Transcript Introduction to Psychology Lecture 1

Introduction to Psychology
Lecture 1- intro to intro
One semester voyage in Psychology terrain:
Me
Dida
Atkinson et all. 14th edition
The web
You… the active audience
Introduction to Psychology
Video & syllabus:
http://video.tau.ac.il
Syllabus:
http://freud.tau.ac.il/~mintz
Future of Psychology
Semester A: present state of psychology
Semester B: history of psychology
Little we know about the future of
psychology
Science moves to ……..
 Decade of the brain is over: Many details
but not too many general rules discovered.
 Decade of the genomic: sequence
discovered but what is the function?
 Decade of the behavior: would it happen?
Why decade of behavior?
Behavior is the highest organizing rule of:
Genes: behavioral survival is the great selector
Brain: action extracts function from structure
Society: relations define the structure of the society
Evolution: dreams of advance define acceleration of
evolution
Future of Ψ in relation to biology (1)
Classical question in Ψ: nature of consciousness.
Consciousness and Neuroscience
Francis Crick
The Salk Institute
Christof Koch
Computation and Neural Systems Program
California Institute of Technology
Future of Ψ in relation to biology (2)
We’re looking for very
specific neuronal
properties, not the
collective activity of the
entire brain (Koch).
Rene Magritte
Future of Ψ in relation to biology (3)
Caltech physical biochemist
raises consciousness research
to respectability
Future of Ψ in relation to genetics (1)
New genes are discovered daily:
 Weinberger (2002) – genetic anomaly of 5-HT
transporter predisposes to anxiety.
 Phenotype demonstrated by fMRI.
 Heterozygote? Homozygote? Dominant?
 Selective for 5-HT transporter or for all
monoamines?
 Psychology graduate: how the hell it is related to
anxiety????
Future of Ψ in relation to genetics (2)
40
35
# of entrées to Dark
The headbanger
mutant mice has
vestibular
phenotype.
Is it related to
anxiety?
30
25
Hdb
20
wild-type
15
10
5
0
1
2
months
3
Future of Ψ in relation to technology (1)
Virtual Reality:
Psychological
treatment
fMRI context
Presence
What is presence
????
The virtual cave
Future of Ψ in relation to technology (2)
VR is already used in
psychological therapy.
Most research on this
subject is related to the
concept of presence.
Future of Ψ in relation to technology (3)
Computer games treat phobias
Therapists seek virtual reality products under $50 By
Kristen Gerencher,
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- When it comes to
treating exaggerated fears that interfere with daily
life, more mental health experts are turning to PCs for
help in getting patients back on track.
Future of Ψ in relation to technology (4)
Kevin Kellay, Essays in Science and Society. Science, 1998.
 Western culture has pivoted around the arts…. We think of
books, music, or painting ‘culture’. Artists are cool….
 Culture of Science has traditionally accepted the smartest
students ….
 Recently something surprising happened. A third culture
emerged, call it Nerd culture. Technology is their culture,
and Nerds became cool.
 Artists would contemplate and abstract about the mind
 Scientists would measure and test the mind.
 Nerds would manufacture one!!!! Nerds settle the Q’n of
how the mind works by building a working mind.
Intelligent autonomous companions (5)
Rodney A. Brooks- MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Ada: The Intelligent Space (6)
Project for Expo’02, Neuchâtel
Behaves as an artificial creature
Interacts with visitors autonomously
Controlled by neuromorphic technology
Shows our understanding of the brain
Future of Ψ in relation
to technology (7)
Future of Ψ in relation to technology (8)
Brain-machine hybrids
Human – machine
hybrid.
Is it possible?
Ask Kurzweil…
Future of Ψ in relation to computation (1)
Cerebellar anatomy
Ghez & Tach, 2000
Future of Ψ in relation to computation (2)
Cerebellar simulation
Memory/Learning
Sensors/Preprocessing
(Working environment IQR421)
Output
Behavior
Output
Emotions
Future of Ψ in relation to evolution (1)
Control of behavior by:
 Over and under expression of genes
 Insertion of genes
 Localized expression in brain
Future of Ψ in relation to evolution (2)
DNA, programmed intelligence and silicon
J.M. Smith, evolutionary biologist: Is life now as
complex as it can get?
The marriage of DNA, programmed intelligence and
silicon is hovering on the horizon. That would be a major
transition in transmitting information between
generations, and storing it.
If we come back in a hundred years' time, will the
prostheses continue to be computers on our desks, will
they be personalized bits of us, or will we find only
silicon beings surviving? That remains to be seen.
Future of Ψ in relation to neurology
and psychiatry
Would psychology survive the advances in
psychiatry?
Would psychiatry survive the advances in neurology?
Education of a modern psychologist
Think 10 yrs ahead….
Where are you ???
What are you doing there ???
Are you in the main stream ???
Daily life & Science
In Dualism we believe at home: we react according to
body rules but have also free will mind.
In Monism we believe at the laboratory: body rules can
create any kind of behavior.
Explanation of behavior
Generalization (‫ )הכללה‬in psychology
Reductionism (‫ )העמדה‬in biology
G & R during the lectures
Explanation in psychology
Two ways to explain
psychological phenomena:
 Finding: Autonomic
excitation during learning
 Generalization: emotion
promotes adaptation to new
environment.
 Reductionism: neurons in the
amygdala activate the cortex
The end