the Number of Repetitions

 

 

Chapter 7. Retention and Obliviscence as a Function of the Time


Chapter 8. Retention as a Function of Repeated Learning

 

Chapter 9. Retention as a Function of the Order of Succession of the Members of the Series

 

 

No Reaction Paper Due, your group presentation will be the basis for evaluation for today.

 

 

 

 

 

W Sep. 18 LAB

We will start off class by showing off our prodigious Memorization Skills of Presidents and the Unforgettable 44!

Lab #3 Serial Memory Lab

Coglab 2.0 Experiments - von Restorff Effect.

Lab write up is found on the class moodle site. It is due (submit on the moodle by class time, Wednesday September 25th.

 

 

 

 

Th Sep. 19

 

Hunt (1995) The subtlety of distinctiveness: What von Restorff really did

Kishiyama (2004) The von Restorff Effect in Amnesia: The Contribution of the Hippocampal System to Novelty-Related Memory Enhancements

Reaction Paper - compare and contrast the methodologies and conclusions. Try to come up with 3 different examples of how the memorial distinctiveness that vonRestorff elucidated has real life practical application.

 

Amping Up Our Memory - Cognitive Enhancers and Nootropics are onr the bleeding edge of science and pseudoscience.

Here is a shortish overview article on Types of Cognitive Enhancers that are available today.

Savulich, George, et al. "Focusing the neuroscience and societal implications of cognitive enhancers." Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 101.2 (2017): 170-172.

 

Here is another short article with a bit of overlap and a different perspective.

Augmented memory: a survey of the approaches to remembering more.

Christopher R. Madan* Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada Front. Syst. Neurosci., 03 March 2014 | doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00030

 

Brain Zapping to Boost your smarts!! Science and/or Scam

News Report that Electrical Brain Stimulation may enhance memory! Original Article from Science August 2014!

Reinhart, R. M., & Nguyen, J. A. (2019). Working memory revived in older adults by synchronizing rhythmic brain circuits. Nature neuroscience22(5), 820-827.

 

 

T Sep. 24

 

Baddeley 1994 The Magical number seven: Still magic after all these years? I suggest you read this one first.

Read the classic paper by George Miller entitled: The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information. This paper, written in 1956, helped launch the information processing paradigm in psychology and his 7+/- 2 chunks in STM is certainly the most widely cited "number" in memory research. I am asking you to read the original. This is very dense reading. To help us understand it better I am assigning each of you one of the sections to summarize (in writing) and present orally in class in small groups. Be sure to define any terms that need it and to explain any graphs that are in your section. You may need to do a bit of outside research to fully understand the material, try to put it into your own words. You will have 15ish minutes at the beginning of class to ask Erik questions and discuss the material with peers who also wrote on your section before presenting it (individually) in small groups. The section assignments are given on the class moodle and below.

Miller's Magical Number Writeup due at class time today.


Information measurement (Erik)
 
Absolute judgments of unidimensional stimuli (Group 1)


Absolute judgments of multidimensional stimuli (Group 2)

Subitizing (Group 3)


The span of immediate memory (Group 4)


Recoding (Group 5)

 

W Sep 25

LAB

Read CogLabWorkingMemoryLab3.pdf in preparation for a discussion of today's lab.

Ted Talk on Working Memory

Good News Neuroracer Research to Train Working Memory in older folks using Dual Task Video Game

Bad News Your Smartphone Reduces Your Brainpower, Even If It’s Just Sitting There. Magazine Article | Original Research Paper

 

Lab #3 Working Memory Capacity

Coglab 2.0 Experiments - Memory Span, Operation Span

Lab write up assignment is found on the class moodle site. It is due (submitted on the moodle by class time Wed. Oct. 2nd)

Th Sep 26

 

Facial Emotion - Truth and Deception

Read these 2 articles before class and be prepared to discuss. You will find them on the class google drive. (No reaction paper this time).

Ekman (2003) Darwin, Deception, and Facial Expression

Blow(2006) Perception of Robot Smiles and Dimensions for Human-Robot Interaction Design.

These are links we will look at during class today!

 

Psychology Today article on the science of smiling (Proceed with caution)

Paul Ekman's F.A.C.E web page including a demo of METT

Ron Gutman's Ted Talk on the Power of Smiles!

