Questions and Answers
Who is considered the founder of modern Psychology?
What is the main focus of behaviorism?
How behavior changes in response to stimuli
Which model is associated with Atkinson and Shiffrin?
Cognitive offloading is the use of physical actions to reduce cognitive demand.
Signup and view all the answers
The _____ contains the cell bodies of neurons.
Signup and view all the answers
What significant effect does multiple sclerosis (MS) have on white matter?
Signup and view all the answers
Which part of the brain connects the two hemispheres?
Signup and view all the answers
In split-brain patients, the left visual field is processed in the left hemisphere.
Signup and view all the answers
Which model proposes the 'recognition-by-components' theory?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Names to Know
- William James: Founder of modern psychology; distinguished between primary and secondary memory.
- Wilhelm Wundt: Pioneer of introspection as a research method in psychology.
- B.F. Skinner: Central figure in behaviorism; emphasized the role of rewards and punishments in shaping behavior.
- Irving Biederman: Developed the recognition-by-components (RBC) model and introduced the concept of geons.
- Donald Broadbent: Proposed the early filter model of attention, which suggests selective attention filters out unwanted information early in processing.
- Anne Treisman: Developed the attenuation model of attention and feature integration theory, explaining how attention integrates features into perceptual experiences.
- Deutsch & Norman: Proposed the late selection model of attention, suggesting that all information is processed before selection occurs.
Memory Mechanisms
- George Miller: Introduced “chunking” to improve short-term memory capacity, commonly recognized as 7 ± 2 items.
- Atkinson & Shiffrin: Developed the modal model of memory, outlining the processes involved in memory formation and retrieval.
- Baddeley & Hitch: Created the multi-component model of working memory, which includes the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer, and central executive.
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
- Mental Representations: Objects in the mind that represent external objects/events; constructed based on causal relational structure; allow for cognition without direct presence.
- Cognitive Processes: Operations like coding, storage, retrieval, and transformation performed on mental representations.
- Cognitive Offloading: Reducing cognitive load by using physical tools or aids to manage information (e.g., using a phone to store contacts).
Introspection vs. Behaviorism
- Introspection: Process by which one examines their own conscious thoughts; limited due to unconscious thoughts and difficulty in testing.
- Behaviorism: Focuses on observable behavior in response to stimuli; emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuron Biology:
- Dendrites: Receive incoming signals from other neurons.
- Soma: Contains nucleus and maintains cell function.
- Axon: Transmits signals to other neurons; key in communication.
- Axon Terminal: Releases neurotransmitters into the synapse, facilitating communication.
- Myelin Sheath: Insulates axons, speeding up neurotransmission.
- Synapse: Area where neurons communicate, involving chemical and electrical signals.
- Action Potential: Signal that travels down the axon, triggering neurotransmitter release.
White vs. Gray Matter
- Gray Matter: Composed of neuronal cell bodies.
- White Matter: Composed of axons; plays a role in communication between different brain regions; in multiple sclerosis (MS), white matter is affected due to demyelination.
Corpus Callosum
- Major white matter pathway connecting the brain's two hemispheres; allows inter-hemispheric communication.
- Split-brain surgery involves severing the corpus callosum, which alters communication between hemispheres.
Split Brain Patient Experiments
- Contralateral Organization: Information from one side of the body goes to the opposite hemisphere; left input processed by the right hemisphere.
- Left Hemisphere: Better with language processing.
- Right Hemisphere: Superior in spatial and visual tasks; processes information from the left visual field.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Prepare for your Psych 120A midterm with this quiz focusing on essential figures in psychology. You'll test your knowledge on the contributions of William James, Wilhelm Wundt, B.F. Skinner, and others. Brush up on key theories and models that have shaped modern psychological thought.
