Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of the total assessment is assigned to quizzes?
What percentage of the total assessment is assigned to quizzes?
What is the individual contribution of each student to the peer evaluation form?
What is the individual contribution of each student to the peer evaluation form?
How many samples must each group member collect during the PsychoPy experiment?
How many samples must each group member collect during the PsychoPy experiment?
What is the penalty for submitting an assignment late beyond 7 days?
What is the penalty for submitting an assignment late beyond 7 days?
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Which format must be used for citations and references in this course?
Which format must be used for citations and references in this course?
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What is one of the consequences of not presenting original work?
What is one of the consequences of not presenting original work?
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How long should the group video presentation last?
How long should the group video presentation last?
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What happens if a make-up quiz is requested without extenuating circumstances?
What happens if a make-up quiz is requested without extenuating circumstances?
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What is the focus of cognitive psychology in this course?
What is the focus of cognitive psychology in this course?
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Which topic is covered during the first week of the course?
Which topic is covered during the first week of the course?
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Which of the following chapters focuses on Short-term Memory?
Which of the following chapters focuses on Short-term Memory?
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When is Quiz 1 scheduled to take place?
When is Quiz 1 scheduled to take place?
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What is the primary textbook for this course?
What is the primary textbook for this course?
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Which topic is NOT explicitly listed among the topics to be covered this semester?
Which topic is NOT explicitly listed among the topics to be covered this semester?
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What activity is scheduled for the week after the first quiz?
What activity is scheduled for the week after the first quiz?
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What kind of research does the course aim to provide insights into?
What kind of research does the course aim to provide insights into?
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What is the primary focus of cognitive psychology?
What is the primary focus of cognitive psychology?
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What did Ebbinghaus's research contribute to the field of psychology?
What did Ebbinghaus's research contribute to the field of psychology?
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Which approach did Wundt use to collect data in his studies?
Which approach did Wundt use to collect data in his studies?
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What aspect of cognitive psychology does decision-making fall under?
What aspect of cognitive psychology does decision-making fall under?
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What was a significant finding from Donder's reaction time experiment?
What was a significant finding from Donder's reaction time experiment?
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Which of the following best describes attention according to William James?
Which of the following best describes attention according to William James?
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What type of conditioning is associated with Watson's Little Albert experiment?
What type of conditioning is associated with Watson's Little Albert experiment?
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How did B.F. Skinner contribute to behaviorism?
How did B.F. Skinner contribute to behaviorism?
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What does Tolman's rat maze experiment demonstrate about rats?
What does Tolman's rat maze experiment demonstrate about rats?
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Which approach to psychology is influenced by advancements in technology such as computers?
Which approach to psychology is influenced by advancements in technology such as computers?
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In the context of higher mental processes, what is a key capability of humans?
In the context of higher mental processes, what is a key capability of humans?
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What is population coding in the brain?
What is population coding in the brain?
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Which physiological technique is NOT mentioned as a method used in neuropsychology?
Which physiological technique is NOT mentioned as a method used in neuropsychology?
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What is the primary function of the neurons' axon?
What is the primary function of the neurons' axon?
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Which area of the brain is primarily responsible for the comprehension of words?
Which area of the brain is primarily responsible for the comprehension of words?
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What does sparse coding refer to?
What does sparse coding refer to?
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Which lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing visual information?
Which lobe of the brain is primarily responsible for processing visual information?
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What does hierarchical processing refer to in relation to neurons?
What does hierarchical processing refer to in relation to neurons?
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How do researchers typically study the brain's functions?
How do researchers typically study the brain's functions?
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What concept explains how environmental stimuli are represented in the brain?
What concept explains how environmental stimuli are represented in the brain?
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What does the term 'neural pathways' refer to?
What does the term 'neural pathways' refer to?
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Which cognitive function is primarily associated with the frontal lobe?
Which cognitive function is primarily associated with the frontal lobe?
