Detailed protocols to explore concepts in psychophysiology including biofeedback, classical conditioning, electrodermal response, perception, reaction time, and psychological bias.
This lesson is designed to be used before the Lab. Questions have been set to allow multiple attempts for formative assessment. However, it is very simple to change the setting so that students may make only one attempt and their answers can be graded.
Independent learning (30 minutes)
This lesson includes a Challenge page to get the learners thinking about the main point of each exercise. Each exercise has an activity and an analysis page with questions to check their understanding. These check your understanding questions allow single attempts.
Group work (2 hours)
Biofeedback
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This laboratory provides an introduction to biofeedback. Students will use biofeedback to try and alter physiological process of which you are usually unaware. The three conditions students will try to control are: electrodermal response (skin conductance), skin temperature, and heart rate.
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Diving Response
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In this lab, learners investigate the effects of the diving response on heart rate and peripheral circulation in humans during simulated dives as well as breath holding.
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EDR and Classical Conditioning
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In this lab, learners measure skin conductance, heart rate, and respiratory rate to examine the electrodermal response. Learners complete a classical conditioning experiment, in which a neutral stimulus is paired with an adverse stimulus to try and elicit a conditioned response. This experiment can follow “Electrodermal Response (EDR)” or can stand alone.
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Electrodermal Response (EDR)
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In this lab, learners are introduced to EDR. They will test the effects of emotion, stress, and lying (polygraph test), on physiological responses. They will measure and analyze skin conductance, skin temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
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Electroencephalography (EEG)
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In this lab, learners explore the electrical activity of the brain. They record electroencephalograms, and analyze: the effect of various interfering signals; the changes to alpha and beta waves with eyes open and shut; and the effects of mental and auditory activity on alpha and beta waves.
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Electrooculography (EOG)
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In this lab, learners record electro-oculograms (EOGs) in the horizontal plane. They will examine different eye movements including: angular displacement, saccades, smooth tracking, gaze-holding and gaze-shifting, and nystagmus.
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Introduction to Psychophysiology
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In this lab, learners are introduced to basic techniques to measure psychophysiological variables. Learners record electrodermal response (using a GSR Amp and finger electrodes), respiratory rate (with a respiratory belt), blood pressure (using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope), and electromyography (using electrodes positioned on muscles of the face).
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Muscle and EMG
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In this lab, learners record EMG during voluntary muscle contractions and investigate how coactivation and contractile force changes with increasing demand. They measure the decline in their grip force during a sustained contraction and examine muscle fatigue. They also discover how visual feedback, verbal feedback, and rest impact their ability to sustain muscle contractions.
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Reflexes and Reaction Times
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In this lab, learners explore the similarities and differences of reflexes and reactions. They first examine simple reflexes, and then use the PowerLab to examine their reaction times to stimuli under different conditions.
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Sensory Illusions
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In this lab, learners complete a series of exercises to investigate mechanisms of sensory perception and discover techniques that send conflicting information to the central nervous system.
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Sensory Physiology
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In this lab, learners will familiarize themselves with their senses and observe some sensory illusions. These activities are suitable for learners at all levels, and can be performed without a PowerLab.
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Size-Weight Illusion
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In this lab, learners are introduced to the basic concepts of perception through an exploration of the size-weight illusion. The laboratory begins with the traditional size-weight illusion, and then takes learners through a series of manipulations that lead to a more interpretive analysis of the illusion in the final exercise.
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Stroop Test
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In this lab, learners will familiarize themselves with the Stroop test. They will investigate the interference of conflicting messages, and examine at the effects of the Stroop test as an experimental stressor.
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Visual Evoked Potential (VEP)
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In this lab, learners record visual evoked potential waveforms using techniques from the electroencephalogram. They will complete two exercises in which a volunteer watches a series of light flashes and then a checkerboard pattern reversal. They will compare the two visual evoked potential waveforms to determine which stimulus elicits the greater response.
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