Cognitive Psychology Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of cognitive psychology?

  • Social interactions and cultural influences
  • Observable behaviors and environmental stimuli
  • Mental processes such as perception and memory (correct)
  • Physiological responses to stimuli

Which psychological approach emphasizes observable behaviors rather than mental processes?

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Humanistic psychology
  • Behaviorism (correct)

Who is known as the 'father of cognitive psychology'?

  • Hermann Ebbinghaus
  • Ulric Neisser (correct)
  • Jean Piaget
  • Wilhelm Wundt

What type of research during the 1940s–1950s contributed to the cognitive revolution?

<p>Research on attention and problem-solving during WWII (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which technique is commonly used in cognitive neuroscience to study brain activity?

<p>fMRI and EEG (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to cognitive psychology, which of the following is NOT a focus area?

<p>Social behavior (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best characterizes the role of synapses in neuron communication?

<p>They facilitate communication through neurotransmitters. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Hermann Ebbinghaus primarily study in cognitive psychology?

<p>Memory and forgetting curves (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that categories are formed around an average or ideal representation?

<p>Prototype Theory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the similarity between perception and imagery?

<p>Neuroscientific evidence showing active brain areas during both processes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the Definitional Theory in categorization?

<p>It cannot explain flexibility in recognizing atypical members (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following levels of categorization is the most specific?

<p>Subordinate Level (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Typicality Effect manifest in categorization?

<p>Typical items are recognized faster than atypical items (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which approach in semantic networks represents concepts as nodes with relationships as links?

<p>Connectionist Models (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary feature of the Template Theory in categorization?

<p>Matching objects to stored templates of category members (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which task demonstrates spatial processing of imagery?

<p>Mental rotation tasks (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does localization refer to in the context of brain functions?

<p>The concept that some brain areas have specific functions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is primarily used to measure electrical brain activity?

<p>Electroencephalography (EEG) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Self-Memory System Model suggest about how memories are formed?

<p>Memories are created based on goals and self-concept. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which principle explains the tendency to perceive complete forms by filling in gaps?

<p>Principle of Closure (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is echoed memory primarily associated with?

<p>Temporary storage of auditory information (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of memory involves conscious recall of personal experiences?

<p>Episodic memory (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of flashbulb memories is most frequently misunderstood?

<p>They often lack detail despite high vividness. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In perception, what does bottom-up processing involve?

<p>Building up complex recognition from sensory input (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the concept of action affordances in perception?

<p>They describe how objects are perceived in terms of their potential uses. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which disorder is primarily characterized by the progressive loss of memory due to neurodegeneration?

<p>Alzheimer's Disease (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does dual-coding theory propose regarding memory retention?

<p>Information is best remembered when encoded both verbally and visually. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Stroop Effect illustrate about cognitive processing?

<p>Top-down processing can interfere with simpler tasks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about mirror neurons is true?

<p>They are involved in both observing and performing actions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which memory technique involves associating items with physical locations?

<p>Method of Loci (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is typical of procedural memory?

<p>It includes the knowledge of how to perform skills and habits. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of amnesia specifically involves the inability to form new memories after its onset?

<p>Anterograde amnesia (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the visuospatial sketchpad?

<p>Handling visual and spatial data (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism is NOT commonly used for transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory?

<p>Preservation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does deep processing have on memory retention?

<p>It improves retention through meaningful analysis (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the testing effect in relation to memory retention?

<p>It is the improvement of memory through retrievable tests (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the levels of processing theory?

<p>The depth of memory processing influences retention (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about memory illusions is true?

<p>They may be influenced by misleading information (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What principle explains the effectiveness of retrieval cues during memory recall?

<p>Encoding-Specificity Principle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does spaced practice enhance memory retention compared to massed practice?

<p>By distributing study sessions over time (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of the fusiform face area in the brain?

<p>It is specialized for recognizing faces. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis suggest about language?

<p>Language influences thought and perception. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of Broca's Aphasia?

<p>Impaired speech production with intact comprehension. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes the smallest unit of meaning in a word?

