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LECTURE 5 BIOLOGY PT1

PSY1101H Winter 2025 Lecture 5 Biology and Neuroscience

General Announcements

  • Sign up for research participation via course syllabus.

  • Reminder about Midterm Test 1:

    • Date: February 4th

    • Chapters: 2 & 3

    • Thank you to note-takers!

Midterm Test 1 Details

  • When: February 4th

  • Location: Regular classroom

  • Time: 4:10 – 5:10 PM

  • Arrive by 4:00 PM for seating (10 min required)

  • Instructions on materials (no calculator needed) via announcements on BrightSpace.

  • Test format includes:

    • Multiple Choice (approx. 35 questions)

    • True/False or Matching (approx. 5 questions)

  • Content includes:

    • Chapter 2 and Chapter 3

    • Lecture materials and any mentioned videos or texts.

Recap from Last Class

  • Overview of experiments in psychology: definition and applications.

  • Statistics introduction including:

    • Measures of central tendency

    • Probability

    • Normal distribution

    • Standard deviation and variance.

  • Discussed ethics in research methods and the importance of ethical guidelines.

Today's Objectives

  • Conclude discussion on Methods and Research Ethics.

  • Describe Neurons:

    • Structure and function

    • Action potential

    • Neurotransmitter release.

Research Methods Comparison

  • Descriptive Research

    • Purpose: Observe and record behavior.

    • Conducted via case studies, naturalistic observations, surveys.

    • Weakness: Lacks control of variables; single cases may mislead.

  • Correlational Research

    • Purpose: Identify relationships; predict outcomes.

    • Conducted by collecting data on two/more variables without manipulation.

    • Weakness: Cannot establish cause and effect.

  • Experimental Research

    • Purpose: Explore cause and effect.

    • Involves manipulating one or more factors; uses random assignment.

    • Weakness: May not generalize results or be ethical to manipulate variables.

Importance of Ethical Understanding in Research

  • Accurate statistical understanding is crucial to avoid misinterpretations and misleading claims.

  • Calls for better teaching and transparency in statistical presentation.

Calculating Variance and Standard Deviation

  • Steps for calculation:

    1. Calculate the mean of each dataset.

    2. Subtract the mean from each score.

    3. Square deviation scores.

    4. Sum squared deviations.

    5. Divide by n (number of entries) for variance.

    6. Square root variance to find standard deviation.

Example Dataset Calculation

  • Group A Scores: 10, 40, 30, 15, 30

  • Mean: 25, Variance: 120, SD: 10.95

  • Group B Scores: 10, 20, 15, 25, 30

  • Mean: 20, Variance: 50, SD: 7.07

Research Ethics Overview

  • Importance of ethical standards in research with human and animal subjects.

  • Highlighted Tuskagee Syphilis Study as a critical case for ethics awareness.

Five Main Principles of Ethics

  1. Beneficence and Nonmaleficence: Balance between doing good and avoiding harm.

  2. Fidelity and Responsibility: Establish trusting relationships; informed consent.

  3. Integrity: Honesty in reporting results without data manipulation.

  4. Justice: Fair distribution of benefits and protections for all participants.

  5. Respect for People’s Rights: Protecting rights and dignity; ensuring privacy and consent.

Ethical Guidelines and Vulnerable Populations

  • Research must prioritize the welfare of vulnerable groups (children, prisoners).

  • Special precautions must be observed when conducting research involving these populations.

Research Values and Their Impact

  • Research motivations shape the scope and interpretation of findings.

  • Challenge of conducting ethical research while addressing human issues.

New Topic: Neurons, Brain, and Their Role in Psychology

  • Introduction to physiology and biology of neurons and their contribution to behavior.

  • Key terms and structures important in understanding neuronal function:

    • Neurons, glial cells, neurotransmitters, axons, dendrites.

Neuronal Structure and Function

  • Neurons communicate through neurotransmitters that change electrical activity in other neurons.

  • Neuron structure includes:

    • Dendrites: Receive signals

    • Soma (cell body): Integrates signals

    • Axon: Sends signals to the next neuron.

  • The synaptic gap facilitates communication between neurons by allowing neurotransmitter release from presynaptic to postsynaptic neurons.

Glial Cells in the Nervous System

  • Outnumber neurons, providing support, insulation (myelin), waste removal, and nutrients.

  • Important types include astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Next Steps

  • Continue reading Chapter 3 and review the brain function summary on BrightSpace.