Psychology Chapter on Memory and Associations

Questions and Answers

What does Aristotle's doctrine of association suggest as the two basic components of mental life?

Emotions and thoughts

Memory and perception

Ideas and associations (correct)

Recollection and impression

Which law of association involves ideas that are related because they occur in the same context?

Contrast

Negativity

Contiguity (correct)

Similarity

Which of the following best describes the method of measuring thinking time developed by Franciscus Donders?

Assessing emotional reactions to stimuli

Measuring impulses through introspection

Observing physical responses without stimuli

Calculating the difference between choice and simple reaction time (correct)

What is one of the main criticisms of introspection as a method of studying mental events?

It lacks testability due to unconscious thoughts Signup and view all the answers

What did Ebbinghaus demonstrate about memory processes through his experiments?

Memory processes are quantifiable Signup and view all the answers

In the context of structuralism, what was the primary goal?

To find the simplest mental elements and their laws Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of Wundt and Titchener's introspection method is highlighted as a limitation?

It yields non-objective data Signup and view all the answers

What type of reaction time involves responding only when a specific stimulus is detected?

Choice reaction time Signup and view all the answers

What does 'savings' in memory refer to?

The difference between original learning time and relearning time. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes primary memory according to William James?

Short-term memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key principle of behaviorism as proposed by Watson and Skinner?

Behavior is objective and observable. Signup and view all the answers

Which problem in behaviorism relates to understanding why we perform tasks?

The role of conscious thought. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did experimental psychologists draw from introspection?

Scientific inquiry needs objective methods. Signup and view all the answers

What does the cognitive revolution focus on in psychology?

Studying cognitive processes to explain behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental aspect sets cognition apart from simpler forms of learning in primates?

Cognition involves complex mental processes. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes secondary memory as described by William James?

It refers to long-term memory. Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for language processing?

Left hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

What is the largest commissure in the brain that allows communication between hemispheres?

Corpus callosum Signup and view all the answers

In a split-brain patient, what effect does severing the corpus callosum have?

Limits communication between hemispheres Signup and view all the answers

Where is the primary motor projection area located?

Back of the frontal lobe Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is responsible for contralateral processing of touch?

Front of the parietal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What type of processing occurs in the auditory area of the brain?

Contralateral processing of sound Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain has the most cortical space devoted to visual processing?

Occipital lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between body sensitivity and cortical space in the brain?

More precise movement corresponds to more cortical space Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the binding problem involves tracking the spatial position of objects?

Spatial Position Signup and view all the answers

What effect does overloading attention have on perception of stimuli?

Causes conjunction errors Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes neural synchrony in the context of object recognition?

It is the synchronization of visual areas processing features for the same object Signup and view all the answers

What does brain plasticity refer to?

Changes in the function and structure of neural pathways due to varied factors Signup and view all the answers

Recovery from brain injury is often most successful when which condition is true?

Injury occurs during childhood Signup and view all the answers

What role do dendrites play in neuron function?

Detect incoming signals Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of the action potential is described by the 'all or none' law?

Once the threshold is met, the signal is always of the same intensity Signup and view all the answers

Which imaging technique provides the best spatial resolution?

fMRI Signup and view all the answers

What disadvantage does fMRI have compared to other imaging techniques?

It has limited temporal resolution Signup and view all the answers

How does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) affect brain processes?

It examines function by disrupting activity temporarily Signup and view all the answers

What does the Event-related Brain Potentials methodology primarily measure?

Neurons firing and generating electrical currents Signup and view all the answers

What information can a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan provide?

Glucose levels in the brain Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the postsynaptic response?

Strength of incoming signals Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Computerized Axial Tomography (CT/CAT) scan?

To create a 3D map of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the axon in a neuron?

Transmits signals to other neurons Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Memory and Associations

Memory likened to wax, where perceptions and ideas are imprinted, akin to a seal imprint.
Two components of mental life: Ideas (elements) and Associations (links between elements).
Three laws of associations:
- Contiguity: links based on time or space.
- Similarity: links based on conceptual likeness.
- Contrast: links based on opposites.

Pioneering Experiments

Franciscus Donders (1868) was the first to measure thinking time using reaction times.
- Simple reaction time: pressing a key upon touch.
- Choice reaction time: pressing a key only for a specific stimulus.
- Decision time calculated as choice time minus simple time.

Introspection and Structuralism

Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener focused on conscious mental events and introspection.
- Required minimum interpretation; aimed to record mental content.
- Problems included unconscious thought and lack of testability.
Structuralism aimed to discover the simplest elements of consciousness and their combinations.

Ebbinghaus and Memory Quantification

Hermann Ebbinghaus developed a method for quantifying forgetting through memory savings.
- Used nonsense syllables to test memory retention at varied intervals.
- Memory retained over time measured by the difference in learning and relearning times.

William James and Functionalism

William James distinguished between primary (short-term) and secondary (long-term) memory.
Functionalism examined mental properties based on their functions in adaptation.

Behaviourism in the 20th Century

Behaviourism, advocated by Watson and Skinner, emphasized observable behavior over consciousness.
- Focused on how stimuli affect behavior through principles like operant and classical conditioning.
Critiques of behaviourism included:
- Ignoring the understanding behind behavior.
- Misalignment of learning and performance.
- Neglect of complex cognitive processes.

Cognitive Revolution

The cognitive revolution highlighted the necessity to study mental events to interpret behavior.
Language processing is primarily in the left hemisphere; spatial reasoning in the right hemisphere.
Communication between hemispheres facilitated by commissures, notably the corpus callosum.

Brain Functionality and Structure

Primary motor and sensory areas demonstrate contralateral processing:
- Primary motor area in the rear of the frontal lobe controls movement on the opposite side of the body.
- Parietal lobes process touch; temporal lobes process sound; occipital lobes process vision, each with dedicated cortical regions.

Neuron Structure

Dendrites detect signals; cell body contains the nucleus; axons transmit signals, coated in myelin sheath.
Synapses respond based on neurotransmitter release and the postsynaptic cell’s sensitivity.

Neuroscience Techniques

CT/CAT Scan: Creates a 3D map of the brain’s structure.
MRI: Uses magnetic fields for detailed brain imaging.
fMRI: Measures oxygen levels for tracking brain activity; high spatial resolution but limited temporal resolution.
TMS: Disrupts brain functions temporarily, allowing the study of specific areas.
ERP: Measures electrical currents resulting from neuron firing, averaging across trials to detect cognitive processing.
PET Scan: Tracks radioactive substances to assess brain activity and glucose levels.

Visual System

Visual processing is essential for object location; damage can impair reaching abilities.
Binding Problem: Integrates various elements of a scene processed in different brain areas.
- Spatial position tracked by brain systems; neural synchrony aligns processing rhythm for attended features.
- Attention narrows focus, synchronizing neuron firing for relevant stimuli and reducing errors in perception.

Brain Plasticity

Brain plasticity reflects changes in neural pathways due to behavior, environment, or injury.
Recovery is most effective when the injury occurs early.

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Description

Explore the fascinating concepts of memory, associations, and the pioneering experiments in psychology. This quiz covers the laws of associations, key figures like Donders, and the principles of introspection and structuralism. Test your knowledge on mental processes and their historical context.