Chapter 3 Basic Consciousness Concepts

Question 1

Explain cognitive neuroscience

Answer 1

The interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition - including perception, thinking, memory, and language.

Question 2

Those working in the interdisciplinary field called _______ _______ study the brain activity associated with the mental processes of perception, thinking and memory.

Answer 2

Cognitive neuroscience

Question 3

Explain selective attention

Answer 3

Focusing of awareness on a particular stimulus.

Question 4

Explain Inattentional blindness

Answer 4

Failing to see visible objects when our mind is elsewhere.

Question 5

Explain Change blindness

Answer 5

Failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattentional blindness.

Question 6

Explain three attentional principles that magicians use to fool us.

Answer 6

Selective attention - when we focus on one thing
Intentional blindness - failing to see visible objects when our mind is elsewhere.
Change blindness - failing to notice changes in the environment.

Question 7

Explain dual processing.

Answer 7

when information is often simultaneously processed on separate consciousness and unconsciousness tracks.

Question 8

What is blind sight?

Answer 8

Blindsight is a condition when someone can see their surroundings but not be consciously experiencing them.

Question 9

Explain parallel processing.

Answer 9

Processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; is generally used to process well-learned information or solve problems easily.

Question 10

Explain sequential processing.

Answer 10

Processing one aspect of a problem at a time; is generally used to process new information or hard to solve problems.

Question 11

What are the mind’s two tracks? and what is dual processing?

Answer 11

Our mind simultaneously processes information on a conscious track and unconscious track; dual processing as we organize and interpret information.

Question 12

Failure to see visible objects when our attention is elsewhere is called ______ _______.

Answer 12

Inattentional blindness

Question 13

We register and react to stimuli outside of our awareness by means of ______ processing. When we devote deliberate attention to stimuli, we use _______ processing.

Answer 13

unconscious and conscious processing

Question 14

Inattentional blindness is a product of our _______ attention.

Answer 14

Selective attention.