<p>Morpheme (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which concept refers to the mental representations formed while reading a text?

<p>Situational Model (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Localization

The idea that specific parts of the brain are responsible for certain functions.

Distributed Representation

Cognitive processes are spread across many brain regions, not just one.

EEG (Electroencephalography)

Measures electrical brain activity to understand brain function.

fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Tracks blood flow changes to see which parts of the brain are active.

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TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

Temporarily disrupts brain regions with magnetic pulses to study their roles.

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Lesion Studies

Examining how behavior changes after brain damage.

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Perception

Interpreting sensory information to understand the world.

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Top-Down Processing

We use existing knowledge and expectations to understand sensory input.

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Symbolic Imagery

Mental imagery can represent objects without looking like them. For example, imagining a red apple doesn't involve seeing a red apple in your mind.

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Spatial Theory of Imagery

The idea that mental images form spatial representations similar to maps.

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Perception and Imagery Similarity

Tasks like mentally rotating objects show similar reaction times for real and imagined objects, suggesting shared processing.

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Neuroscience of Imagery

Brain regions active during perception, like the visual cortex, are also active during imagery.

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Categorization

Grouping objects, events, or ideas based on shared features.

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Concept

A mental representation of a category.

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Exemplar

A specific instance within a category.

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Semantic Networks

Concepts are interconnected in a network, with links representing relationships.

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Language

A system of words, symbols, and rules used for communication.

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Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The idea that language influences how we think and perceive the world.

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Morpheme

The smallest unit of meaning in a word. For example, 'un' and 'happy' in 'unhappy'.

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What is cognitive psychology?

The branch of psychology focusing on mental processes like perception, memory, and problem-solving.

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What is behaviorism?

A psychological approach emphasizing only observable behaviors and their environmental influences, rejecting the study of internal mental processes.

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Early 20th Century Psychology

The period when behaviorism dominated, limiting psychology's focus to observable behaviors.

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What is the Cognitive Revolution?

A shift in psychology that revived interest in studying mental processes, driven by advancements in areas like artificial intelligence and linguistics.

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What is Cognitive Neuroscience?

A field combining cognitive psychology and neuroscience, examining how brain activity underlies mental processes.

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What are Dendrites?

The branching structures of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

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What is the Cell Body (Soma)?

The central part of a neuron where incoming information is processed.

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What is an Axon?

The long, slender projection of a neuron that transmits electrical signals (action potentials).

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Visuospatial Sketchpad

A mental workspace that temporarily stores and manipulates visual and spatial information.

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Autobiographical Memory

Memories of personal experiences and events, like your last birthday party.

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Episodic Buffer

A component of working memory that integrates information from different sources (visual, auditory, etc.) and links it to long-term memory.

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Long-Term Memory

A system that stores a large amount of information for potentially a lifetime.

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Flashbulb Memories

A vivid memory, often of a significant event, but not always accurate. Think of a memory that feels like it happened yesterday.

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Encoding

The process of converting information into a storable format in memory.

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Sensory Memory

The brief storage of sensory information, like when you see an image for a split second.

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Dual Coding Theory

Encoding information through both verbal and visual representations.

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Explicit Memory

Consciously recalling facts and events. You know you know this!

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Implicit Memory

Unconscious memory of skills and associations. You don't have to think about it, it just happens!

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Levels of Processing

The idea that the deeper the processing of information, the stronger the memory.

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Retrieval

The process of retrieving information from memory, aided by cues and context.

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Anterograde Amnesia

The inability to form new memories after an event, like a brain injury.

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Visual Imagery

A mental representation of visual information, like imagining a beach.

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Source Monitoring Problems

Errors in remembering the source of a memory, leading to false attribution.

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Dual-Coding Theory

Information is better remembered when encoded verbally and visually. Think of associating words with pictures.

