Chapter 6: Basic Cognitive Functions Flashcards
Cognition
the way the mind works, particularly the processes of attention, memory, intelligence, problem-solving, and language use
Processing speed
amount of time it takes for an individual to analyze incoming information from the sense, formulate a decision, and prepare a response
Reaction time
time it takes to complete an action when exposed to a stimulus or target as opposed to distractors
Simple reaction time tasks
participants are instructed make a response to a single stimulus
Choice reaction time tasks
participants make one response to one stimulus and another response for a different stimulus
General slowing hypothesis
increase in reaction time reflects a general decline of information processing speed within the nervous system of an aging person
Age-complexity hypothesis
older adults perform progressively more poorly as central processes in the nervous system slow down and tasks become more complex
Brinley plot
reactions times of older adults are plotted against reaction times of younger adults
Attention
the ability to focus or concentrate on a portion of experience while ignoring its other features, to shift that focus as demanded, and to coordinate information from multiple sources
2 methods used in visual search tasks for studies on attention and aging
simple visual search and conjunction visual
Visual search tasks
requires an observer to locate a specific target among a set of distractors
Simple visual search
the target differs from other stimuli by only one feature (e.g. color, shape, or size); relies on parallel processing in which old and young adults perform at similarly high levels
Conjunction visual search
the target differs from the distractors by more than one feature; relies on serial processing in which both old and young adults perform less efficiently, especially the former
Inhibitory control
the ability to turn off one response while performing another (e.g. Stroop test)
Sustained attention
participants must respond when they see a particular target appear out of a continuous stream of stimuli
Attentional resources theory
attention is a process reflecting the allocation of cognitive resources; older adults have fewer attentional resources
Inhibitory deficit hypothesis
aging reduces the individual’s ability to inhibit or tune out irrelevant information
Working memory
process of registering information into one’s consciousness, keeping it temporarily available and active
N-back task
working memory test that requires you to repeat the nth item back in a list of items presented in serial order; can vary speed, number of items, modality, tasks
Default network
circuit in the brain that is active when the brain is at rest while processing internal stimuli; needs to be deactivated when one is trying to remember information
Long-term memory
repository of information that is held for a period of time ranging from several minutes to a lifetime
Processes of long-term memory
encoding, storage, and retrieval
Episodic memory
long-term memory for chronological, temporally dated, and personal or non-personal events; tested with recall or recognition
Scaffolding theory
older adults are able to recruit alternate neural circuits as needed by task demands to compensate for losses suffered elsewhere in the brain
Remote memory
recall of information from the distant past that becomes increasingly difficult to retrieve over time
Autobiographical memory
recall of information from your own past; an exception to remote memory
Reminiscence bump
having very clear memories from ages 10-30, especially happy ones, because they are central to identity
Flashbulb memory
recall of important and distinctive events that stand out from other memories of past events
Semantic memory
ability to recall word meanings and factual information or general knowledge no longer tied to the time it was learned; name-face recognition is preserved in older adults
Procedural or muscle memory
recall of the actions involved in particular tasks; holds up well with age
Implicit memory
long-term memory for information that people acquire without intending to do so; unaffected by aging
Source memory
recall of where or how an individual acquires information; more difficult for older adults and more susceptible to false memories
Prospective memory
recall of events to be performed in the future or remembering your intention to perform an action
Retrieval-induced forgetting or tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon
when you are unable to remember information that you knew at one point in time
Identity process model
undue concern about memory loss can turn into an “over-the-hill” attitude of identity accommodation that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy
Memory self-efficacy
the confidence you have in your memory
Stereotype threat
people perform in ways that are consistent with negative stereotypes of the group they belong to
Memory controllability
beliefs about the effects of the aging process on memory like the extent to which one believes that memory decline is inevitable with age
Types of visual processing tasks
line length, shape classification, visual search, abstract matching
Types of verbal processing tasks
single lexical decision, double lexical decision, synonym vs antonym, category judgement
Explicit or declarative memory
intentional recollection of factual information or previous experiences
Priming
ability to identify a stimulus more easily or a change in behavior due to previous exposure to similar stimuli
