4.1-4.3 Attention, cognition, consciousness Flashcards
Pathway of information
Sensation -> attention (filtering) -> cognition -> behavior
attended/unattended channel
attended - the important ear, we remember this
unattended - we tend to forget
a feature of selective attention
Broadbent filter
a model of model of selective attention
- prevents information overload
- a selective filter is applied based on physical properties of the sound
- does not take into account the cocktail party effect
cocktail party effect
adapts the theory, unattended ear is not completely filtered out, but rather it is dampened, and still processed
Anne Treisman’s attenuation model
attenuation - turn down the volume, does not eliminate the input
selective priming
we are primed to hear our names or names of people we know
spotlight model
a theory of visual attention, the spotlight is a beam that shines anywhere in a individual’s visual field. the shift in attention precedes eye movement
the binding problem
in visual perception, the problem of how different aspects are assembled together and related to a single object, rather than something else in the visual field
- solved by visual attention, feature detection
- binding is problematic when viewing two items
divided attention
multitasking - performing multiple tasks simultaneously
resource model of attention (three factors)
limited pool of resources when performing tasks; if resourced required exceeds available resources, tasks cannot be accomplished at the same time.
- task similarity
- task difficulty
- task practice
behavioralism is concerned with…
stimulus and response
information-processing model of the brain
attention -> perception -> storage into memory
Alan Baddeley’s model
working memory consists of 4 components
- phonological loop
- visuospatial sketchpad
- episodic buffer
- central executive
phonological - we repeat verbal information to aid memory
visuospatial - mental images
episodic buffer - integrate verbal/imagery with a sense of time, interface with long-term memory, into coherent episodes. seeing a station wagon your father used to drive
central executive - shifting and dividing attention
Jean Piaget
children develop schemas
assimilate into existing schemas, or adjusting schemas
ex. monster
4 developmental stages
Jean Piaget’s 4 stages of development
- sensorimotor (0-2): they sense the world through senses and movement. learn object permanence - existence of objects out of sight
- preoperational (2-7): symbols like words and images, pretend play, development of language, but lack logical reasoning, also: egocentric (do not understand other people have perspectives)
- concrete operational (7-11): logical thinking about concrete events. principle of conservation (water and shape). mathematical concepts
- formal operational (12-adult): abstract reasoning (hypothesizing) and moral reasoning
recall versus recognition
recognition is retrieving information from memory with clues
elderly have worse recall, slower reaction times and speech, and harder time with time-based tasks
role of culture/language
culture = social processes -> affects how we internalize information
expression of thought is limited to language; multilingual people have been shown to perform differently on tests based on language used
confirmation bias
a problem with thinking, searching for information that confirms a preconceived thinking
fixation
a problem with effective problem solving: the existence of of a MENTAL SET; a tendency to focus only on solutions that worked in the past
functional fixedness
perceive functions of objects as fixed and and unchanging. a key can also work as a box cutter
availability heuristic
what we know we tend to suggest as more likely
- Haydn and Beethoven prolificacy
representativeness heuristic
Generalization of rude Post Office worker : “all post office workers are rude”
a particular example dominates all thinking
belief bias
tendency to judge argument based on their conclusions rather than their logic
“we have a belief, from which we base all arguments”
we tend to accept conclusions that fit in with our beliefs
belief perseverance
our tendency to cling to beliefs despite the presence of contrary evidence
overconfidence
over-reliance on heuristics and over-estimation of the accuracy of our knowledge and judgements
information framing
ex. 75% lean versus 25% fat
ex. free for credit card, versus discount for cash
consciousness
required for complex and novel tasks
subconscious cues
influence out impressions without coming into consciousness
alertness/arousal
our ability to remain attention to what’s going on; controlled by brainstem and reticular formation (RAS)
PSG
polysomnography - multimodal technique to measure processes during sleep
EEG - electrical impulses in brain
EMG - muscle
EOG - oculogram
alpha waves
small amplitude, high frequency; as somebody prepares for sleep
HIGH consciousness
sleep stages
alpha waves (drowsy) -> non-REM sleep (Stage 1) -> K-complexes and sleep spindles (Stage 2) -> Stage 3/4 (delta waves - slow wave), lowest level of consciousness -> REM sleep
Stage 1 sleep
theta waves (low to moderate intensity, intermediate frequency 3-7 hertz) - slow rolling eye movements and moderate muscular activity
has fleeting thoughts and less responsive to stimuli
LIGHT consciousness
Stage 2 (sleep)
K-complexes and sleep spindles
K-complex (0.5 second, large and slow), a single wave amongst theta waves
sleep spindles - bursts of waves 12-14 Hz moderately intense (last 0.5-1.5 seconds)
NO eye movement, moderate muscular activity
Increased relaxation
INTERMEDIATE consciousness
Stage 3/4 (sleep)
transition into slow wave sleep
delta waves (high amplitude, low frequency)
No eye movement, moderate muscle activity
Heart rate slows, digestion slows, growth hormones are secreted
REM sleep
paradoxical sleep
bursts of eye movements
similar to beta waves (similar to awake) - low intensity, more jagged than beta waves
Low (almost no) skeletal movement - bursts and twitches
Dreaming occurs here.
