Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is cognitive psychology primarily focused on?
What is cognitive psychology primarily focused on?
What principle did behaviorism reject in its approach to psychology?
What principle did behaviorism reject in its approach to psychology?
Which researcher is often referred to as the 'father of cognitive psychology'?
Which researcher is often referred to as the 'father of cognitive psychology'?
What did the cognitive revolution critically address regarding behaviorism?
What did the cognitive revolution critically address regarding behaviorism?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
What is the primary function of dendrites in a neuron?
Signup and view all the answers
Which technique is commonly used in cognitive neuroscience to study brain activity?
Which technique is commonly used in cognitive neuroscience to study brain activity?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of memory did Hermann Ebbinghaus focus on in his research?
What aspect of memory did Hermann Ebbinghaus focus on in his research?
Signup and view all the answers
How do neurons primarily communicate with each other?
How do neurons primarily communicate with each other?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary focus of connectionist models in representing concepts?
What is the primary focus of connectionist models in representing concepts?
Signup and view all the answers
Which brain area is specifically linked to face recognition?
Which brain area is specifically linked to face recognition?
Signup and view all the answers
What hypothesis suggests that language influences thoughts and perceptions?
What hypothesis suggests that language influences thoughts and perceptions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a morpheme?
What is a morpheme?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes pragmatics in language use?
Which of the following best describes pragmatics in language use?
Signup and view all the answers
What is Broca’s aphasia primarily characterized by?
What is Broca’s aphasia primarily characterized by?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following illustrates a syntactically correct but semantically meaningless sentence?
Which of the following illustrates a syntactically correct but semantically meaningless sentence?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does prior knowledge play in text comprehension?
What role does prior knowledge play in text comprehension?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the principle of localization in the brain suggest?
What does the principle of localization in the brain suggest?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements best defines bottom-up processing?
Which of the following statements best defines bottom-up processing?
Signup and view all the answers
Which brain imaging technique tracks blood flow to infer brain activity?
Which brain imaging technique tracks blood flow to infer brain activity?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of mirror neurons?
What is the primary function of mirror neurons?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the Stroop Effect demonstrate the interaction between perception and attention?
How does the Stroop Effect demonstrate the interaction between perception and attention?
Signup and view all the answers
Which memory model emphasizes the interaction of subsystems within working memory?
Which memory model emphasizes the interaction of subsystems within working memory?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect does divided attention have on cognitive tasks?
What effect does divided attention have on cognitive tasks?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes how the levels of processing theory relates to memory retention?
Which of the following describes how the levels of processing theory relates to memory retention?
Signup and view all the answers
Which phenomenon refers to failing to notice changes in a visual scene?
Which phenomenon refers to failing to notice changes in a visual scene?
Signup and view all the answers
What does chunking in memory refer to?
What does chunking in memory refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following accurately defines proactive interference?
Which of the following accurately defines proactive interference?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary role of attention in cognitive processes?
What is the primary role of attention in cognitive processes?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about long-term memory capacity is correct?
Which statement about long-term memory capacity is correct?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the light-from-above assumption refer to in perception?
What does the light-from-above assumption refer to in perception?
Signup and view all the answers
Which method of note-taking is likely to lead to deeper processing and better retention?
Which method of note-taking is likely to lead to deeper processing and better retention?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following practices enhances memory retention effectively?
Which of the following practices enhances memory retention effectively?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of sleep in memory consolidation?
What is the role of sleep in memory consolidation?
Signup and view all the answers
Which memory phenomenon is described as false or distorted memories that feel real?
Which memory phenomenon is described as false or distorted memories that feel real?
Signup and view all the answers
Which is a key characteristic of procedural memory?
Which is a key characteristic of procedural memory?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the 'reminiscence bump' in autobiographical memory?
What is the 'reminiscence bump' in autobiographical memory?
Signup and view all the answers
Which memory process explains better recall when the encoding and retrieval tasks match?
Which memory process explains better recall when the encoding and retrieval tasks match?
Signup and view all the answers
Which theory suggests that categories are formed around an average or ideal representation?
