Online Psychology Demonstrations

The following are some fun and useful  demonstrations of various concepts in psychology and related fields. Many of the demos focus on cognition and perception. As I write or come across other interesting demos, I will add them to this list. If you notice that any of the links don't work (or, worse yet, that any sites require a fee!), please send me a short note.

For background information on psychological theories of cognition, intelligence, and perception (upon which these tests are founded), see my Perception Resources, Cognitive Psychology Resources, Intelligence Resources, and Psychology of Language Resources. (For some guidelines on how to examine and think critically about psychological theories, see the Bolton Institute of Psychology's workbook, Assessing Theories in Psychology.)
 

Brain Channels—Evolving Human Consciousness
http://www.brainchannels.com/evolution/modernbrain.html
Excellent section on the physical brain. Contains basic information and diagrams on: development of the brain through history; modern brain structures and their functions (including diagram of the reptilian brain); and effects of drugs and addiction on the physical brain (includes animated diagrams of neurotransmitter pathways).

Depression Animation
http://www.depression.com/depression_animation.html?content=understanding&
Simple, neat little video illustrating how depression works in the brain, at the neuron and neurotransmitter level.

Discover Magazine NeuroQuest Demonstrations (by Eric Haseltine)
Start at: http://www.discover.com/issues/feb-04/departments/neuroquest/
Various demonstrations and animations of psychological and neuropsychological concepts (eg, perception, memory formation, dyslexia) as described in Discover's NeuroQuest print column. To browse through older demos, animations, and experiments, look at the bottom of each article—under "Similar Article Results"—and click on the entries entitled "NeuroQuest".

Exploratorium Online Activities
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/online.html
About 25 fun and educational games and demonstrations related to human perception and cognition.

MazeWorks
http://www.mazeworks.com
An excellent collection of fun games and puzzles that test your problem-solving and cognitive skills. Includes: Daily Chess Problem, English 16, Fiver, Peg Solitaire, Sliders, Tower of Hanoi, Hare and Hounds, Hex-7, TacTix, and Triplets. Also includes a random maze generator.

Serendip
(Bryn Mawr University)
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu
"Serendip is a gathering place for people who suspect that life's instructions are always ambiguous and incomplete. Originating in interactions among neurobiologists, computer scientists, business people, and educators, Serendip is both an expanding forum and a continually developing set of resources to explore and support intellectual and social change in education, in social organization... and in how one makes sense of life." Includes interactive exhibits, images, demos, etc. on all areas of psychology, such as perception, cognition (includes the prisoner's dilemma), psychophysiology, and evolutionary psychology.

UCLA Laboratory of Neuroimaging (LONI)
http://www.loni.ucla.edu
LONI's Scientific Visualization group works to create 3D images and animations of nervous system structures and processes. On the site you will find images and animations of anatomy, development, disease, etc. Excellent site.

OTHER PSYCHOLOGY TOOLS:

[ Eddy's Quick-Reference Psychology Guides ]

[ Psychology Dictionaries, Glossaries, and Encyclopedias ]

[ Online Psychological Tests ]

[ Online Statistical Tools and Demonstrations ]

[ Writing and General Reference Tools ]