Chapter 1

Question 1

Cognition

Answer 1

A set of processes (cognitive functions) that

i) Perceive and process stimuli from outside and in
ii) Store and retrieve information
iii) Decide upon and execute actions to achieve goals

Question 2

Nativism

Answer 2

The idea that all knowledge is available at birth and only needs to be remembered

Question 3

Rationalism

Answer 3

The idea that logic, introspection, and intuition leads to knowledge

Question 4

Empiricism

Answer 4

The idea that all knowledge stems from observation

Question 5

What ideas did Plato subscribe to?

Answer 5

Nativism, Rationalism, and believed in Nature over Nurture

Question 6

What ideas did Aristotle subscribe to?

Answer 6

Empiricism, that data and hypothesizing can lead to new knowledge, and in Nurture over Nature

Question 7

Associationism

Answer 7

Created by William James. Activation of part of a memory activates associated elements; can spread to another memory

Question 8

William James

Answer 8

A psychologist-philosopher who wrote the Principles of Psychology. Created Associationism.

Question 9

Herman Ebbinghaus

Answer 9

Used himself as a research subject. Discovered the basic memory principles.

Question 10

Basic Memory Principles

Answer 10

The learning curve is asymptotic

the forgetting curve is exponential

distributed practice has a more lasting effect than massed practice

Relearning becomes easier each time

Question 11

What effect does sleep have on memory?

Answer 11

While sleeping is when our brain consolidates our short term memories into long term memories. All connections that went unused throughout the day degrade slightly as well.

Question 12

Classical Conditioning

Answer 12

a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired: a response which is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone

Question 13

Extinction Learning

Answer 13

A new association with the stimulus is learned negating the original association

Question 14

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 14

Studied learning in dogs, specifically Classical Conditioning.

Question 15

Edward Thorndike

Answer 15

Student of William James, studied Instrumental Conditioning and survival of the fittest

Question 16

Instrumental Conditioning

Answer 16

Subjects learn that a certain action leads to a positive/negative outcome

Question 17

Survival of the Fittest

Answer 17

When certain actions get “selected” and others “die out”

Question 18

Law of Effect

Answer 18

Behaviors that lead to a positive outcome are strengthened and actions that lead to a negative outcome are weakened.

Question 19

B.F. Skinner

Answer 19

A radical behaviorist known for his Skinner boxes. Said that consciousness and free will are illusions because everything we do is a conditioned response to a stimulus.

Question 20

Skinner box

Answer 20

An operant learning environment for small animals like rats. Taught rats to push a button to receive food.

Question 21

Behaviorism

Answer 21

The theory that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior patterns. Sees cognition as a black box.

Question 22

Cognitivism

Answer 22

Focuses on psychological constructs such as attention, memory, empathy, etc.

Question 23

Camillo Golgi

Answer 23

Invented the Golgi silver staining method and the reticular theory

Question 24

Santiago Ramón y Cajal

Answer 24

Created the Neuron doctrine that eventually led to the idea of “localization of function”

Question 25

Reticular Theory

Answer 25

All neurons in the brain and spinal cord form a continuous information network

Question 26

Neuron Doctrine

Answer 26

The nervous system is made up of discrete individual cells

Question 27

Localization of Function

Answer 27

The idea that the brain may have distinct regions that support particular cognitive functions.

Question 28

Homunculus

Answer 28

A distorted representation of the human body, based on a neurological “map” of the areas and proportions of the human brain dedicated to processing motor functions, or sensory functions, for different parts of the body

Question 29

Wilder Penfield

Answer 29

Poked peoples brains when they were undergoing neurosurgery for epilepsy. It caused “ghost” sensations and evoked movement when electrically stimulated.

Question 30

Somatotopy

Answer 30

point-for-point correspondence of an area of the body to a specific point on the central nervous system. Typically, the area of the body corresponds to a point on the primary somatosensory cortex.

Question 31

cognitive functions

Answer 31

The set of processes that allow humans and many other animals to perceive external stimuli, to extract key information and hold it in memory, and ultimately to generate thoughts and actions that help reach desired goals.

Question 32

cognitive model

Answer 32

A explanatory framework that invokes unobserved internal states to predict how stimuli lead to actions.

Question 33

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 33

A scientific discipline that seeks to create models that explain the interrelations between brain function and cognitive functions.

Question 34

cognitive science

Answer 34

A scientific discipline that seeks to understand and model the information processing associated with cognitive functions.

Question 35

complementarity

Answer 35

The combination of data across multiple methods for measuring brain function, often to improve inferences about the nature of the generative neural processes.

Question 36

convergence

Answer 36

The combination of results across multiple experimental paradigms, often to support inferences about an unobservable internal state.

Question 37

individual difference

Answer 37

Variation in a cognitive function or other trait across people, often as can be related to a particular biological predictor.

Question 38

mind

Answer 38

The full spectrum of a person’s awareness (one aspect of consciousness) at any point in time, reflecting sensory percepts, as well as thoughts, feelings, goals, desires, and so on.

Question 39

nervous system

Answer 39

The network of nerve cells throughout the body.

Question 40

neural correlate

Answer 40

A measure of brain function that covaries with the expression of a cognitive function.

Question 41

neuron

Answer 41

Also called nerve cell. A cell specialized for the conduction and transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system.

Question 42

neurotransmitter

Answer 42

A chemical agent released at synapses that mediates signaling between nerve cells.

Question 43

phrenology

Answer 43

Originating in the early nineteenth century, the attempt to create maps of brain function based on the pattern of bumps and valleys on the surface of the skull.

Question 44

psychological construct

Answer 44

A theoretical concept, often generated by converging results across experiments, that cannot be directly observed but serves to explain and unify a body of research.

Question 45

synapse

Answer 45

A specialized point of contact between the axon of a neuron (the presynaptic cell) and a target (postsynaptic) cell. Information is transferred between the presynaptic and postsynaptic cells by the release and receipt of biochemical neurotransmitters.