Chapter 4: Cognition, Consciousness, and Language Flashcards
The study of ____ looks at how our brain process and reach to the incredible information overload presented to us by the world.
Cognition
The three steps in the information processing model are:
1.
2.
3.
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
Piaget Four Stages of Cognitive Development (Name and explain each) 1. 2. 3. 4.
- Sensorimotor: Focuses on manipulating environment for physical needs; circular reactions; ends with object permanence (Birth- 2 years old)
- Preoperational: SYMBOLIC THINKING, egocentrism, and centration. (2-7 years old)
- Concrete Operational: Understands conservation and the feelings of others; can manipulate concrete objects logically (7-11 years old)
- Formal Operational: Can think abstractly and problem solve. (11 years of age and older)
Dual-coding Theory
States that both verbal association and visual images are used to process and store information.
The word “dad” can recall some information, and a picture of “dad” recall the same information.
The development of ones ability to think and solve problems across the life span. ____
Cognitive Development
The key milestone that ends the sensorimotor stage is the development of ____.
Object Permanence
Object Permanence (Define) Example
The understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of view.
Peek-A-Boo does not work on kids anymore
Symbolic Thinking
The ability to pretend, play make-believe, and have an imagination.
Egocentrism
The inability to imagine what another person may thin or feel.
Fluid Intelligence
consists of problem solving skills
Crystallized Intelligence
consists of learned skills and knowledge
Delirium
rapid fluctuation in cognitive function that is reversible and caused by medical (non psychological) causes. Caused by things such as low blood sugar, malnutrition, infection, etc.
An elderly man is taken to his doctor by his daughter, His daughter says that during the past two days, he has been speaking to his wife who has been deceased for four years. Prior to that, he was completely normal. The elderly man most likely has.
Delirium. The time course is incompatible with the slow decline of dementia.
Functional Fixedness
The inability to consider how to use ab object in a non-traditional manner.
Trial-and-error
Type of problem solving in which various solutions are tried until one is found that seems to work.
Algorithm
A formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem. Usually, automatically produces a desired solution.
Deductive (top-down) reasoning
Starts from a set of general rules and draws conclusions from the information given (Taking some sort of data/facts and making an assumption). You will know if it is true!
Inductive (bottom-up) reasoning
Create a theory (looking for a pattern or trend) through generalizations. You don’t know if it will be true!
Heuristics
simplified principles used to make decisions.
What are Heuristics usually called?
Rule of Thumb
Availability Heuristic
Is when we try to decide how likely something is. When we use this heuristic, we make our decisions based on how easily similar instances can be imagined.
Representative Heuristic
- Categorizing items on the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical, or representative image of the category.
- Consider a standard coin that is flipped ten times in a row and lands on heads every time. What is the probability of the coping landing heads the next time? Mathematically, the probability will be 50%, but most individuals will either over estimate the probability based on the pattern that has been established, or underestimate the probability with the logic that the number of heads and tails must “even out”.
Using prototypical or stereotypical factors while ignoring actual numeric information is called ___.
Base Rate Fallacy
Disconfirmation Principle
The ideas that states that if evidence obtained during testing does not confirm a hypothesis, then the hypothesis is discarded or revised.
Confirmation Bias
the tendency to focus on information that fits an individuals beliefs, while rejecting information that goes against them.
What can disprove disconfirmation principle?
The presence of confirmation bias
Confirmation Bias can contribute to ____.
Overconfidence
Belief Perseverance
The inability to reject a particular belief despite clear evidence ti the contrary.
Intuition
The ability to act on perceptions that may not be supported by available evidence.
IQ Equation
(Mental Age/Chronological Age)x10
A 40 year old with intelligence abilities at the level of the average 60 year old would have an IQ of 150. (60/40)X100= 150
A child plays with a tool set, noting that a nail can only be hit with a hammer. When a friend suggest that the handle of a screwdriver can be used to hit a nail, the child passionately object. This is an example of:
Functional Fixedness
A doctor uses a flow chart to treat a patient with sepsis. Given its use in problem solving, a flowchart is an example of a(n):
Algorithm
A patient in mental health facility believes that the sky is pink. Despite several trips outside, the patient still declares the sky is pink. What psychological principle does this represent?
Belief Perseverance
The state of consciousness in which we are awake and able to think?
Alertness
Sleep is studied by recording brain wave activity occurring during the course of a night sleep. This is done with ____ which records an average of the electrical patterns within different portions of the brain.
EEG (Electroencephalography)
What are the five different EEG Patterns?
Beta Alpha Theta Delta REM
Beta Waves
Have a high frequency and occur when the person is alert or attending to a mental task that requires concentration.
