Ch. 4: Cognition, Consciousness, and Language Flashcards
1
Q
definition of cognition
A
how our brains process and react to information
2
Q
a majority of cognition functions are controlled by what section of the brain
A
the frontal lobe
3
Q
dual-coding theory
A
both verbal association and visual images are used to process and store information ion our brains
4
Q
information processing model
A
- thinking requires sensing, encoding, and storing stimuli
- stimuli must be analyzed in the brain to influence decision making
- decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated to future situations
- problem solving is dependent on cognition as well as context and complexity
5
Q
Jean Piaget influenced what subsection of psychology
A
developmental psychology
6
Q
order of piaget’s stages
A
sensorimotor, per operational, concrete operational, formal operational
7
Q
schema
A
organized patterns of behavior
8
Q
adaptation
A
how new information is processed
- assimilation
- accommodation
9
Q
assimilation
A
adding new information to existing schemata (straightforward)
10
Q
accommodation
A
adjustment of existing schemata to allow for new information (adjustment of a larger framework)
11
Q
sensorimotor stage
A
- birth to 2 years
- manipulating physical environments
12
Q
primary circular reactions
A
repetition of a BODY MOVEMENT that occurred by chance (thumb sucking)
13
Q
secondary circular reactions
A
repetition of FOCUSED MANIPULATION the occurs outside of the body (throwing toys)
14
Q
object permanence signifies then end of what stage of development
A
the sensorimotor stage
15
Q
object permanence
A
understanding that objects exist when out of view
16
Q
representational thought
A
mental images of external objects/events
17
Q
preoperational stage
A
- 2 years to 7 years
- symbolic thinking, egocentrism, centration
18
Q
symbolic thinking
A
playing pretend, having imagination
19
Q
egocentrism
A
inability to imagine what another person thinks or feels
20
Q
centration
A
tendency to focus on one aspect of a situation.
quantity or quality but not both
21
Q
concrete operational stage
A
- 7 years to 11 years
- engaging in logical but not abstract thought
22
Q
formal operational stage
A
- 11+ years
- abstract thought
23
Q
fluid intelligence
A
problem-solving skills
24
Q
crystallized intelligence
A
learned skills and knowledge
25
mental set
tendency to approach similar problems in the same way
26
functional fixedness
inability to consider how to use an object in a nontraditional manner
27
algorithm
formula or procedure for solving a type of problem
28
deductive (top-down) reasoning
starts with a set of rules and draws conclusion from information given
29
inductive (bottom-up) reasoning
creates bigger theories from information given
30
heuristics
simplified principles used to make decisions; a rule of thumb
31
availability heuristic
how easily something can be imagined is used to determine how likely something is to actually occur
32
representativeness heuristic
categorizing items on the basis prototypical or stereotypical factors
assuming something that was likely in the past is likely in the future
33
discomfirmation principle
evidence obtained in testing demonstrates that a solution does not work
34
confirmation bias
tendency to focus on information that fits and individual's beliefs while rejecting information that goes against them
35
overconfidence
tendency to interpret's one beliefs/knowledge/decisions as infallible
36
belief perseverance
inability to reject a held belief despite clear evidence to the contrary
37
intuition
acting on perceptions that may or may not be supported by available evidence
38
recognition-primed decision model
sorting through a wide variety of prior-knowledge in order to match with current situation
39
multiple intelligences
intelligence in the summation of seven subcategories
- linguistic
- logical/mathematical
- musical
- visual-spatial
- bodily-kinesthetic
- interpersonal
- intrapersonal
40
original formula for calculating IQ
[mental age / chronological age] x100
41
consciousness
one's level of awareness of both the world and one's own existence within it
42
alertness
state of consciousness in which we are awake and able to think
43
alertness is maintained by what area of the brain
prefrontal cortex communicating with the reticular formation
44
the four characteristic EEG patterns correlated with waking and sleeping
betal, alpha, theta, delta
45
beta waves
awake, alert and working on a task
46
alpha waves
awake and relaxing with eyes closed
47
theta waves
stage 1 of sleep, irregular waveforms and stage 2 of sleep, sleep spindles and K complexes
48
stages of NREM sleep
stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, stage 4
49
slow-wave sleep occurs during which stages
stage 3 and 4
50
delta waves
stage 3 and 4
51
when does REM sleep occur
between NREM stages
52
why is REM sleep referred to as paradoxical sleep
because despite being asleep and paralyzed your HR, breathing and EEG mimic wakefulness
53
sleep cycle
progression through various sleep stages, lasting 50 min in children and 90 min in adults
54
circadian rhythms
control daily cycle of waking and sleeping via biochemical signals
55
melatonin
serotonin-derived hormone from the pineal gland that is often released with decreasing light and stimulates sleepiness