High level of consciousness
sleep overview
babies need more sleep (16 hours)
deep sleep (stage 3/4) are longest early in the night
sleep cycle is 90 minutes (includes periods of non-REM and REM sleep)
REM periods increase as night goes on
sleep regulation
nerve from retina to suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus, which signals other parts of the brain, regulating body temperature and lease of hormones
SCN is the internal clock - cortisol is released in the morning
Melatonin
produced in the pineal gland. controlled by SCN, controls sleepiness
light causes drop in Melatonin
body temperature…
drops toward the end of the day and during sleep
REM rebound
increase in REM sleep if it is missed
manifest content
plotline of dream, Freud, filled with unconscious drives and wishes that are difficult to express
inner conflict
sleeping benefits
improve learning and problem-solving
e.g. rats dreaming of solving a maze, which helped performance
purpose of dreams
byproduct of brain activation during REM sleep
provide a template for consciousness, to practice consciousness-development
narcolepsy
bursts of sleepiness lasting less than 5 minutes, related to a lack of OREXIN (hypocretin)
dyssomnia
insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea
parasomnia
abnormal behaviors during sleep
- somnambulism (sleepwalking) occurs during SLOW WAVE sleep, first third of night
- genetics for somnambulism
- night terrors: stage 3
hypnotism
focus on what is being said by the hypnotist, relax
recall memories versus constructing false memories through imagination
cannot force people to do extreme things
useful for pain relief; headaches, asthma, and stress-related skin disorders
Dissociation theory: extreme form of divided consciousness; the subject is on autopilot and hypnotist takes over executive control
Social Influence theory: people adopt a role
meditation
training of attention
manage pain, stress, and anxiety
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) - medically reduce stress - increased alpha and theta waves
three classes of psychoactive drugs
- depressants, 2. stimulants, 3. hallucinogens
depressants
alcohol, barbiturates (tranquilizers), opiates
slow neural activity
alcohol suppresses REM sleep, reduced short-term memory and less restful sleep
alcohol overdose depresses the respiratory control centers in medulla to the point breathing stops
alcohol effects
stimulates GABA (anxiety-reduction) and dopamine (minor euphoria)
prolonged alcohol intake reduces the brain
depress the sympathetic NS
barbiturates
depress the sympathetic NS
sleep aid
dangerous in combination with alcohol, prone to overdose
opiates mimic neurotransmitters endorphin
stimulants
caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines
increase release of NT, reducing reuptake of NT, both
increased energy, respiratory rate, heart rate, pupil dilation
cocaine releases dopamine, serotonin, and norepineprhine
MDMA
serotonin and dopamine, mild hallucinogen, causes a reduction serotonin level that may cause depressed mood
LSD
vivid colors and imagery; separation from one’s body; euphoria to panic
THC
stimulates cannabinoid receptors in the brain; relaxes and disinhibits like alcohol. amplifies sensory perceptions like colors, sounds, tastes, and smells
impairs motor skills, reaction time, judgement
Can help with nausea and pain
psychological dependence
using a drug in response to painful situation, depression, anxiety, or trauma
i.e. using alcohol at a party
physical dependence
evidenced by withdrawal. a physical and painful experience alleviated only by the drug
caffeine addiction has withdrawals
addiction
biologically-based. nucleus accumbens “pleasure center”
