Cognitive Science and Phenomenology Quiz

Phenomenology and Cognitive Science

• Phenomenology aims to describe conscious experience without reducing it to underlying mechanisms
• Cognitive science seeks to understand cognitive mechanisms and information processing structures
• Phenomenology uses introspection and qualitative analysis while cognitive science uses experimental methods

Artificial Neural Networks

• ANNs learn by adjusting weights based on output errors during training using backpropagation
• ANNs excel in tasks like image recognition and language generation, surpassing classic models, as seen in ImageNet (2012)
• ANNs are "black box" systems where internal processes are difficult to understand

Nature vs. Nurture

• Nativism argues that cognition is genetically preprogrammed with brain regions developing autonomously
• Empiricism argues that cognitive processes emerge from environmental exposure
• Face processing in the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) suggests a nature-based explanation for its development, as macaques raised without exposure to faces lack typical face-processing abilities (Arcaro et al., 2017)
• Visual illusions, like the Ponzo illusion, that are universally experienced imply a shared cognitive architecture

Heritability Studies

• Twin studies show that traits like intelligence and personality exhibit varying degrees of heritability, with identical twins being more similar than fraternal twins
• Turkheimer's Laws of Behavioral Genetics state:
  • All traits are heritable
  • Family effects are smaller than genetic ones
  • A portion of trait variation is unexplained by genes or families

Modularity

• The modularity theory states that the mind consists of specialized, independent modules responsible for specific tasks, operating with encapsulation, specialization, and localization
• Studies suggest low-level perception may be modular, but top-down effects can influence low-level sensory processing
  • Mood experiments reveal that thinking about unethical behavior can make a room appear darker (Banerjee et al., 2012)
  • Physical load experiments demonstrate that carrying a heavy backpack can make hills appear steeper (Bhalla & Prof tt, 1999)
  • Face categorization experiments have found that Black faces appear darker due to categorization biases (Levin & Banaji, 2006)
• Face perception, particularly prosopagnosia, indicates that face recognition is modular: individuals with this condition recognize non-faces but not faces
• The part-whole effect, where recognizing a face part is easier when seen as part of a whole face, further supports modularity

Linguistics and Syntax

• Humans uniquely combine words to convey complex ideas, demonstrating linguistic competence (Pinker, 1994)
• Phonotactics, the rules governing the sound structure of a language, demonstrate the structured sounds permissible in each language
  • French lacks the “th” sound
  • Japanese con ates "l" and "r" sounds
  • Hawaiian prohibits codas (syllable endings)
• Recursive rules in syntax allow for infinitely complex sentences by embedding phrases within phrases, as seen in cumulative sentences like "This is the cat that chased the mouse..."

Applications of Neuroimaging

• EEG can track timing in cognitive stages, predicting retrieval speed differences in different conditions (Borst and Anderson, 2021)
• fMRI studies have demonstrated:
  • Hippocampal activation in response to learned sequences, observable even in infants (Schapiro et al., 2018)
  • Neural activity in the medial frontal cortex can predict behavior change (Falk et al., 2011)
  • The size of visual area V1 correlates with the strength of visual illusions, suggesting low-level interactions (Schwarzkopf et al., 2011)
  • Shared spatial activity patterns in the brain for similar concepts in learning environments (Meshulam et al., 2021)

Brain Structure and Function

• Ancient Egyptians linked brain injury to mental symptoms as early as the 17th century BC
• Aristotle's Heart Hypothesis (4th century BC) positioned the heart as the center of sensation, arguing that emotions and pain are manifested through physical responses
• The structure of neurons and synaptic connections, fundamental for information transmission, were discovered by Santiago Ramón y Cajal in the late 1800s

Basic Brain Processes

• Neurons fire when their voltage exceeds a threshold due to excitatory inputs, sending spikes down the axon
• Synapses modulate neuronal firing, either increasing (excitatory) or decreasing (inhibitory) the likelihood of an action potential

Learning Mechanisms

• Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP):
  • Strengthens synapses if a presynaptic spike precedes a postsynaptic spike (increases weight)
  • Weakens them if it follows (decreases weight) (Zhang et al., 1998)
  • Supports unsupervised learning by enhancing sensitivity to input patterns without specific goals or feedback

Cortical mapping

• Visual cortex maps show retinotopic and orientation-specific organization, structuring visual inputs spatially and by stimulus orientation (Heeger, 2006)
• Different brain areas handle unique aspects of sensory processing, supporting object recognition and spatial memory (Felleman & Van Essen, 1991)

Test your understanding of cognitive science and phenomenology, two fields that explore consciousness and cognitive processes. This quiz will cover key concepts such as artificial neural networks, nature vs. nurture debates, and the methodologies employed in both disciplines.