Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a defining characteristic of an empirical article?
What is a defining characteristic of an empirical article?
What section of an empirical article provides a summary of the entire paper?
What section of an empirical article provides a summary of the entire paper?
What should a researcher focus on when choosing a topic for an empirical article?
What should a researcher focus on when choosing a topic for an empirical article?
What is the recommended strategy for refining search terms when looking for empirical articles?
What is the recommended strategy for refining search terms when looking for empirical articles?
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Which of the following sections typically contains background information on the research topic?
Which of the following sections typically contains background information on the research topic?
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How do researchers typically test their hypotheses in empirical studies?
How do researchers typically test their hypotheses in empirical studies?
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What is an effective first step when deciding whether to read an empirical paper?
What is an effective first step when deciding whether to read an empirical paper?
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What is a common misconception when searching for research articles online?
What is a common misconception when searching for research articles online?
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Why might a researcher propose a follow-up study based on the original research?
Why might a researcher propose a follow-up study based on the original research?
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Which of the following options reflects the proper organization of an empirical article?
Which of the following options reflects the proper organization of an empirical article?
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Study Notes
Brain Structure and Function
- Maximizing surface area to volume ratio enhances brain function.
- Optimal blood flow is maintained through the vascular structure of the brain.
- Gyri (ridges) and sulci (valleys) increase cortical surface area.
Lobes of the Brain
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Frontal Lobe
- Responsible for motor functions, planning, working memory, and speech production.
- Notably larger than in any other mammal.
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Parietal Lobe
- Involved in touch sensation, body positioning, motor control, and spatial processing.
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Occipital Lobe
- Specialized for visual processing.
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Temporal Lobe
- Handles vision, object recognition, auditory processing, as well as smell, taste, and memory.
Subcortical Structures
- Defined as structures located beneath the cortex.
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Thalamus
- Acts as a sensory relay station, integrating and sending information to the cortex.
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Hippocampus
- Key in memory formation, navigation, and spatial processing.
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Amygdala
- Central to emotion processing.
Methods of Studying the Mind
- Introspection and single cell recordings of neurons are two methods utilized to study mental processes.
- Other methods include lesion studies, brain imaging, Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), and controlled experiments.
Lesion Studies
- Examines patients with brain damage to specific regions, affecting behavior.
- Observations are made before and after lesions to identify functional responses.
- Double dissociation is used to compare different patients and behaviors linked to brain regions.
Double Dissociation Example
- Damage to the hippocampus affects building recognition without impacting face recognition.
- Damage to the fusiform area hinders face recognition but not building recognition.
Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas
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Broca’s Area
- Damage leads to Broca’s Aphasia, impacting language production but preserving comprehension, resulting in simplified speech.
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Wernicke’s Aphasia
- Involves fluent but nonsensical speech with significant comprehension difficulties.
Brain Imaging Techniques
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Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Measures electrical changes in neurons during cognitive tasks.
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Event-Related Potentials (ERP)
- High temporal resolution captures electrical activity related to specific events.
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
- Detects brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow (BOLD signal) during cognitive tasks, offering high spatial resolution.
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Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Uses radioactive tracers to visualize active brain areas during tasks; has poor temporal and spatial resolution.
Additional Research Methodologies
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- Temporarily disrupts specific brain regions to assess cognitive changes.
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Experimental Psychology
- Compares conditions to find systematic differences, using independent and dependent variables to measure accuracy and latency.
Mental Chronometry
- Examines the time taken for different cognitive processes to reveal underlying differences among tasks.
Ecological Validity
- The relevance of experimental findings to real-world behavior is measured by ecological validity.
Finding and Reading Empirical Articles
- Empirical articles report original research and are structured with an abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion.
- Utilize databases like PSYCInfo, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for research.
How to Search Effectively for Research
- Refine search terms to narrow down results; broader terms yield excessive results.
- Focus on specific phrases for more manageable article selections.
Understanding Article Sections
- Read the abstract first to determine relevance and interest.
- The introduction provides essential background and research questions.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the structure and functions of the human brain. This quiz covers topics such as gyri and sulci, various lobes, and their specific functions like motor control and visual processing. Perfect for students studying neuroscience or psychology.
