Cognitive Psychology Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which type of memory has the slowest access and decay rate?

Episodic memory

Short-term memory

Long-term memory (correct)

Sensory memory

What is the primary function of episodic memory?

It helps in rapid recall of sensory inputs.

It serves as a repository for procedural knowledge.

It retains serial memory of personal experiences. (correct)

It organizes factual information.

Which statement accurately describes semantic memory?

It is primarily based on procedural knowledge.

It includes structured knowledge of facts and concepts. (correct)

It is derived from sensory inputs and short-term memory.

It decays rapidly compared to other memory types.

What type of interference occurs when new information disrupts the recall of previously learned information?

Retroactive interference Signup and view all the answers

In the context of memory models, what best defines 'production rules'?

Procedural knowledge represented as condition/action rules. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor optimizes the distribution of practice effect in learning?

Spreading learning activities over an extended period. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of skilled activity in skill acquisition?

Chunking for effective information structuring Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reasoning generalizes from observed cases to unobserved cases?

Inductive reasoning Signup and view all the answers

What psychological effect does positive affect have on problem-solving?

It enhances creative problem-solving Signup and view all the answers

In which theory is emotion defined as an interpretation of physiological responses to stimuli?

James-Lange theory Signup and view all the answers

What are 'slips' in the context of errors?

Intended actions that are executed incorrectly Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes abductive reasoning?

It involves reasoning from events to their potential causes Signup and view all the answers

What is the central concept of problem space theory in problem-solving?

Generating states using legal operators within a problem framework Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining aspect of deductive reasoning?

It derives conclusions from premises through logical necessity Signup and view all the answers

How can negative affect influence task performance?

It can hinder the ability to perform even simple tasks Signup and view all the answers

What role does Daniela Rus believe Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) will play in the future?

It will enhance the collaboration between humans and machines. Signup and view all the answers

How is Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) defined in relation to user experience?

HCI is the foundational study that influences User Experience (UX) design. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the significant reasons for the importance of HCI in today's technology?

It has led to the development of a variety of advanced technologies. Signup and view all the answers

How does the discipline of HCI intend to serve users better?

By studying and designing interfaces for better user interaction. Signup and view all the answers

What perspective is highlighted by Daniel Jackson regarding HCI?

There has been an insensitivity to users in software design. Signup and view all the answers

In which area has HCI shown significant influence as noted in the content?

Transportation technology. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the definition of HCI considered to be broad?

It encompasses almost all forms of Information Technology. Signup and view all the answers

What does the content suggest about the relationship between users and technology?

There is a constant evolution in how users interact with technology. Signup and view all the answers

What futuristic technologies does HCI contribute to, as mentioned in the content?

Virtual reality and touch screen technologies. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of user interaction does HCI prioritize according to its definition?

The ease of interaction between humans and machines. Signup and view all the answers

What sensation do Dexta haptic gloves NOT mimic?

Temperature Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of pre-touch sensing in smartphones?

To predict user actions based on finger proximity Signup and view all the answers

What capability does PaperID technology aim to provide to traditional paper?

To enable gesture recognition and internet connectivity Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the eye is responsible for color vision?

Cones Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of visual perception does 'visual angle' relate to?

Perception of depth and distance Signup and view all the answers

What memory type is influenced by emotion according to the information provided?

Long-term memory Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'visual acuity'?

The sharpness of perception of detail Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells in the retina detect patterns and movement?

Ganglion cells Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a stage in visual processing?

Chemical transformation of stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What primarily influences human capabilities in learning and skill application?

Emotional factors Signup and view all the answers

What is size constancy in visual perception?

The ability to perceive familiar objects as constant in size despite changes in distance Signup and view all the answers

Which factor primarily affects brightness perception?

The luminance or intensity of light Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of color as described in the content?

Hue, intensity, and saturation Signup and view all the answers

How does the visual system interpret changes in luminance?

Through compensatory mechanisms in context and motion Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the auditory system is responsible for amplifying sound?

Outer ear Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'timbre' refer to in auditory perception?

The quality or type of sound Signup and view all the answers

What role do saccades play in visual perception?

They are rapid movements of the eye between fixation points Signup and view all the answers

Which type of receptors in the skin is responsible for sensing temperature changes?

Thermoreceptors Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of semantics in the interpretation of visual patterns?