Which theory suggests that categories are formed around an average or ideal representation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of implicit memory?
What is an example of implicit memory?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of testing is most effective in enhancing retention?
What type of testing is most effective in enhancing retention?
Signup and view all the answers
Which condition is characterized by the loss of past memories?
Which condition is characterized by the loss of past memories?
Signup and view all the answers
Which memory approach involves associating items with familiar locations?
Which memory approach involves associating items with familiar locations?
Signup and view all the answers
Which theory fails to account for the flexibility in recognizing atypical members of a category?
Which theory fails to account for the flexibility in recognizing atypical members of a category?
Signup and view all the answers
Which evidence supports the idea that perception and imagery are processed similarly in the brain?
Which evidence supports the idea that perception and imagery are processed similarly in the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Cognitive Psychology Overview
- Cognitive psychology studies mental processes like perception, memory, language, problem-solving, reasoning, and decision-making.
- It investigates how people understand, think, and learn.
Behaviorism
- Behaviorism focuses solely on observable behaviors, environmental stimuli, and reinforcement.
- It rejects the study of mental processes, emphasizing objective measurement.
- Pioneers include John Watson and B.F. Skinner.
- Behaviorism was dominant in the early 20th century.
Cognitive Revolution
- Advances in AI (e.g., Turing Machines) and linguistics (e.g., Chomsky's critique of behaviorism) spurred research on cognition.
- This period occurred from the 1950s-1960s.
- Cognitive psychology gained prominence during this era.
Key Figures in Cognitive Psychology
- Ulric Neisser is considered the father of cognitive psychology, formalizing the field in his book, Cognitive Psychology.
- Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted research on memory and forgetting curves.
- Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology lab and used introspection.
- Frederic Bartlett studied reconstructive memory and the role of schemas.
- Jean Piaget studied cognitive development in children.
Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cognitive neuroscience links cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
- It studies how the brain underpins mental processes.
- Brain imaging techniques (e.g., fMRI, EEG) are used to explore neural structures related to memory, language, and decision-making.
Neuron Structure and Function
- Dendrites: Receive signals from other neurons.
- Cell Body (Soma): Processes incoming information.
- Axon: Transmits electrical signals (action potentials).
- Synapse: Gap between neurons where neurotransmitters facilitate communication.
- Neurons communicate electrically and chemically, enabling transmission and communication.
Brain Function: Localization and Distributed Representation
- Localization: Specific brain areas are responsible for particular functions.
- Distributed Representation: Cognitive processes involve activity across multiple brain regions.
Brain Imaging Techniques
- EEG (Electroencephalography): Measures electrical brain activity.
- fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Tracks blood flow changes to infer brain activity.
- TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation): Temporarily disrupts brain regions to study their roles.
- Lesion Studies: Examine behavioral changes following brain damage.
Perception
- Perception involves interpreting sensory information for understanding the environment.
- It integrates sensory input (bottom-up) with existing knowledge (top-down).
- Sensory Store: Brief storage for sensory information.
- Iconic Memory: Visual sensory memory (milliseconds).
- Echoic Memory: Auditory sensory memory (seconds).
Assumptions and Principles of Perception
- Perception relies on assumptions about the world (often unconsciously).
- Light-from-above Assumption: Assumes light comes from above to interpret shadows.
- Contextual Assumptions: Interpret objects based on surrounding information.
- Gestalt Principles of Organization: Explain how we perceive unified patterns (e.g., proximity, similarity, closure, continuity).
Perception and Action
- Perception guides action.
- Mirror Neurons: Activate during both performing and observing actions.
- Action Affordances: Perceiving objects in terms of potential uses.
Attention
- Attention focuses mental resources on specific stimuli while ignoring others.
- Selective Attention: Focus on one stimulus, excluding others.
- Divided Attention: Splitting focus between tasks.
-
Sustained Attention: Maintaining focus over time.
- Dichotic Listening Tasks measure attention in auditory information.
- Visual Search Tasks measure visual attention.
Attention Models
- Broadbent's Filter Model: Early selection filters irrelevant stimuli before processing.
- Treisman's Attenuation Model: Irrelevant stimuli are attenuated (not entirely filtered).
