PSYCH 390-002
Research in Memory (W22), University of Waterloo
Course Description
Questions to be addressed include: How is information encoded and retrieved? What types of memory exist? How can we measure these forms of memory? Why does forgetting occur? What biological changes accompany memory loss? Can memory impairments be rehabilitated?
There is also a lab component to this course. The goal of the lab component is to introduce students to OpenSesame software, which is often used to collect data for research studies. The goal for these labs is to give you a hands-on opportunity to understand the basic methods in current memory research.
Several major themes in the area of memory research are explored in this course. Historically influential ideas, current theoretical debates, and the application of cognitive, social, neuroimaging, & neuropsychological approaches to the study of memory are reviewed and discussed.
Course Structure and Requirements
By the end of the course, you will have a detailed knowledge of a wide range of memory phenomena and a solid foundation from which to pursue more advanced study. The introduction to OpenSesame will familiarize you with how experiments are set up, and the variables that can be manipulated. Attendance at lectures and in labs is essential. Group Presentations are designed to promote discussion of relevant ideas and concepts. The poster session is designed to introduce you to how research results are communicated at scientific conferences and meetings.
Schedule of readings and activities
| Topic | Lecture / Lab Number and Location | Readings and Assignments | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syllabus / Course Web Page Introduction to Memory Concepts | Lecture 1 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Syllabus | Wednesday, Jan 5th |
| Introduction to Memory Research | Lecture 2 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 1 | Monday, Jan 10th |
| Measuring the Brain | Lecture 3 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 2 | Wednesday, Jan 12th |
| Kinds of Memory | Lecture 4 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 3 | Monday, Jan 17th |
| Introduction to OpenSesame | Lab 1 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Lab 1 Course Notes Wammes et al., 2016 Select Presentation Topic (you have one week to choose via Form) | Wednesday, Jan 19th |
| Working Memory | Lecture 5 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 4 | Monday, Jan 24th |
| Recall | Lab 2 (Online meeting on Microsoft Teams) | Lab 2 Course Notes Announce presentation dates and topics | Wednesday, Jan 26th |
| Learning | Lecture 6 (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 5 | Monday, Jan 31st |
| Recognition | Lab 3 (PAS 1237) | Lab 3 Course Notes | Wednesday, Feb 2nd |
| Episodic Memory | Lecture 7 (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 6 | Monday, Feb 7th |
| Making Modifications | Lab 4 (PAS 1237) | Lab 4 Course Notes | Wednesday, Feb 9th |
| Memory Retrieval | Lecture 8 (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 8 | Monday, Feb 14th |
| Debugging | Lab 5 (PAS 1237) | Lab 5 Course Notes | Wednesday, Feb 16th |
| Reading Week | Reading Week - No Class | Monday, Feb 21st | |
| Reading Week | Reading Week - No Class | Wednesday, Feb 23rd | |
| Memory, Aging, & Dementia | Lecture 9 (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 15 | Monday, Feb 28th |
| Midterm | HH 1102 | Midterm | Wednesday, March 2nd |
| Careers in Cognitive Neuroscience Workshop, Topic TBA (15 minutes) Tips for In-Class Presentation | Lecture (HH 1102) | Preparation for In-Class Presentations Individual Meetings (About Presentations) | Monday, March 7th |
| Data Collection | Lab 6 (PAS 1237) | Lab 6 Course Notes | Wednesday, March 9th |
| Group Presentations Topic 1: Improving Your Memory Topic 2: Incidental Forgetting | Presentations (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 17 Baddeley et al., Chapter 9 | Monday, March 14th |
| Data Wrangling & Analysis | Lab 7 (PAS 1237) | Lab 7 Course Notes | Wednesday, March 16th |
| Group Presentations Topic 3: Motivated Forgetting Topic 4: Autobiographical Memory Topic 5: Eyewitness Memory | Presentations (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 10 Baddeley et al., Chapter 11 Baddeley et al., Chapter 12 | Monday, March 21st |
| Group Presentations Topic 6: Prospective Memory Topic 7: Memory in Childhood Topic 8: When Memory Fails | Presentations (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 13 Baddeley et al., Chapter 14 Baddeley et al., Chapter 16 | Wednesday, March 23rd |
| Group Presentations Topic 9: Semantic Memory Workshop, Topic TBA (45 minutes) | Presentations (HH 1102) | Baddeley et al., Chapter 7 | Monday, March 28th |
| Poster Day | Presentations (HH 1102) | Present your research proposal, results, & discussion to the class! | Wednesday, March 30th |
| Hot Topics in Cognitive Neuroscience Poster Introduction Write-Up Due Date | Lecture 11 (HH 1102) | Link to sample conference programs on Learn: - Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, & Cognitive Science - Psychonomic Society - Cognitive Neuroscience Society Course Feedback | Monday, April 4th |