PSYCO275 Chapter Notes -Direct Manipulation Interface, Cerebral Cortex, Behavioral Neuroscience

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCO275
• Professor: Deanna Singhal

Document Summary

So: neural mechanisms of behaviour through invasive, direct manipulation of the brain in controlled experiments. So: effects of drugs on brain and behaviour. Mostly lab animals: surgical and electrical methods of brain manipulation. More pure research: emphasis on theories than practical benefits. Study contributions of hippocampus to memory by surgically removing the hippocampus in rats and assessing ability to perform various memory tasks. Mostly applied: therapeutic drugs or reduce drug abuse. Improve memory of alzheimer"s patients by administering drugs that increase the levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. So psychological effects of brain damage in human patients looking at individuals who have suffered disease, stroke, etc that have created damage. Focused on cerebral cortex, because it is most likely damaged by accidents or surgery or disease look at their deficits and make relationship between damage and impaired cognitive processes. Humans: almost exclusively case studies and quasi-experimental studies because of ethical concerns. The most applied: always about benefiting a patient.