Introduction to Psychology Lecture 1 intro to intro

Introduction to Psychology Lecture 1 - intro to intro One semester voyage in Psychology terrain: q. Me q. Dida q. Atkinson et all. 14 th edition q. The web q. You… the active audience

Introduction to Psychology Video & syllabus: http: //video. tau. ac. il Syllabus: http: //freud. tau. ac. il/~mintz

Future of Psychology q. Semester A: present state of psychology q. Semester B: history of psychology q. Little we know about the future of psychology

Science moves to ……. . q Decade of the brain is over: Many details but not too many general rules discovered. q Decade of the genomic: sequence discovered but what is the function? q Decade of the behavior: would it happen?

Why decade of behavior? Behavior is the highest organizing rule of: q Genes: behavioral survival is the great selector q Brain: action extracts function from structure q Society: relations define the structure of the society q 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: q Weinberger (2002) – genetic anomaly of 5 -HT transporter predisposes to anxiety. q Phenotype demonstrated by f. MRI. q Heterozygote? Homozygote? Dominant? q Selective for 5 -HT transporter or for all monoamines? q Psychology graduate: how the hell it is related to anxiety? ?

Future of Ψ in relation to genetics (2) The headbanger mutant mice has vestibular phenotype. Is it related to anxiety?

Future of Ψ in relation to technology (1) Virtual Reality: q Psychological treatment q f. MRI context q Presence q 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 q. Behaves as an artificial creature q. Interacts with visitors autonomously q. Controlled by neuromorphic technology q. 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 IQR 421) Output Behavior Output Emotions

Future of Ψ in relation to evolution (1) Control of behavior by: q Over and under expression of genes q Insertion of genes q 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 q. Would psychology survive the advances in psychiatry? q. Would psychiatry survive the advances in neurology?

Education of a modern psychologist Think 10 yrs ahead…. q. Where are you ? ? ? q. What are you doing there ? ? ? q. 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 ( )הכללה in psychology Reductionism ( )העמדה in biology G & R during the lectures

Explanation in psychology Two ways to explain psychological phenomena: q Finding: Autonomic excitation during learning q Generalization: emotion promotes adaptation to new environment. q Reductionism: neurons in the amygdala activate the cortex

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