CHAPTER 4 Flashcards
how our brains process and react to the informqation
cognition
Dual-coding theory
both verbal and visual are used to process and store information
Information processing model 4 components
- Thinking requires sensation, encoding and storage of stimuli
- stimuli must be anaylzed by the brain to make a decision
- Decisions made in one situation can be extrapolated and adjusted to help solve new problems
- problem solving is dependent not only on the persons cognitive level, but also on the context and complexity of the problem
Development of ones ability to think and solve problems
cognitive development
4 stages of Piagets stages of cognitive developemen
sensorimotor
preopertional
concentrete operational
formal operational
sensorimotor stage
0-2 years
object permanence
manipulating environment
object permanence
objects exist even when out of view
Schema
describes a pattern of thought or behavior that organizes categories of information and the relationships among them
How is information processed
adaptation
two types of adaptation
assimilation and accommodation
process of classifying new information into existing schemata
assimilation
process by which existing schemaa are modfied to encompass their new information
accommodation
repetition of a body movement that originally occurred by chance
ie sucking thumb
primary circular reactions
manipulation is focused on something outside the body
secondary circular reactions
objects exist even when out of view
object permenance
representational thought
child has begun to create mental representations of external objects and events
preopertional stage
2-7 years
- symbolic thinking
- Egocentrism
- Centration
symbolic thinking
ability to pretend, play make-believe and have imagination
Egocentrism
refers to the inability to imagine what another person may think or feel
Centration
the tendency to focus on only one aspect of a situation at one time
The concrete operational stage
7-11 years
understands conservation and consider the perspectives of others
logical thought
can not think abstractly
The formal operational stage
Logic thinking about abstract though
Lev Vygotsky
proposed that the engine driving cognitive development is the child internalization of his or her culture
Fluid intellifence
problem solving
early adulthood
Crystilized intelligence
learned skills and knowledge
middle adulthood
Dementia
impaired memory
Delirium
rapid flluctuation in cognitive function that is reversible and cause by medical causes
Mental set
tendency to approach similar problems in the same way
Functional fixedness
inability to consider how to use an object in a nontraditional manner
Trial and Error
various solutions are tried until one is found that works
Algorithm
formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem
Deductive reasoning
deriving conclusions from general rules
Inductive reasoning
deriving generalizations from evidence
Heuristics
shortcuts or rules of thumb used to make decisions
Availability heuristic
when we try to decide how likely something is
Representativeness heuristic
involves categorizing items on a basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical or representative image of the cateogroy
Base Rate fallacy
using prototypical or stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numerical information
using prototypical or stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numerical information
Base Rate fallacy
When a potential solution to a problem fails and should be discarded
disconfirmation principle
Confirmation bias
tendency to focus on information that fits an individuals beliefs, while rejecting information that goes against them
overconfidence
tendency to erroneously interpret one’s decisions, knowledge, and beliefs as infallible
Belief perseverance
inability to reject a particular belief depsite clear evidence to the contrary
Intuition
ability to act on perceptions that may not be supported by evidence but that a person “feels” is correct
Recognition-primed decision model
model of how people make quick, effective decisions when faced with complex situations
Emotion
the subjective experience of a person’s sitution
Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences
linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal
One’s level of awareness of the world and one’s existence within that world
Consciousness
Alertness
consiousness in which we are awale and able to think
cortisol levels tend to be higher
How is Alertness maintained
neurological circuits in the prefrontal cortex which communicate with the reticular formation
EEG
electrical patterns in brain during sleep
Beta wave
high frequency when the person is alert and attending to a mental task that requires concentration
Alpha wave
awake but relaxing with our eyes closed, slower than beta waves
Stage 1 waves
theta waves
theta waves
irregular waveforms with slower frequencies and high voltages
Stage 2 waves
theta waves w/spindles and K complexes
Stage 3/4 sleep
slow wave sleep
cognitive recovery and memory consolidation
growth hormone release
Stage 3/4 waves
delta waves
delta waves
low-frequency high voltage
NREM
stages 1-4
REM
arousal levels reach that wakefulness, but muscles are paralyzed
- paradoxical sleep
Circadian Rhythms
daily cycle of waking and sleeping regulated by internally generated rhythms
Sleepiness is due to
melatonin
melatonin
seritonin-derived hormone from the pineal gland
Cortisol
steriod hormone produced in adrenal cortex
related to sleep-wake cycle
light causes release of CRF –> ACTH –> cortisol
Dyssomias
difficult to fall asleep, stay awake
Parasommiaas
abnormal movements during sleep
Insomnia
diffulcult falling asleep
Narcolepsy
lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep
Cataplexy
symptom of narcolepsy
loss of muscle control and sudden intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours
Sleep Apnea
inability to breathe during sleep
Sleep paralysis
unable to move despite being awake
Night terrors
periods of intense anxiety that occur during slow-wave sleep
Hypnosis
state of consciousness in which individuals appear to be in control but are in a highly suggestible state
Meditation
quieting of the mind to relief anxiety
Depresants
reduce nervous system activity
- relaxation and reduced anxiety
Alcohol affect on brain
increases activitiy of the GABA receptors, causing hyperpolarization of the membrane
increase dopamine levels
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
defiecency of thiamine and characterized by severe memory impairment with changes in mental status and loss of motor skills
Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines
increase GABA
anti anxiety medication
Stimulants
increase in arousal in the nervous system
increase frenecy of AP
Amphetamines
increased arousal by increasing release of dopamine, NE and serotonin
Cocaine
dedcreases reuptake of dopamine, NE, E
Opiates and Opiods
naturally occurring - opiates
semisynthetic compounds- opioids
bind to opioid receptors in PNS and CNS causing decreased reaction to pain and sense of euphoria
Hallucinogens
distortion of reality and introspection
Drug addiction pathway
mesolimbic reward pathway
nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and medial forebrain bundle
Attention
concentrating on one aspect of the sensory enviroment
Selective attention
focusing on one part of the sensorium while ignoring other stimuli
Cocktail party phenomenon
filter that allows us to focus of one while allowing other stimuli to be processed in the background
- selective attnetion
Divided attention
ability to preform multiple tasks agt the same time
Components of language
phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics
phonology
refers to the actual sound of the speech
morphology
refers to the building blocks of words
semantics
refers to the meaning of words
syntax
refers to the rules dicting word order
pragmatics
refers to the chnages in language delivery depending on context
The nativist biological theory of language
langauge aquisitions as being innate and controlled by the language acquisition device (LAD_
The learning behaviourist theory of language
language acquisitions as being controlled by operant conditions and reinforcement by parents and caregivers
The social interactionist theory of language
language acquisitions as being cause by a motivation to communicate and interact with others
Linguistic relativity (whorfian) hypothesis
lens through which we view and intrepet the world is created by language
Brocos Area
located in inferior frontal hyrus of the frontal lobe, controls the motor function of speech via connections with the motor cortex
Brocos aphasia
reduced or absent ability to produce spoken language
Wernikes area
superior temporal gyrus of the temperol lobe, responsible for language comprehension
Arcuate fasciculus
bundle of axons that allows appropriate association between language comprehension and speech production
aphasia
deficit of language production or comprehension
Wernicke’s aphasia
motor production and fluency of speech is retained but speech comprehension is lost
conduction aphasia
due to Arcuate fasciculus being affected
inability to repeat something that has been said
- rare
sleep cycle pathway
1-2-3-4-3-2-REM-1
