CH1-3 Flashcards
Introspection
technique for learning about mental processes
Behavioursim
focus on observable, objective reactions to timuli in the env
contributions to modern research methods
Gestalt psyo
humans have basic tendences to organize what we see
whole is greater than the sum
Cog rev - 3 parts of more popularity
linguistics - couldn’t be explained by behaviourism
memory
dev psyo
Information processing approach
1) our mental processes are similar to computer
2) info progresses through a series of stages
atkinson schiffer
atkinson schiffer
sensory memory - ST - LT
cognitive neuropsyo
how the brain works and contribs to thinking and cognition
Mental chronometry
measurement of mental processing through reaction times and accuracies
computer simulation
model like human thinking. Same process and errors
AI
better than human thinking
critical assumption of cognitive neuro
the mind depends fundamentally on the brain so if you want to inderstand the mind you have to understand the brain.
Brain lesions
Map damage to functions
Assumes modularity, generalizability
Trancranial mag stim
hyperpolarize regions of neurons - temporary lesion - using applied magnetic force
Positron Emission Tomography
positrons emitted from radioactive decay
radioactive tracer goes with blood and find blood flow with the decay.
FUNCTIONAL IMAGE - not structural. Shows bloodflow correlated with activity
High spatial res
Radioactivity :(
Poor temporal res and interpertational issue of excitation/inhibition
FMRI
Like PET - no radioactivity and faster and precise
Better temporal resolution.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI
works on blood. Oxygenated blood has more iron and more mag properties
High spatial res, non-intrusive, humans and animals
Expensive, poor temporal
Interpretational problem: brain is active in excitation and inhibition
Event related potentials
Measure gross electrical changes when people are doing mental activities.
ELectrodes all over scalp see electrical activity in groups of neurons
Great temporal res, non-intrusive, used on infants, inexpensive
Not structural, poor spatial, only scalp activity, multi-trial filtering
Magneto-encephalography
measures the magnetic fields generated by neural activity
functional image
spatial and temporal res
direct measure of brain function, non-invasive, no applied magnetic field
magnetic fields are weak tho and dhielding can happen
Single cell recording
measuring indv neuron’s response to a stimulus
Highest spatial res, on-line measurement of behaviour so high temporal too
BUT highly invasive - surgery involved
The conectionist approach
Parallel distrib processing
argues that cog processes can be understood in terms of a network. Computer models are too simple
serial processing
one step at a time (used in computer models)
convergence
seek evidence that similar results ca be observed across different measurements of mental activity
Increases generalizability
Sensation vs perception
sensation = transformation of physical or mechanical energy into a neural signal that the brain can understand. Bottom up
Perception = the mental outcome (interpretation) of sensory transformation. Our experience and interp of a sensory experience. Depends on bottom up and top down
Figure-ground reversals
illusions where we fluctuate bt what thing we choose to be int he forground and what thing in the background
Two explanations for figure ground reversals
1- neurons bcm accustomed to one way and are more likely to see the reverse
2- trying to solve visual paradox by offering two reasonable solutions
Distance illusions
Demonstrate top down influence on perception. Brain automatically accounts for distance and integrates that into interp
Colour constancy
brain automatically adjusts for effects of lighting
distal stimulus
the object out there in the environment
proximal stim
the information registored on your sensory receptors
iconic memory
visual sensory memory
preserves an image of visual stim for a brief period after the stim disappears
the primary visual cortex
in the occipital lobe
information registered on the retina makes its way there
Law of Pragnance
Gestalt theory
We interepret stimuli in the simplest possible way
Group parts so they belong together. Impart order
Principles of gestalt
proximity similarity good continuation closure common fate
illusory contours
we see edges even if they aren’t visually present
represent closure in gestalt theory
common fate
gestalt theory
things that move together belong together
recognition depends on
bottom up and top down processing
template matching
an old theory of recognition that was debunked
template stored as a model
We can recognize new objects (like new penmanship)
we recognize the canonical view fastest
canonical
the most common view of an object
feature analysis/detection
objects are comprised of distinct features;
good for explaining reading;
good neural plausibility because of cells responding to different features independently;
Criticisms: too bottom-up ; items in nature have really complex features