56
cortisol
steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex that is released with increased light and stimulates wakefulness
57
pathway from increased light to cortisol release
increased light --> corticotropin releasing factor released from hypothalamus --> adrenocorticotropic hormone released from anterior pituitary --> cortisol released
58
activation-synthesis theory
dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry that mimics sensory activity and is synthesized with stored memories/emotions
59
problem-solving dream theory
dreams are a way to solve problems untethered from the obstacles of the real world
60
cognitive process dream theory
sleeping counterpart of stream of consciousness
61
neurocognitive models of dreaming
correlates subjective, cognitive aspects of dreams with physiological changes experienced while dreaming
62
dyssomnias
sleep disorders experienced with sleep (falling asleep, staying asleep, avoiding sleep)
insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea
63
parasomnias
sleep disorders abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
night terrors, sleep walking
64
insomnia
difficulty falling of staying asleep
65
narcolepsy
lack of voluntary control (muscle and REM) over onset of sleep
66
sleep paralysis
sensation of being unable to move although awake
67
hypnagogic hallucinations
hallucinations when going to sleep
68
hypnopompic hallucinations
hallucinations when waking up
69
sleep apnea
inability to breathe during sleep
70
what effect does alcohol have on the GABA receptor
alcohol increases the activity of the GABA acceptor --> causing increased hyper polarization of the membrane --> resulting in generalized brain inhibition and diminished arousal
71
role of the GABA receptor
a chloride channel that causes hyper polarization of the membrane
72
alcohol myopia
short-sighted decision making d/t drinking
73
barbiturates
anxiety-reducing and sleep medications
74
benzodiazepines
anxiety-reducing and sleep medications, less prone to addiction then barbiturates
75
how do amphetamines stimulate the nervous system
increase arousal by increasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake
76
how does cocaine stimulate the nervous system
increases arousal by decreasing reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin
77
how does ecstasy stimulate the nervous system
increasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake
*similar to amphetamines*
78
how do opiates and opioids affect the nervous system
compounds bind to opioid receptors in the PNS and CNS
79
what effect do opiates/opioids have on the nervous system
decrease sensation to pain and cause sensation of euphoria
80
what pathway is drug addiction linked to
mesolimbic reward pathway
81
what structures are included in the mesolimbic reward pathway
- nucleus accumbent (NAc)
- ventral tegmental area (VTA)
- medial forebrain bundle (MFB)
82
selective attention
focusing on one part of the sensorium while ignoring other stimuli
acts as a "filter" by filtering out other stimuli
83
divided attention
focusing on multiple parts of the sensorium at once...multitasking
84
what type of processing is required for new or complex tasks
controlled (effortful) processing
85
what type of processing in required for familiar tasks
automatic processing
86
phonemes
speech sounds
87
morphemes
structural components of words
88
semantics
association of meaning with a word
89
syntax
how words are put together to form sentences
90
pragmatics
dependence of language on content and pre-existing knowledge
91
language acquisition device
theoretical pathway in the brain that allows children to master language during a sensitive period
92
Nativist/Biological theory view on language acquisition
we have an innate capacity for grammar
93
Learning/Behaviorist theory view on language acquisition
language learned through operant conditioning with parental/societal reinforcement
94
Social Interactionist theory view on language acquisition
language development is driven by a desire to interact in a social manner
95
Whorfian hypothesis/linguistic relativity hypothesis
our perception of reality is determined by the content of our native language
96
Broca's aphasia
difficulty in producing speech, knowing words and not being able to say them, "on the tip of your tongue"
97
Wernicke's aphasia
difficulty in comprehending speech, speaking nonsensically
98
arcuate fasiculus
bundle of axons that connects Broca's and Wernicke's area allowing for association between language comprehension and speech production
99
conduction aphasia
inability to repeat what has been said d/t disconnect between speech comprehension and production
100
night terrors
intense anxiety occurring during sleep, likely without waking the person
101
sleepwalking
periods of intense movement occurring during sleep, likely without waking the person
102
during what stages of the sleep cycle do night terrors and sleep walking occur
stages 3 and 4; slow wave sleep
103
REM rebound
earlier onset and greater duration of REM sleep following periods of sleep deprivation
104
hypnosis
a state in which the person appears to be in control of their normal functions but is in a highly suggestible state