Kaspar Robot used to help Autistic kids learn to recognize facial expressions of emotion.

Here is a Robotic Head that is firmly in the Uncanny Valley IMHO!

And a pair of Japanese Robots whose creators say have crossed to the other side of the Uncanny Valley?! You decide!

 

T Oct.1

 

 

Introduction to Mind Mapping Concept and Software to support it. Spend time trying out these tools.

After class today you will know how to create a Mind Map of Characteristics, Principles of Operation and Relationships between "System 1" and System 2" set up in Chapter 1 and fleshed out in chapters 2 - 4. You can do this on paper or using any online tools you choose. Upload your mind map to the Class moodle assignment due Wed. Oct. 2nd by class time. Also bring a printout of your mind map to discuss with a classmate.

WikiPedia Page entry on Mind Mapping.



Several online Mapping Software tools are discussed and linked at 

here are a few links to online mind mapping tools


 

Wed Oct. 2LAB

Thinking Fast and Slow - Read Introduction through Chapter 4 (to pg. 58)

We will discuss the first chapters of Thinking Fast and Slow, watch a video or 2 and go over our mind maps in small groups. Come ready to share your mind map with a partner and compare minds! MMT,MMTMagic, Top 5 takeaways, T5Tpt2,

 

 

 

Th Oct. 3

 

Expectations and Examples of Thinking Fast and Slow Presentations and Responses.

(No class meeting) examples will be e-mailed to you for your perusal and preparation for next Tuesday's presentations!

 

T Oct. 8

Thinking Fast and Slow - Class discussion and individual presentations (Moodle Forum)

Read Chapters 5 - 9. Research presentations assigned below. The first person in each group is the main presenter, the others are respondents. The page numbers in Parens refers to the page in Thinking Fast and Slow that the research is mentioned.

Thinking Fast and Slow Assignments Presenter Respondents
   
Jacoby(1989,p60-61) Lyric  Alex  Hazel   Ishani 
Leslie(1987,p76) Rachel Alma   Henry  Jade     
Gilbert(1990,p80-81) Toby  Alula  Ila  Kelsie     
Strack (1988, p101) Valentine Clara   Iman  Kyle    
Brenner(1996, p86) Will  Eva   Isabel  Leila     

 

 

Wed. Oct. 9 LAB


 

 

Positive Psychology Research on the Cognitive, Emotional and Social Benefits of Kindness and Gratitude

The Greater Good Science Center - A Center for Applying and Supporting Positive Psychology.

19 Top Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI's) + How to Apply Them.

The Science of Kindness Video

Random Acts of Kindness Youtube Channel

Unsung Hero Video

Kindness Media Example (Warning, do not watch in a setting where you aren't comfortable having your nasolacrimal ducts leak)


Kindness and Gratitude Journaling Readings

Nawa, N. E., & Yamagishi, N. (2021). Enhanced academic motivation in university students following a 2-week online gratitude journal intervention. BMC psychology9(1), 1-16.

Walsh, L. C., Regan, A., Twenge, J. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2023). What is the optimal way to give thanks? Comparing the effects of gratitude expressed privately, one-to-one via text, or publicly on social media. Affective Science4(1), 82-91.

Fryburg, D. A., Ureles, S. D., Myrick, J. G., Carpentier, F. D., & Oliver, M. B. (2021). Kindness media rapidly inspires viewers and increases happiness, calm, gratitude, and generosity in a healthcare setting. Frontiers in Psychology11, 591942.

Shin, L. J., Layous, K., Choi, I., Na, S., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2020). Good for self or good for others? The well-being benefits of kindness in two cultures depend on how the kindness is framed. The Journal of Positive Psychology15(6), 795-805.

Ng, W., & Ong, K. R. (2022). Using positive psychological interventions to improve well-being: are they effective across cultures, for clinical and non-clinical samples?. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy52(1), 45-53.

 

Th Oct. 10

 

Fall Break!

 

T Oct. 15

Thinking Fast and Slow - Class discussion and individual presentations (Moodle Forum)

Read Chapters 18 - 27. Research presentations assigned below

Lin Line
Thinking Fast and Slow Assignments Presenter Respondents
   
Todorov(2005,p90-91) Alula  Ila  Ishani  Rachel
Gilovich(1995,116-117) Clara   Iman  Jade Toby
Mussweiler(2000, 123) Eva   Isabel  Kelsie  Valentine    
Schwarz(1991,131-132) Alex  Hazel   Kyle Lyric     
Hsee(1998,160-161) Alma   Henry  Leila  Will     


W Oct. 16 LAB

A brief mental palate cleanser from Thinking Fast and Slow!

