Chapter 1 - Introduction PDF
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This document introduces the field of cognitive psychology. It explores the fundamental concepts and research methodologies within cognitive psychology, including the study of cognition, perception, attention, memory, reasoning, problem-solving and various subfields of the study. Also included is a discussion on artificial intelligence and the link to understanding cognition.
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Chapter 1: Introduction What is Cognitive Psychology? Scientific study of cognition Cognition: Mental processes and structures involved in the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of information Perception Attention Memory Thinking The mind creates re...
Chapter 1: Introduction What is Cognitive Psychology? Scientific study of cognition Cognition: Mental processes and structures involved in the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of information Perception Attention Memory Thinking The mind creates representations… What we see and think may not be reality! Cognitive Psychology in this class The Goal: History of the field Questions cognitive psychologists are interested in Tools used to investigate those questions Key findings from the field This class is NOT comprehensive coverage of any subfield or sub-discipline of the field Cognitive Psychology Subfields Language Reasoning Perception Problem solving Attention Learning Memory Judgment Decision making Emotion Knowledge Consciousness Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Machines that can accomplish some or all of the tasks humans can Most successful at: Complex math Quick, large calculations It’s learning to learn Computer vision Speech recognition Self-driving cars How do we study cognition? Neuroscience Studying the brain itself Non-invasive techniques Measure activity of small regions of the brain Invasive techniques Measure activity of individual neurons Must be used in conjunction with other measures Cognitive Psychology The study of human behavior via experiments Cognitive processes all depend on the brain Common mechanisms? Computational Modeling Simulating brain processes using computers Machine learning & artificial neural networks Computers that can carry out some basic functions of the brain may help us understand it Why study cognitive psychology? Basic research Curiosity driven Understand the world and its phenomena Seeks to advance the frontiers of knowledge Applied research Solution driven End goal of developing a solution to a problem Reminders & Updates Syllabus quiz due Friday 8/30 by 5:00pm Get access to Top Hat if you don’t have it Lab tomorrow ☺ No lecture Monday 9/2 (you’re welcome!)
