Lec: 23 Research Methods

Question 1

subtraction logic

Answer 1

RT of one condition alone means very little, difference_RT is informative

Task B = Task A + process X
RT(B) - RT(A) = RT(X)

minimal difference vs. meaningful difference

Question 2

mental rotation

Answer 2

intuition: when imagining a route, we seem to use our mind’s eye to scan the path or to rotate objects; process of imagining an object turning in three-dimensional space; the larger the angular difference, the longer the RT

Question 3

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 3

research method: brain-based method (disruption/stimulation method); brief, focal disruption of neural activity in surface regions of cortex; done on normal subjects; temporarily disorganize brain area by sending small magnetic pulse; when applied to the temporal parietal junction impairs moral reasoning
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Question 4

single-unit recording

Answer 4

research method: brain-based method (recording method); example = can find strikingly selective neural responses in human temporal cortex, in patients with depth electrodes implanted for presurgical mapping (find where seizures are happening)