Foundations in Psychology

In this video, we discuss the concept of a 'schema'. Schemas can be thought of as 'cognitive frameworks' or ' mental maps' used to organize our memories. 'Reconstructive Memory' refers to the process of activating a general schema, and then using the specific information organized within this schema to 'reconstruct' the details of a specific memory. Watch this video on YouTube here.

In this video we discuss the cerebral cortex. The cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, and is responsible for many of our 'higher-level' cognitive behaviours such as thought, language, attention, perception, etc. Watch this video on YouTube here.

In this video we discuss some of the ways in which we detect the presence of, as well as changes in, sensory information in our environment. Using examples from auditory, visual, and taste modalities, we describe the following concepts: Absolute Threshold: The minimum stimulus intensity required to detect that stimulus (approximately 50% of the time). Difference Threshold: The minimum change in stimulus intensity required to detect that change (approximately 50% of the time). Weber's Law: The Just Noticeable Difference (JND) of a stimulus will be proportional to the original stimulus intensity. Signal Detection Theory: Our perception of a stimulus depends on the presence of sensory information, and our judgement regarding the presence of that stimulus. Watch this video on YouTube here.

In this third of three lectures on the neuron, we discuss the synapse: The point of communication between two neurons. Watch this video on YouTube here.

In this second video of our three part series on the neuron, we discuss the 'action potential': The process that occurs when a neuron 'fires'. Watch this video on YouTube here.

In this first of three lectures on the neuron, we provide a brief introduction to the nervous system, and discuss the structure of the neuron. Watch this video on YouTube here.

Welcome to Foundations in Psychology. Hosted by Dr. Ryan W. Langridge. Each video in this lecture series will cover a different topic within the Psychological Sciences. Our goal is to establish a basic understanding of each topic, and build the foundations required to expand and improve on this conceptual framework when necessary. If you have a suggestion for a future video, or you have a particular topic in mind you would like us to cover, please let us know in the comments. We want to make sure we are covering the topics you’re interested in. So whether you’re a student studying psychology, or otherwise simply interested in learning about psychology as a science, we’d love to hear from you. Ok, let’s get started.