Chapter 1: Questions Flashcards
What is cognitive psychology?
The indirect scientific study of mental processes, including obviously intellectual activities (memory recall, attention, judgements) but also activities that depend on these intellectual achievements; as well as the indirect study of failures and limitations of cognition.
Reaction time as a measure of cognitive processing
Response time (RT) measures cognitive processing by measuring the amount of time (usually measured in milliseconds) needed for a person to respond to a particular event (like a question or que).
Introspection (and it’s problems)
Introspection is the process through which one “looks within ‘’, to observe and record the contents of one’s own mental life.
The issues with this method are there is no access to unconscious processes as the individual cannot be aware of them, and introspective claims cannot be scientifically tested/inspected as potential evidence.
Behaviorism (and it’s problems)
Behaviorism is a study of cognitive processes that emphasizes broad principles concerned with how behavior changes in response to different configurations of stimuli (often called “rewards” and “punishments”). In early days behaviorists sought to avoid mentalistic terms.
The issues with this method is that subjective experience will undeniably guide how an individual interprets stimuli, and behaviorism seeks to avoid the mental world, so this evidence must be considered but cannot possibly be considered. Therefore, a complete behaviorist psychology may be impossible.
Methods in cognitive psychology: RT
Response Time (RT): Paints an idea of how ideas and mental images are represented and analyzed within the mind.
Methods in cognitive psychology: EEG
Electroencephalogram (EEG): A recording of voltage changes occurring at the scalp that reflect activity in the brain underneath. Has excellent temporal resolution.
Methods in cognitive psychology: fMRI
Functional Magnetic Imaging (fMRI): A neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields to construct a detailed three-dimensional representation of activity levels in different areas of the brain at a particular moment in time.
Methods in cognitive psychology: TMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): A technique in which a series of strong magnetic pulses at a specific location on the scalp causes temporary disruption in the brain region directly underneath the scalp area
