2. Interacting with the Environment Flashcards
Explain Broadbents and Anne Treisman’s models for selective attention.
Broadbent: he believed sensory input reaches a filtering buffer. At this buffer, attended channels continue on to the working memory, unattended channels are decayed in the selective buffer.
Treisman’s attentuation model describes an attentuation filter which decreases the signal intensity of unattended stimuli but does not eliminate it. This model accounts for the cocktail party effect.
In visual attention, was is the binding problem?
When someone is distracted while focusing on more than one object, they may have trouble binding all features to the correct object. For example, the color of one feature may appear on another.
All features are processed simultaneously, we must bind it all together to get the full picture
What is the resource model of attention?
The resource model of attention explains how we have a finite number of resources to use for task processing. If we have too many tasks we can run out of resources indicating that we cannot perform all these tasks at once.
In terms of tasks, what three factors contribute to the resource model of attention?
- task similarity: similar tasks = harder to do in parallel (listen and talk)
- task difficulty: harder task = more resources
- task practice: learned task = less resources
what part of the brain is responsible for muscle memory?
the cerebellum
Alan Baddeley’s model of attention described the working memory. Explain the phonological loop, visuospatial sketch-pad, episodic buffer, and central executive.
The working memory = short term memory.
phonological loop: auditory information is repeated in a loop
visuospatial sketch-pad: transient mental images to store visual information
episodic buffer: integrates all sensory inputs (above 2) with a sense of time. Will also contact long-term memory
central executive: overseas everything, divides and selects attention.
Jean Piaget believed children’s cognitive development is based on their schemas (frameworks of how the world works). Explain assimilation and accommodation.
A new experience occurs (kid thinks monster under-bed, lights on = no monster seen)…
- Assimilation: the kid conforms the new experience to an existing schema (monster must run from light)
- Accommodation: the kid changes his schema or adds a new one to account for the new experience (monsters aren’t under the bed)
Jean Piaget has 4 stages of cognitive development: explain each in order.
age, highlights, etc.
- Sensorimotor stage (Age 2): child lives life through its senses. Here it learns of object permanence and has stranger anxiety.
- Preoperational stage (Age 2-7): child learns that world can be described with symbols (language). Child is still egocentric, not understanding other perspective.
- Concrete operational stage (8-11): child can now logically think and understand concrete ideas. here it understands the law of conservation.
- Formal operational stage (12+): child can now think in the abstract and understands moral reasoning.
When does a child learn object permanence and conservation?
object permanence - sensorimotor stage
conservation - concrete operational stage
What are heuristics?
A heuristic is a mental short-cut that allows people to make decisions more quickly. They are influenced by biases.
Explain confirmation bias.
Confirmation bias is the tendency to only seek and accept information that confirms our preconceived thinking and logic. We seek info that strengthens our current beliefs.
What is fixation? What is functional fixedness?
fixation –> to only view a problem from one perspective and be un-able to change your view (i.e. you have fixated on a solution)
functional fixedness –> to view objects for only one intended purpose and no others (i.e. not recognizing that a wrench can also be used as a hammer)
What is the availability heuristic?
A mental short cut based on readily available information. When faced with a problem, the availability heuristic seeks the most ready example of the solution / answer from our memory.
What is the representativeness heuristic?
The representativeness heuristic creates generalizations of experiences and not necessarily specific examples (which would be the availability heuristic).
If we go to the mall 5 times and most times it smells bad, we might conclude all malls smell bad.
Explain the difference between belief perseverance (belief bias) and confirmation bias.
confirmation bias - to only seek information that confirms what we already believe.
belief bias - to only accept information that aligns with our beliefs. In belief perseverance, we cling on to what we believe despite contrary evidence being provided.
the core difference is in confirmation we are seeking the info, in belief we are hearing new info unsolicited.
What structure in the brain stem is responsible for controlling wakefulness?
The reticular activating system (RAS)
Sleep: What is a polysomnography (PSG)?
A PSG is a collection of models to measure sleep including an EEG, EMG (muscle), and an EOG (eyes)
Sleep: what waves do we produce when we are awake and alert? What about when we are awake but sleepy?
Awake and alert: we produce BETA waves
Awake and sleepy: we produce ALPHA waves
sleep: Explain each stage of sleep by the EEG, EMG, and EOG?
stage 1 = theta waves, very small eye movement, moderate muscle movement
stage 2 = theta waves, K-complex, spindle-fibers. No eye movement, moderate muscle movement
stage 3 / 4 = delta waves, deepest sleep, no eye-movement, moderate muscle movement
REM-sleep: waves very similar to wakefull beta waves. rapid eye movements and NO muscle movement. Dreams occur hear.
These cycle every 90 minutes.