Course Overview: PSYA01
Introduction to Biological and Cognitive
Psychology
Institution: University of Toronto
Domain: Psychology & Neuroscience
1. The Foundations of Biological Psychology
Biological psychology examines the physical
basis for behavior, focusing on how the
structure and function of the brain and
nervous system influence our actions and
thoughts.
The Neuron and Neural Communication
Neurons are the fundamental units of the
brain. They communicate via electrical
impulses
and chemical signals.
• The Action Potential: A brief electrical charge
that travels down an axon.
• Synaptic Transmission: Chemicals called
neurotransmitters cross the gap (synapse)
between neurons to pass signals.
• Key Neurotransmitters: * Dopamine: Reward
and motor movement.
• Serotonin: Mood regulation and sleep.
• GABA: The primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter.
Brain Anatomy
• The Cerebral Cortex: Divided into four lobes
(Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Occipital).
• The Limbic System: Responsible for
emotions and memory (includes the
Hippocampus
and Amygdala).
• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to
reorganize itself by forming new neural
connections
throughout life.
2. Sensation and Perception
This field studies how we receive information
from the environment and how our brains
interpret that data.
• Sensation: The physical process of sensory
receptors responding to external stimuli (light,
sound).• Perception: The psychological
process of organizing and interpreting those
sensations into
meaningful experiences.
• Gestalt Principles: Rules that describe how
the human eye perceives visual elements as
a
unified whole (e.g., proximity, similarity,
closure).
3. Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology focuses on internal
mental processes including memory,
attention, and
decision-making.
Memory Systems
1. Sensory Memory: Very brief storage of
sensory information.
2. Short-Term / Working Memory: Holds
roughly \bm{7 \pm 2} items for about 20–30
seconds.
3. Long-Term Memory: Permanent storage
divided into Explicit (conscious facts) and
Implicit
(unconscious skills).
Attention and Problem Solving
• Selective Attention: The ability to focus on a
single stimulus while filtering out distractions.
• Heuristics: Mental shortcuts used to make
quick decisions, though they can lead to
cognitive biases.
4. Learning and Behavior
• Classical Conditioning: Learning through
association (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs).
• Operant Conditioning: Learning through
consequences (reinforcement vs.
punishment).
• Observational Learning: Acquiring new
behaviors by watching others.
5. Research Methodology
Psychology relies on the scientific method to
ensure accuracy:
• Experimental Design: Using control groups
and random assignment to determine cause
and effect.
• Correlational Studies: Identifying
relationships between variables (remember:
correlation
does not equal causation).
• Ethical Standards: Ensuring participant
safety and informed consent in all
psychological
research.
Introduction to Biological and Cognitive
Psychology
Institution: University of Toronto
Domain: Psychology & Neuroscience
1. The Foundations of Biological Psychology
Biological psychology examines the physical
basis for behavior, focusing on how the
structure and function of the brain and
nervous system influence our actions and
thoughts.
The Neuron and Neural Communication
Neurons are the fundamental units of the
brain. They communicate via electrical
impulses
and chemical signals.
• The Action Potential: A brief electrical charge
that travels down an axon.
• Synaptic Transmission: Chemicals called
neurotransmitters cross the gap (synapse)
between neurons to pass signals.
• Key Neurotransmitters: * Dopamine: Reward
and motor movement.
• Serotonin: Mood regulation and sleep.
• GABA: The primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter.
Brain Anatomy
• The Cerebral Cortex: Divided into four lobes
(Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, and Occipital).
• The Limbic System: Responsible for
emotions and memory (includes the
Hippocampus
and Amygdala).
• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to
reorganize itself by forming new neural
connections
throughout life.
2. Sensation and Perception
This field studies how we receive information
from the environment and how our brains
interpret that data.
• Sensation: The physical process of sensory
receptors responding to external stimuli (light,
sound).• Perception: The psychological
process of organizing and interpreting those
sensations into
meaningful experiences.
• Gestalt Principles: Rules that describe how
the human eye perceives visual elements as
a
unified whole (e.g., proximity, similarity,
closure).
3. Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology focuses on internal
mental processes including memory,
attention, and
decision-making.
Memory Systems
1. Sensory Memory: Very brief storage of
sensory information.
2. Short-Term / Working Memory: Holds
roughly \bm{7 \pm 2} items for about 20–30
seconds.
3. Long-Term Memory: Permanent storage
divided into Explicit (conscious facts) and
Implicit
(unconscious skills).
Attention and Problem Solving
• Selective Attention: The ability to focus on a
single stimulus while filtering out distractions.
• Heuristics: Mental shortcuts used to make
quick decisions, though they can lead to
cognitive biases.
4. Learning and Behavior
• Classical Conditioning: Learning through
association (e.g., Pavlov’s dogs).
• Operant Conditioning: Learning through
consequences (reinforcement vs.
punishment).
• Observational Learning: Acquiring new
behaviors by watching others.
5. Research Methodology
Psychology relies on the scientific method to
ensure accuracy:
• Experimental Design: Using control groups
and random assignment to determine cause
and effect.
• Correlational Studies: Identifying
relationships between variables (remember:
correlation
does not equal causation).
• Ethical Standards: Ensuring participant
safety and informed consent in all
psychological
research.