The meaning and implications of the content Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon illustrates an optical illusion due to over-compression?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Recognition

Information is recognized as previously seen
Less complex than processing and applying information

Reasoning

Deductive reasoning derives conclusions from given premises
Inductive reasoning generalizes from observed cases to unseen ones
Abductive reasoning reasons from an event to its cause

Problem Solving

Finds solutions for unfamiliar tasks
Gestalt theory suggests problems are solved through productive and reproductive thinking
Problem space theory involves generating states using legal operators

Skill Acquisition

Skilled activity is characterized by chunking
Conceptual grouping of problems rather than superficial
Information is structured more effectively

Errors

Slips are right intention, but failed execution
Mistakes are wrong intention, misinterpretation

Emotion

Involves cognitive and physical response to stimuli
Biological response to physical stimuli is called affect
Influences how we respond to situations
Positive affect encourages creative problem-solving
Negative affect leads to narrow thinking

Various Theories of Emotion

James-Lange: Emotion is the interpretation of a physiological response
Cannon: Emotion is a direct physiological response to a stimuli
Schacter-Singer: Emotion is a result of evaluating a physiological response in the context of a situation

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Study of designing computers to best serve users
Focus on understanding user needs and behaviors
Encompasses all forms of information technology
Closely related to User Experience (UX) design

Why HCI Matters

Helps create inventions like virtual reality, self-driving cars, and touch screen technology
Aims to make technology accessible and user-friendly

Future of HCI

Dexta haptic gloves create tactile sensations in virtual reality
Pre-touch sensing anticipates user actions on smartphones
PaperID digitizes paper by making it touchscreen-sensitive

The Human

Information input/output through visual, auditory, haptic, and movement
Information stored in sensory, short-term, and long-term memory
Information processed and applied through reasoning, problem-solving, skill acquisition, and error
Emotion influences abilities

Vision

Two stages: physical reception and processing
Eye receives light and converts it to electrical energy
Retina contains rods for low light and cones for color vision
Ganglion cells detect patterns and movement

Interpreting Visual Signal

Size and depth perceived through visual angle and acuity
Size constancy: familiar objects perceived as constant size regardless of distance
Brightness influenced by luminance and affects visual acuity
Color consists of hue, intensity, and saturation
8% males and 1% females have color blindness
Visual system compensates for movement and changes in luminance
Context helps resolve ambiguity and optical illusions can occur

Visual Input: Reading

Visual patterns are perceived and decoded using language representations
Syntax, semantics, and pragmatics are used for interpretation
Saccades and fixations are used to scan text

Auditory Input: Hearing

Provides information about the environment
Physical apparatus: outer, middle, and inner ear
Sound attributes: pitch, loudness, and timbre
Humans hear frequencies from 20Hz to 15KHz
Auditory system filters sounds and attends to specific ones

Haptic Input: Touch

Provides feedback about the environment
Receptors in the skin: thermoreceptors, nociceptors, and mechanoreceptors

Movement Input

Reaction time + movement time = response time
Movement time depends on age, fitness, etc.
Reaction time varies based on stimulus type

Sensory Memory

Temporary buffer for stimuli received by senses
Iconic memory: visual, echoic memory: aural, haptic memory: tactile

Short-Term Memory

Scratch pad for temporary recall
Rapid access and decay

Long-Term Memory

Repository for all knowledge
Slow access and decay
Huge/unlimited capacity

Types of Long-Term Memory

Episodic: serial memory of events
Semantic: structured memory of facts, concepts, and skills

Structure of Semantic Memory

Provides access to information
Represents relationships between information
Supports inference

Semantic Network Model

Child nodes inherit properties from parent nodes
Explicit and precise relationships
Supports inference through inheritance

Models of Long-Term Memory

Frames: information organized in data structures with slots and instantiated values
Scripts: models of stereotypical information for interpreting situations
Production rules: represent procedural knowledge using condition/action rules

LTM - Storage of Information

Rehearsal moves information from short-term to long-term memory
Total time hypothesis: amount retained is proportional to rehearsal time
Distribution of practice effect: spreading learning over time optimizes retention

LTM - Forgetting

Decay: gradual loss of information
Interference: new information replaces old (retroactive) or old interferes with new (proactive)

LTM - Retrieval

Recall: information reproduced from memory, assisted by cues
Cues can be categories, imagery, etc.

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Description

This quiz explores the key concepts in cognitive psychology, including recognition, reasoning, problem-solving, skill acquisition, and the role of emotion. Each section provides insights into how our cognitive processes drive our interactions with the world. Test your knowledge of these fundamental ideas and their implications.