Ch. 3 Flashcards
define consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
define cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)
Those working in the interdisciplinary field called ______________ ______________ study the brain activity associated with perception, thinking, memory, and language.
cognitive neuroscience
define dual processing
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
define blindsight
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
What are the mind’s two tracks, and what is “dual processing”?
Our mind has separate conscious and unconscious tracks that perform dual processing—organizing and interpreting information simultaneously.
define parallel processing
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions
define selective attention
the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
define inattentional blindness
failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
define change blindness
failing to notice changes in the environment
What is the place of consciousness in psychology’s history?
Since 1960, under the influence of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience, our awareness of ourselves and our environment—our consciousness—has reclaimed its place as an important area of research. After initially claiming consciousness as its area of study in the nineteenth century, psychologists had abandoned it in the first half of the twentieth century, turning instead to the study of observable behavior because they believed consciousness was too difficult to study scientifically.
What is the “dual processing” being revealed by today’s cognitive neuroscience?
Scientists studying the brain mechanisms underlying consciousness and cognition have discovered that the mind processes information on two separate tracks, one operating at an explicit, conscious level (conscious sequential processing) and the other at an implicit, unconscious level (unconscious parallel processing). This dual processing affects our perception, memory, attitudes, and other cognitions.
How does selective attention direct our perceptions?
We selectively attend to, and process, a very limited portion of incoming information, blocking out much and often shifting the spotlight of our attention from one thing to another. Parallel processing takes care of the routine business, while sequential processing is best for solving new problems that require our attention. Focused intently on one task, we often display inattentional blindness to other events and change blindness to changes around us.
define sleep
periodic, natural loss of consciousness—as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation.
define circadian rhythm
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle
define REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active
define alpha waves
the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.
define hallucinations
false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.
define delta waves
the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.
What are the four sleep stages, and in what order do we normally travel through those stages?
REM, NREM-1, NREM-2, NREM-3; normally we move through NREM-1, then NREM-2, then NREM-3, then back up through NREM-2 before we experience REM sleep.
what is the cognitive experience one has during REM sleep?
story-like dreams
what is the cognitive experience one has during NREM-1 sleep?
fleeting images
what is the cognitive experience one has during NREM-3 sleep?
minimal awareness
The ______________ nucleus helps monitor the brain’s release of melatonin, which affects our ______________ rhythm.
suprachiasmatic
circadian
what are the five basic functions of sleep?
- it protects us
- it helps us recuperate
- it helps restore and rebuild our fading memories of the day’s experiences.
- it feeds creative thinking
- it supports growthh
how long does our body keep sleep debt?
2 weeks
define insomnia
recurring problems in falling or staying asleep