Chapter 1- Science of the Mind

Question 1

Cognitive psychology

Answer 1

scientific study of the acquisition, retention, and use of knowledge

Question 2

Limit of introspection

Answer 2

○ Cannot study mental world directly
○ Must study mental world to understand behaviour
○ Only way to study thoughts is to introspect (look within) to observe and record thoughts and experiences, but introspectors needed to be meticulously trained
○ Introspection doesn’t tell you anything about unconscious thoughts
Introspection can’t be used to test hypotheses

Question 3

Behaviourist theory

Answer 3

○ How behaviour changes in response to various stimuli
○ The way people act, and the way they feel are guided by how they interpret the situation, not the situation itself
§ i.e. “pass the salt” and “salt please” sound different, but have the same meaning, resulting in the same response (passing the salt)
§ Therefore, you need to study mental processes to understand behaviour

Question 4

Kant’s Transcedental Method:

Answer 4

• Begin with observable facts and work backwards
• How did these observations occur, what caused this effect?
• Allows for the study of mental processes indirectly
Also called “inference to best explanation”

Question 5

Working Memory:

Answer 5

• Holds information in an easily accessible form, so it is instantly available when needed
Small capacity so it is easy to locate the information you need

Question 6

Span Test:

Answer 6

• Sequence of letters that a person has to repeat back. When they do it correctly, you add another letter until they can’t repeat it
• Usually errors occur after seven or eight letters
Confirms working memory is limited in size

Question 7

Working-Memory System:

Answer 7

Consists of central executive, articulatory rehearsal loop

Question 8

Central executive

Answer 8

Analyzes and interprets information

Question 9

Articulatory rehearsal loop

Answer 9

○ Stores information
○ i.e. repeating a sequence of numbers in your head while you read
○ Subvocalization
§ Silent speech
§ Produces a representation of the numbers in the phonological buffer
○ Phonological buffer
§ Inner ear
§ Auditory image created here
§ Will fade, but once it fades subvocalization can be used again
This is what causes sound alike errors (i.e. saying F instead of S”

Question 10

Concurrent Articulation:

Answer 10

• Span test but get participants to say “Tah Tah Tah” over and over again while taking it
• Prevents subvocalization, letter span drops from 7 to 4-5 letters
Prevents sound alike errors

Question 11

Cognitive Neuroscience:

Answer 11

Study of biological basis for cognitive functioning

Question 12

Anarthia:

Answer 12

• Inability to produce speech
People with anarthria also produce sound-alike errors, suggesting sub vocalization is controlled by areas of the brain planning and controlling muscle movements, but not the movements themselves