Psychology Module Overview

Module Overview

• Lectures are scheduled from September 26th to December 6th
• Topics cover various areas like memory, perception, thought, behavior, and attention.
• Subtopics include object recognition, face recognition, agnosia, prosopagnosia, synaesthesia, attention, attentional biases, neglect, autism, experiment, and academic misconduct.

Perception

• Object Recognition (RS) lecture scheduled for September 27th
• Face Recognition (RS) is scheduled for October 3rd
• Agnosia/Prosopagnosia (RS) is scheduled for October 4th
• Synaesthesia lecture is on October 10th

Memory

• Working Memory (DV) lecture is on November 1st
• Long-Term Memory & Amnesia (CB) scheduled for November 7th
• Memory loss in old age and dementia (AM) lecture is slated for November 8th

Thought

• Knowledge (RS) scheduled for November 14th
• Reasoning/Decision Making (RS) is scheduled for November 15th
• Dysexecutive Syndrome (FDL) lecture is on November 21st

Behavior

• Volition (RS) lecture is on November 22nd
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (KC) is for November 28th
• Cognition and Appetite (MY) is scheduled for November 29th
• Impulse Control (HC) lecture is on December 5th

Attention

• Attention (RS) is scheduled for October 11th
• Attentional Biases in Anxiety (SF) lecture is on October 17th
• Neglect (SF) scheduled for October 18th
• Autism and Attention (SA) is scheduled for October 24th
• Lecture on Experiments (RS) lecture is on October 25th
• Academic Misconduct (BS) scheduled for October 31st

Face Recognition (Specific Lecture)

• Bruce & Young's early model of face recognition is discussed
• The Interactive Activation and Competition (IAC) model of face recognition is investigated
• Information used for face recognition is considered
• Face processing location is identified
• Important aspects of the Bruce & Young's model are described

Face Recognition: Neuropsychological Support

• Double dissociation between facial expression and face recognition processing is highlighted
• Neuro-imaging supports the parallel processing view
• Different cortical sites are active in the processing of identity and emotion.
• Specific areas, like the inferior occipital and lateral fusiform gyrus, and activity within the amygdala and superior temporal sulcus are mentioned.

The Challenge of Semantic Priming

• Semantic priming, where a face is responded to faster if it follows a closely related face, is presented, demonstrating a weakness in the Bruce & Young face recognition model.

Interactive Activation and Competition (IAC) Model

• McClelland's parallel distributed networks with interactive activation and competition are explained.
• The IAC model's role in concepts and category learning is noted (e.g., Jet vs. Shark categorization).
• Semantic information is pooled and represented in pools. 
• The relationships between knowledge bits are presented in connections between pools.
• Connections within a pool are mutually inhibitory, between pools, facilitatory.

IAC Model: Face Processing

• FRU (face recognition unit), PIN (person identity node) are key components.
• Activation of FRUs can inhibit other elements of a pool.
• Different representations for familiar vs. unfamiliar faces are clarified.
• FRUs are connected to person identity nodes via gateways to semantic information, and are linked to name generation
• Activation spreads along connections and facilitates semantic priming, possibly between modalities
• Inhibitory connections are important within pools.

IAC Model Summary

• FRUs signal face familiarity. PINs are modality free gateways to semantic information.
• Details of connectivity and activation/inhibition are crucial.
• Name nodes are part of the semantic information, not separate.
• Explains more empirical data than earlier models (relative timing; repetition priming).
• Explains semantic and cross-modal priming.

Face Recognition: What do we use?

• Humans have exceptional face recognition abilities.
• The challenge lies in differentiating faces that share basic configurations.
• Facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) are key and relate in consistent patterns.

Recognition and Second-Order Relationships

• Instances of distinctive facial features, signaling identity, are rare.
• Facial recognition depends on second-order relationships (fine-grained spatial relations between features and spatial relations between features).
• Examples of alterations to faces that successfully maintain identifiability are discussed.
• Challenges associated with negative faces (preserving configural information while being difficult to recognize) are noted.

Face Processing Location

• Face processing occurs in a widely distributed system.
• Core aspects are localizable within the superior temporal sulcus and inferior temporal cortex.
• Face selective neurons are located there.

Hierarchical Accounts of Face Processing

• Cells in the inferior temporal cortex are selective to complex stimuli.
• A hierarchical theory of object perception is proposed.
• Elementary features (line orientation and color) are combined into higher-order features (corners, T-junctions)
• Cells at the highest level code specific shapes (like faces).

Summary of Face Recognition Models

• Models divide tasks (familiar recognition vs. expression/other details).
• The Bruce & Young model is useful for basic description.
• The IAC model explains many aspects like semantic priming but not configural processing.
• Face processing is widely distributed, with some core areas in the superior temporal sulcus and inferior temporal cortex.

This quiz covers key concepts from a psychology module that spans topics such as memory, perception, thought, and behavior. Each section delves into specific areas like object recognition, face recognition, working memory, and decision-making. Prepare to test your understanding of these crucial aspects of psychology.