Exploring the Somatic Marker Hypothesis

Cognitive Neuroscientists use case studies, neural network modeling and laboratory-based gambling tasks to understand the role of emotion and cognition in risky decision-making. In this section we will be exploring this topic with the material below.

Before you read the material below, go to this website and fill out the personality inventory and play the Iowa Gambling Card Game that follows. This is the experimental task that is used to test the Somatic Marker Hypothesis in the research papers we will be reading. Doing this game in advance will help you understand the articles better and you will not be biased by knowing about the task before taking it. Take a screen shot of your results if you can to compare your results with the results in Bechara (1997) for the control group.

Next read the Wikipedia Page for the Somatic Marker Hypothesis!

Finally read through the two articles below. You can find them on the google drive class resources page.

The first article below is the first empirical study presenting laboratory evidence for the Somatic Marker Hypothesis (SMH). The followup article present a critique on how Bechara et al. interpreted their results and an alternative view about the relationship between cogniton and emotion in the Iowa Gambling Task! Be ready to engage in argument and debate over this heated topic, GSR's will raise! Which article do you find most persuasive? We will vote on it in class!

Bechara, A. (1997). Deciding Advantageously Before Knowing the. Science275, 1293-1293.

Brand, M., Fujiwara, E., Borsutzky, S., Kalbe, E., Kessler, J., & Markowitsch, H. J. (2005). Decision-making deficits of korsakoff patients in a new gambling task with explicit rules: associations with executive functions. Neuropsychology, 19(3), 267.

Impulsiveness Impairs and Arousal Assists Performance on the Game of Dice Task. Allison Sweeney, Noah Freed, and Erik Nilsen. Western Psychological Association Meeting. April 2010.

 

Th Oct. 17

 

 

Thinking Fast and Slow - Class discussion and individual presentations (Moodle Forum)

Read Chapters 28 - 34. Research presentations as assigned below

Thinking Fast and Slow Assignments Presenter Respondents
   
Dawes(1979, p226) Isabel  Kelsie  Rachel Eva  
Kahneman(2009, 234-237) Hazel   Kyle Lyric  Alex       
Åstebro(2006, p257) Henry  Leila  Will  Alma        
Berner(2008, p263) Ila  Ishani  Toby  Alula       
Kermer(2006, p293) Iman  Jade  Valentine Clara        

 

 

T Oct. 22

 

Thinking Fast and Slow - Class discussion (Moodle Forum)

Read Chapters 29 - 34. Research presentations as assigned below

Thinking Fast and Slow Assignments Presenter Respondents
   
   
Kahneman(1990, p296) Kyle Toby  Alma   Hazel        
Kahneman(1986, p306) Leila  Valentine Alula  Henry       
Viscusi(1987, 316) Ishani  Rachel Clara   Ila       
Yamagishi(1997,329-330) Jade  Lyric  Eva   Iman       
Quiodbach(2010)p397 Kelsie  Will  Alex  Isabel       

 

 

 

W Oct. 23

 

Slowing down for a breather- No lab today

 

 

 

Th Oct. 24

Thinking Fast and Slow Read Part V - Two Selves Chapters 35 - 38. We will be discussing the whole section and its real life implications as a class. Here is a word cloud I created with relevant concepts.

Bertrand, M., Mullainathan, S., & Shafir, E. (2006). Behavioral economics and marketing in aid of decision making among the poor. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 25(1), 8-23.

Two Selves Word Cloud from Thinking Fast and Slow Book

Moodle Assignment is to either write a reaction paper or create a mind map comparing and contrasting the research and lived examples of the Experiencing versus Remembering Self that Kahneman presents in this final section of the book.

 

We will also be reprising the whole Magnus Opus today and assigning small groups to discuss and present to the class ways that TFS informs our understanding of a few non-controversial topics like

1) COVID Testing, Mitigation Strategies and Vaccination Messaging

2) Global Climate Change

3) Systemic Racism

4) Immigration Policy

5) Health Care Policy

6) Gun Control Policy

7) Pet Eating Memes

 

 

 


T Oct. 29

Music and the Mind!!