- Late Selection Models: Processing occurs before filtering.
Attention and Processing
- Inattentional Blindness: Failing to notice visible objects.
- Change Blindness: Failing to detect changes in a visual scene.
- Automatic Processing: Unconscious, effortless, and fast.
- Controlled Processing: Conscious, effortful, and slower.
Short-Term Memory (STM)
- STM temporarily stores a limited amount of information.
- Miller's Law: STM holds about 7 ± 2 items.
- Chunking: Grouping information to improve STM capacity.
Working Memory
- Working memory actively holds and manipulates information.
- It's a cognitive system for complex tasks like reasoning, learning, and comprehension.
- Baddeley's Working Memory Model describes its components.
Forgetting
- Forgetting occurs rapidly initially and then levels off.
- Decay Theory: Memory traces disappear with lack of use.
- Interference Theory: Competing information disrupts recall.
- Retrieval Failure: Memory exists but cannot be accessed.
Long-Term Memory (LTM)
- LTM stores vast amounts of information permanently (potentially).
- Transferring from STM to LTM involves rehearsal, elaboration, and encoding.
- Encoding Theories of Memory: Transform information for storage.
- Dual-Coding Theory: Verbal and visual encoding improves memory.
Memory Processes and Strategies
- Levels of Processing: Deeper processing improves retention.
- Generation Effect: Self-generated information is better remembered.
- Sleep and Memory: Consolidation occurs during sleep.
- Spaced Practice: Improves retention more than cramming.
- Testing Effect: Retrieval enhances retention
Memory Cues
- Cues facilitate retrieval.
- Encoding Specificity Principle: Retrieval is best when cues match encoding context.
- Context-Dependent Memory: Recall is better in the learning environment.
Memory Illusions and Types
- Memory Illusions: False or distorted memories.
- Source Monitoring Problems: Mistaking the origin of a memory.
- Flashbulb Memories: Vivid but not always accurate.
Types of Memory
- Explicit Memory: Conscious recall of facts and events (episodic and semantic).
- Implicit Memory: Unconscious recall of skills and associations (procedural and priming).
Memory Disorders
- Retrograde Amnesia: Loss of past memories.
- Anterograde Amnesia: Inability to form new memories.
- Parkinson’s Disease: Procedural memory problems.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Progressive memory loss, involving amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
How Imagery Impacts Memory and Other Cognitive Processes
- Visual imagery enhances memory, problem-solving, and planning.
- Dual-Coding Theory: Verbal and visual encoding strengthens retention.
- Method of Loci, Peg-Word System: Imagery mnemonics.
Categorization and Concepts
- Categorization groups objects into categories based on shared features, facilitating understanding.
- Concept: Mental representation of a category.
- Exemplar: Specific instance within a category.
Theories of Categorization
- Definitional Theory: Categories have necessary and sufficient features.
- Prototype Theory: Categories centered around typical representations.
- Template Theory: Categorization involves matching to stored templates.
- Family Resemblance: Category members share overlapping features.
Semantic Networks and Models
- Semantic Networks: Concepts are linked in a network.
- Connectionist Models: Concepts represented as patterns of activation.
Language
- Language is a communication system of words, symbols, and rules.
- Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Language shapes thought and perception.
Language Components
- Phonemes: Smallest units of sound.
- Morphemes: Smallest units of meaning.
- Syntax: Rules for sentence structure.
- Semantics: Meaning in words and sentences.
Language Disorders
- Broca's Aphasia: Impaired speech production but intact comprehension.
- Wernicke's Aphasia: Fluent but nonsensical speech with poor comprehension.
Text Comprehension
- Situational Model: Mental representations of text context.
- Coherence: Clear connections between ideas in text.
- Prior Knowledge: Important for integrating information.
- Visualization: Helps understand descriptive passages.
- Pragmatics: Study of how language is used in context.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the fundamentals of cognitive psychology, including its historical context and key figures in the field. Learn about the cognitive revolution, the role of behaviorism, and mental processes such as perception and memory. Test your knowledge on how these concepts shape our understanding of human thought and behavior.