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Study Notes

Cognitive Psychology

  • Cognitive psychology studies mental processes like perception, memory, language, problem-solving, reasoning, and decision-making. It examines how individuals understand, think, and learn by investigating internal processes which drive behavior and cognition.
  • Behaviorism focuses solely on observable behaviors, ignoring internal mental processes. It emphasizes environmental stimuli and reinforcement. Pioneers include John Watson and B.F. Skinner.
  • The cognitive revolution (1950s-1960s) challenged behaviorism, re-igniting interest in studying internal mental processes, thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence and linguistics.
  • Key figures include Ulric Neisser, the "father of cognitive psychology," Hermann Ebbinghaus (memory and forgetting), Wilhelm Wundt (first psychology lab and introspection), Frederic Bartlett (reconstructive memory), and Jean Piaget (cognitive development in children).
  • Cognitive neuroscience links cognitive psychology with neuroscience, exploring brain activity underlying mental processes. Techniques like fMRI and EEG are used to identify neural structures related to memory, language, and decision-making.

Neural Communication

  • Neurons communicate via electrochemical signals. Action potentials travel along axons, and neurotransmitters transmit signals across synapses between neurons.
  • Dendrites receive signals, the cell body (soma) processes them, and axons transmit them.
  • Synapses are gaps between neurons; neurotransmitters facilitate communication across these gaps.

Cognitive Neuroscience Techniques

  • EEG (Electroencephalography): Measures electrical brain activity.
  • fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Tracks blood flow changes to infer brain activity.
  • TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation): Disrupts specific brain regions to study their role.
  • Lesion Studies: Examine behavioral changes following brain damage.

Perception

  • Perception involves interpreting sensory information to understand the environment. It integrates bottom-up (sensory input) and top-down (existing knowledge) processing.
  • Sensory stores (iconic and echoic memory) temporarily hold sensory information.
  • Iconic memory is visual sensory memory lasting milliseconds. Echoic memory is auditory sensory memory lasting a few seconds.

Attention

  • Attention focuses mental resources on specific stimuli while ignoring others. Includes selective, divided, and sustained attention.
  • Dichotic listening tasks, visual search tasks, and various studies demonstrate how attention works.

Memory

  • Memory is a complex system with processes like encoding, storage, and retrieval.
  • Short-term memory (STM) temporarily holds limited information; working memory manages and manipulates information in STM.
  • Long-term memory (LTM) stores vast amounts of information over time; its capacity is considered virtually unlimited. Types include implicit (unconscious) and explicit (conscious).

Memory Processes & Errors

  • Factors like context, cues, and encoding affect memory retrieval.
  • Encoding specificity principle shows that retrieval is most effective when cues match the initial encoding context.
  • Memory illusions refer to false or distorted memories, often due to factors like misleading information, schemas, or source monitoring problems.

Memory Systems

  • Explicit memory is conscious recall of facts and events (including episodic memory of personal experiences and semantic memory of general knowledge). Implicit memory is unconscious recall of skills and associations (including procedural memory and priming).
  • Different memory systems play various roles in encoding, storage, and retrieval.

Memory & Forgetting

  • The speed of forgetting varies depending on the kind of information to recall and external factors.
  • Decay theory and interference theory explain different reasons for the forgetting process. Factors leading to memory illusions such as misleading information, pre-existing schemas, and errors in source monitoring can distort memories.

Memory Enhancing Techniques

  • Spaced repetition, effective note-taking strategies, and context-dependent memory (recall/relearning done in similar environments) help to improve memory.
  • Retrieval practice (frequent testing), contextual cues, and dual-coding theory (combining visual and verbal information) enhance memory encoding and retrieval.

Language

  • Language is a system of words, symbols, and rules for communication; it involves phoneme, morpheme, syntax, and semantics.
  • Language influences thought according to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Broca's and Wernicke's areas are critical brain structures for language.

Imagery

  • Visual imagery involves mentally representing visual information. Studies show the similarity between perception and imagery, as neural pathways and brain areas involved in both.
  • Imagery can improve memory, problem solving, and planning by creating dual representations.

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Description

This quiz explores the key concepts and figures in cognitive psychology, including its focus on mental processes like perception and memory. It also highlights the transition from behaviorism to the cognitive revolution, emphasizing the importance of internal mental processes in understanding human behavior. Test your knowledge on the pioneers and developments in this fascinating field.

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