For today please read and be ready to discuss (and perhaps vocalize?!?!)

I have 4 articles I want us to discuss about different research approaches that that illustrate the powerful role music can impact our cognition and wellbeing on many levels.


Vickhoff, B., Malmgren, H., Åström, R., Nyberg, G., Engvall, M., Snygg, J., ... & Jörnsten, R. (2013). Music structure determines heart rate variability of singersFrontiers in psychology4, 334.

     This paper aims to illuminate how singing and especially choir singing promotes wellbeing.

 


Tsang, C. D., Falk, S., & Hessel, A. (2017). Infants Prefer Infant-Directed Song Over SpeechChild development88(4), 1207-1215.

In their everyday communication, parents do not only speak but also sing with their infants. However, it remains unclear whether infants’ can discriminate speech from song or prefer one over the other. The present study examined the ability of 6- to 10-month-old infants (N = 66) from English-speaking households in London, Ontario, Canada to discriminate between auditory stimuli of native Russian-speaking and native English-speaking mothers speaking or singing to their infants. Infants listened significantly longer to the sung stimuli compared to the spoken stimuli. This is the first study to demonstrate that, even in the absence of other multimodal cues, infant listeners are able to discriminate between sung and spoken stimuli, and furthermore, prefer to listen to sung stimuli over spoken stimuli.



Satoh, M., Yuba, T., Tabei, K. I., Okubo, Y., Kida, H., Sakuma, H., & Tomimoto, H. (2015). Music therapy using singing training improves psychomotor speed in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a neuropsychological and fMRI study. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra5(3), 296-308.
Music therapy intervention using singing training may be useful for dementia patients by improving the neural efficacy of cognitive processing. 
Schneider, C. E., Hunter, E. G., & Bardach, S. H. (2018). Potential Cognitive Benefits From Playing Music Among Cognitively Intact Older Adults: A Scoping Review. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 0733464817751198.
The purpose of this study was to review the current evidence related to playing a musical instrument being a potentially protective mechanism against cognitive decline among older adults. 11 studies all showed that music playing was correlated with positive outcomes on cognitive ability; more high-quality research is needed in this area to understand mechanisms behind potential cognitive protection of music.

 

W Oct. 30

LAB

 

Consultations with Erik to refine and advance Final Project Proposals! Each person signs up for at least 1 meeting after submitting their Initial Proposals on the class moodle page.

Upload a 1 - 2 page document containing the basic idea of your research project, including methodology, hypotheses and citation and brief summaries of at least 2 primary source research articles related to your topic.

Th Oct. 31

 

 

Sex and Gender and Psychology, OH MY!

 

The Future of Sex and Gender in Psychology: Five Challenges to the Gender Binary is a thoughtful piece that will give us a lot to think about.

Below are small working groups to lead discussions of the 5 sections of the paper below.

 

The Challenge From Neuroscience - Kyle, Toby,  Alma,  Hazel  

The Challenge From Behavioral Neuroendocrinology - Jade,  Lyric,  Eva,   Iman 

The Challenge From Psychological Research: Gender Differences and Similarities - Ishani,  Rache,l Clara,  Ila 

The Challenge From Psychological Research With Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals - Leila,  Valentine, Alula,  Henry 

The Challenge From Developmental Psychology - Kelsie,  Will,  Alex,  Isabel 

 


Changes Over Time in the Comprehension of He and They as Epicene Pronouns is an article that shows that personal pronouns matter in how they prime our reading and how the language has changed over 15 years.

 

How the APA changed their practice (and the publication manual) based on research on the use of pronouns!

Keener, E., & Kotvas, K. (2023). Beyond he and she: Does the singular use of “they, them, their” function generically as inclusive pronouns for cisgender men and women?. Gender Issues40(1), 23-4


Finally, Introducing a gender-neutral pronoun in a natural gender language: the influence of time on attitudes and behavior is an article that I found that is a case study of how Sweden was the first country to formally add a third gender-neutral pronoun to their language and how public perception transformed over a 4 year period.

Gustafsson Sendén, M., Renström, E., & Lindqvist, A. (2021). Pronouns beyond the binary: The change of attitudes and use over timeGender & Society35(4), 588-615.

A very interesting article that shows how other languages beyond Swedish are adjusting to a multigendered world!