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What is meant by 'default mode network' in the context of brain activity?
What is meant by 'default mode network' in the context of brain activity?
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Which of the following statements about localization of function is true?
Which of the following statements about localization of function is true?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
- Cognitive psychology focuses on how the brain acquires, processes, and outputs information.
- It investigates how cognitive processes are affected by various factors.
- Cognitive psychology research involves understanding how we learn, remember, think, and perceive the world around us.
History of Cognitive Psychology
- Donder's Reaction Time Experiment (1868): Measured the time it takes to make decisions by comparing simple reaction time with choice reaction time.
- Wundt (1879): Introduced structuralism, suggesting that overall experiences are built from basic elements called sensations. Used analytic introspection, where participants described their experiences and thought processes in response to stimuli.
- Ebbinghaus (1885): Used quantitative methods instead of introspection to study memory. Conducted a memory experiment on himself, measuring the rapid decline of learned information over time using nonsense syllables.
- William James (1890): Wrote the first psychology textbook, "Principles of Psychology," emphasizing observations of his own experience. He described how attention works by focusing on certain sensory inputs while ignoring others.
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Behaviorism (1913-1931): Focused on observable behavior, neglecting internal mental processes.
- Classical Conditioning: Association of stimulus and involuntary response (Watson's Little Albert experiment, Pavlov's Dog experiment).
- Operant Conditioning: Association of voluntary behavior and consequence (Skinner's Shaping Experiments).
- Tolman's Rat Maze (1938): Demonstrated that rats developed a cognitive map, suggesting the existence of internal mental representations beyond simple stimulus-response associations.
- Information Processing Approach: Influenced by the rise of computers and artificial intelligence, it traces mental operations involved in cognition, viewing them as a series of steps.
The Human Brain
- Neurons: Basic units of the brain, consisting of dendrites, soma, and axon. Signals travel along these pathways.
- Synapse: The gap between neurons, where signals are transmitted.
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Brain Parts:
- Hindbrain: Controls basic life functions such as breathing and heart rate.
- Midbrain: Involved in movement, auditory and visual processing, and arousal.
- Forebrain: Higher cognitive functions and complex processes.
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Lobes of the Forebrain:
- Frontal Lobe: Planning, decision-making, language, and higher executive functions.
- Parietal Lobe: Perception of touch, pressure, and pain.
- Occipital Lobe: Visual processing.
- Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing, memory, and language.
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Neural Representation of Senses:
- Specificity Coding: Specialized neurons for different stimuli, unlikely to be the brain's primary mechanism.
- Population Coding: Pattern created by the firing of many neurons simultaneously.
- Sparse Coding: Pattern created by a small group of neurons firing together.
Studying Brain Activity
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Brain Imaging Technologies:
- Electroencephalography (EEG): Measures electrical activity in the brain.
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): Detects brain activity based on blood flow.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Uses radioactive tracers to measure brain activity.
Localization of Function
- Specific brain regions are responsible for particular functions.
- Broca's Area: Language production.
- Wernicke's Area: Language comprehension.
Distributed Representation
- Experience is multi-dimensional.
- Different brain regions work together for diverse cognitive processes.
Neural Pathways
- Information travels along specific neural pathways, allowing for coordinated brain activity.
Neural Networks
- Complex structural pathways forming "highways" for information transmission.
- Default Mode Network: Always active, even during rest, potentially explaining mind wandering and subconscious processing.
Cognitive Psychology as a Field
- Cognitive psychology allows us to understand the brain's complex workings and explore cognitive processes.
- Its applications include:
- Improving learning strategies, marketing campaigns, and cognitive function.
- Treating disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, speech issues, memory loss, etc.
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Description
This quiz explores foundational concepts in cognitive psychology, including key historical experiments that shaped the field. Participants will learn about important figures such as Donder, Wundt, and Ebbinghaus, and their contributions to our understanding of cognition. Test your knowledge on how we acquire, process, and retrieve information.