Alpha Waves
Occur when we are awake but relaxed with our eyes closed, and are somewhat slower than beta waves. More synchronized then beta waves
Mnemonic for sequential Brain Waves
BAT-D
a BAT sleeps during the Day
Where is melatonin produced?
Pineal Gland
Where is cortisol produced?
Adrenal Cortex
Where is melatonin derived from?
Serotonin
Activation synthesis theory
Dreams are caused by a wide speed, random activation of neural circuitry. This activation can mimic incoming sensory information, and may also consists of pieces of stored memories, current and previous desires, met and unmet needs, and other experiences. The cortex then tries to stitch this unrelated information together, resulting in a dream that is both bizarre and somewhat familiar.
Problem Solving Dream Theory
Dreams are a way to solve problems while you are sleeping.
Cognitive Process Dream Theory
You dream about what your consciously thinking about.
Dyssomnias
disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep.
Insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea
Parasomnias
abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
night terrors and sleep walkinh
Insomnia
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy
lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep
Sleep paralysis
a sensation of being unable to move despite being awake
Sleep apnea
inability to breath during sleep
Night Terrors
periods of intense anxiety that occur during slow wave sleep
For each of the sleep stages below, list its EEG waveforms and main features. Stage EEG Waves Features Awake Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 REM
Awake: Beta & Alpha waves, Able to perceive process, access information and express that information verbally
Stage 1: Theta Waves, Light sleep and dozing
Stage 2: Theta Waves, Sleep spindles and K complexes
Stage 3: Delta Waves, Slow-wave sleep; dreams; declarative memory consolidation; sleep-wake disorders
Stage 4: Delta Waves, Slow-wave sleep; dreams; declarative memory consolidation; sleep-wake disorders
REM: Mostly Beta, appear awake physiologically; dreams; procedural memory consolidation; body is paralyzed
Which two hormones are most associated with maintaining circadian rhythms.
1.
2.
Melatonin
Cortisol
Phonology
the actual sound of language
Morphology
the structure of words
Biology can be broken down into Bio- living things logy- the study of life.
Semantics
the association of meaning with a word
Syntax
how words are put together to form sentences.
A child must notice the effects of word order on meaning. “Nathan has only 3 pieces of candy” has a very different meaning than “Only Nathan has 3 pieces of candy”
Pragmatics
The dependence of language on context and preexisting knowledge.
In other words, the manner in which we speak may differ depending on the audience and our relationship with that audience.
For each of the ages below, list the expected milestone(s) of language development. Age Milestones 9 to 12 months 12 to 18 months 18 to 20 months 2 to 3 years old 5 years old
9 to 12 months: Babbling
12 to 18 months: Increase of about one word per month
18 to 20 months:” Explosions of language” and combining word (two-word sentences)
2 to 3 years old: Longer sentences of three or more words
5 years old: Language rules largely mastered
For each of the theories of language acquisition below, what is the primary motivation or trigger for language development?
- Nativist (Biological)
- Learning (Behavior)
- Social Interactionist
- Nativist (Biological): innate ability to pick up language through the language acquisition device
- Learning (Behavior): It is operant conditioning with reinforcement by parents and caregivers.
- Social Interactionist: A desire to communicate and act socially
Brocas Area
- location
- function
Location: Frontal Lobe
controls the motor function of speech
Wernicke’s Area
- location
- function
Location: Temporal Lobe
responsible for language comprehension
Brocas Aphasia
difficulty producing language, with hesitancy and great difficulty coming up with words
Wernicke’s Aphasia
fluent, but includes nonsensical sounds and words lacking of meaning (gibberish).
Conduction Aphasia
difficulty repeating speech, with intact speech production and comprehension
____ reduces nervous system activity, resulting in a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety.
Depressants
What is the most common depressant?
Alcohol
How is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Activated?
deficiency of thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Barbiturates/Benzodiazepines (less prone to overdose)
anxiety reducing and sleep medications
____ increases arousal in the nervous system?
Stimulants
Amphetamines
increase arousal by increasing the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin and decreasing their re-uptake.
What three drugs are know to increase GABA activity in the brain?
1.
2.
3.
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepenes
Which three drugs (or drug classes) are known to increase dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin activity in the brain?
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Ecstacy (MDMA)
Ecstasy is a designer amphetamine; it is mentioned separately here because of its hallucinogenic affect.
What are the three main structures in the mesolimbic reward pathway? What is this pathway’s primary neurotransmitter?
- Structure:
- Structure:
- Structure:
- Neurotransmitter:
- Nucleus Accumbens
- Medial Forebrain bundle
- Ventral tegmental area
- Dopamine