 

 

T Nov. 5

Psychology of Humor

Please (1) Read the links provided below, (2) take the Humor Styles Questionnaire, and (4) contribute to the class moodle forum by the end of the day on Wednesday, Nov. 6th.  

Here is the Humor Styles Questionnaire to take online and record your scores for discussion in class.

I want each of us to come up with one question or open ended observation from the course material assigned for today and post it on this forum as a new item by the end of the day on Wednesday, Nov. 6th.  Then read them and make a response with your perspective and observations to at least 2 of them by class time on Thursday, Nov. 7th

(*Make sure that your postings show that you read and engaged with the material and can be answered in a open ended way rather than just a simple YES or NO!*). I will seed the forum with an entry or 2 to give you examples. You can respond to 1 of mine if you choose as part of the 2 assigned responses.

 

What's so funny, and why, and where?

What Makes Things Humorous. Warren(2015)

Humor comprehension in older adults. Mak(2007).pdf

Humor Modulates the Mesolimbic Reward Centers. Mobbs(2003).pdf

 

We will look at these during class, no need to look at them ahead of time.

The Science of Humor Video

The Laugh Lab of Dr. Richard Wiseman. Cross Cultural Appreciation of Humor. The original Laugh Lab Final Report from 2002. and a list of 1001 clean jokes from the study!

Gotta Love the Far Side Humor! An animated short.

Laughter Online University Website.

 

W Nov. 6

 

We all need a break to recover from election fatigue!

 

Th Nov. 7

False Memories - In the Lab and Beyond!!


Watson (2004). Attempting to avoid false memories in the Deese/Roediger–McDermott paradigm: Assessing the combined influence of practice and warnings in young and old adults.

Wade (2002). A picture is worth a thousand lies: Using false photographs to create false childhood memories.

Greenberg (2004). President Bush’s False ‘Flashbulb’ Memory of 9/11/01.

False beliefs about fattening foods can have healthy consequences. Alda/Loftus video clip (33:08 - 40:12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

T Nov. 12

 

 

Slips of the tongue and action: A Theory of Attention Based on Errors!

 

We will be looking at the cognitive psychology of slips of the tongue (aka Spoonerism) and slips of action.  We all succumb to these odd mistakes that catch us by surprise.  Have you ever ended up in your driveway when you intended to drive somewhere else?  Have you ever been in the shower and forgotten if you shampooed yet?  You know that I have said things that I did not quite intend a number of times in class this term and if you admit it, you do this occasionally as well!  I have two articles with amusing collections of these types of errors and a model of attention that tries to explain them! 

Norman, D. A. (1981). Categorization of action slips. Psychological review88(1), 1. (Find it on the Class Google Drive)

Hauptman, Don (2014) ""Pay No Attention To The Can Behind The Merton" A Gallimaufry of New Spoonerisms," Word Ways: Vol. 47 : Iss. 3 , Article 2. 
Available at: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol47/iss3/2

 

W Nov. 13

LAB

 

False Memory Lab

We will go over the lab results from a previous semester in class to that we can analyze it and create an APA style results section including an APA style graph that will be due on the moodle next Tuesday, Nov 19th at 9 p.m.

SPSS and APA Figure Creation Workshop using False Memory data collected last year.

 

Th Nov. 14

 

Human Cognition Through the Lens of Social Engineering Cyberattacks

Bhusal, C. S. (2021). Systematic Review on Social Engineering: Hacking by Manipulating Humans. Journal of Information Security12, 104-114.

Montañez, R., Golob, E., & Xu, S. (2020). Human cognition through the lens of social engineering cyberattacksFrontiers in Psychology11, 1755.

 

 

T Nov. 19

 

Meditation and the Brain

Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners. Brefczynski(2007).pdf

Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Tang(2007).pdf

Loving-Kindness Meditation Increases Social Connectedness Hutcherson(2008).pdf

Buddha’s Brain: Neuroplasticity and Meditation Davidson(2007).pdf

 

Way out there. The god helmet! and brain damage induced religious experience

W Nov. 20

 

Meditation Lab

Meet in the Gregg Pavilion, the round building attached to the Chapel.

We will experience a variety of practices from different cultures including:

Gratitude Meditation

10 minute guided audio from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley that studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.

Kyeong, S., Kim, J., Kim, D. J., Kim, H. E., & Kim, J. J. (2017). Effects of gratitude meditation on neural network functional connectivity and brain-heart couplingScientific reports7(1), 5058.

 

Contemplation Chant

 



Zhang, Y., & Jiang, X. (2023). The effect of Baduanjin exercise on the physical and mental health of college students: a randomized controlled trial. Medicine102(34), e34897.


Labyrinth Walking

Labyrinth walking: An ancient activity that could help ease anxiety. An easy to read article introducing Labyrinth Walking and Finger Labyrinths.

Davis, D. W. (2021). A literature review on the physiological and psychological effects of labyrinth walkingInt. J. Yogic Hum. Move. Sports Sci6, 167-175.

Creating lLabyrinths in the sand in Bandon Oregon!

 

Th Nov. 21

 

Roundtable Presentations and Discussion of your Final Projects. Come prepared with a 2ish page summary of your research topic, relevant literature, study design, hypotheses and expected results to share with the class as a whole and in small affinity groups. Post your ideas to this linked Google doc and be ready to help each other move their projects ahead! Check out the document for some guidance to help you develop your idea and an example of a project I would do if I were a student and not the Prof. ;^).

 

 

T Nov. 26

 

Moral Decision Making and Trolleyology

The Trolley Problem scene from "The Good Place"

 

Please read Hauser (2007)  and look over the website on Double Effect before class.

     Article to Read Hauser et al. 2007

     The Principle (Doctrine) of Double Effect goes back to Thomas Aquinas' writings in      1274!

examples of it's application to real life ethical quandaries like euthanasia. and the use of Military Drones.

Trolleyology Overview Video1, and Video 2

a bit of background on Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development

 

The Moral Machine Website from MIT!

Awad, E., Dsouza, S., Kim, R., Schulz, J., Henrich, J., Shariff, A., ... & Rahwan, I. (2018). The Moral Machine experiment.

 

 

T Dec. 3

 

Introduction to Sensory-Sensory, Sensory-Motor Interactions, Illusions and Delusions!

Good six minute Overview Video of Synesthesia with Witthorft Shoutout!

Hearing Colors, Tasting Shapes. RamaHubbardSciAm_2003.pdf. Vilayanur S. Ramachandran and Edward M. Hubbard. Scientific American. p 52 - 59. May, 2003.

SYNESTHETIC COLORS DETERMINED BY HAVING COLORED REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS IN CHILDHOOD Witthorft(2006).pdf

Synesthesia Overview and Case Studies

Synesthesia Immersion Video - Colorful Acoustic Letters!

Musical Color 360 Immersive video

Rama - Lama- chandran NOVA video on Secrets of the Mind on Phantom Limb Syndrome will be shown in class. Be prepared to be intrigued!

Phantom Limb Therapy

A controlled pilot study of the utility of mirror visual feedback in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (type 1). McCabe(2003).pdf

Investigating the efficacy of a virtual mirror box in treating phantom limb pain in a sample of chronic sufferers. Murray(2006).pdf

 

W Dec. 4

Phantom Fun, Somatosensory Strangeness, and Kinesthetic Quirks.

Touching a Rubber Hand: Feeling of Body Ownership Is Associated with Activity in Multisensory Brain Areas. Ehrsson(2005).pdf

Rubber Hand Video (don't watch until class time)

First Person Experience of Body Transfer in Virtual Reality

Phantom Sensory Remapping

VR for Phantom Pain Relief and improving recovery of movement for stroke victims

 

Th Dec. 5

Final Project - Draft of Introduction, Lit Review and Methodology due at class time today on the class moodle page.

You also need to bring a printed copy of your draft to exchange in class and conduct a professor directed peer review.

 

T Dec. 10

 

Workshop to Create Data sets for Final Project

To make the best use of the time today, come with your hypotheses, your experimental design, including your independent variables and dependent variables and their units of measurement and a graph of what data would support your hypotheses.

W Dec. 11

 

1st draft of Results and Discussion Section due on class moodle page Due at class time today.

We will be conducting a prof. directed peer review during class today

Monday, Dec. 16

8:30 - 11:30

Erik will be available in the classroom for consultation on your final paper. Signup will be provided.

Final Papers are due in electronic form, uploaded to the moodle by 11:59:59 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 18th.



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