cog sci test 2

Question 1

template matching theory

Answer 1

The brain stores mental “templates” for every possible visual stimulus
Recognition occurs when an incoming image matches a stored template exactly
issue: struggles to explain how we recognize objects that vary in appearance

Question 2

feature detection theory

Answer 2

Neurons as Feature Detectors:
- This theory proposes that neurons in the visual cortex are specialized for detecting specific features of visual stimuli
Hubel and Wiesel’s Discovery:
- They provided evidence for feature detectors in the cat’s visual cortex.
- They found that specific neurons fired in response to lines of particular orientations

Question 3

feature integration theory

Answer 3

1. preattentive stage
   - Automatic and parallel detection of basic features (color, orientation, etc.)
2. focused attention stage
   - Attention is used to combine these features into a unified object representation

Question 4

attention

Answer 4

selectively concentrating on one thing while ignoring others (limited capacity)

Question 5

cognitive load

Answer 5

the mental effort imposed on the working memory
- the amount of information that the memory can hold and process at one time

Question 6

Treisman’s attenuation model

Answer 6

suggests that attention weakens unattended information but does not completely block it (can still be captured if it is important)

Question 7

Kahneman’s capacity model

Answer 7

• attention is based on arousal and task demands
• when demands of multiple tasks exceed the available attentional capacity performance on one or both tasks may suffer

Question 8

multimode theory of attention

Answer 8

• This theory suggests that attention can operate at different stages of information processing
• From early sensory filtering to late semantic filtering
• The stage at which selection occurs depends on
• The specific task demands
• The amount of effort required

Question 9

multitasking can increase…

Answer 9

cognitive load

Question 10

technology and attention

Answer 10

• Contribute to high cognitive loads
• reduce attention efficiency

Question 11

sensory memory

Answer 11

ultra short term storage

Question 12

short-term memory

Answer 12

• Memory mechanism that allows us to retain a certain amount of information
• It temporarily retains processed information that either fades quickly or turns into long-term memory

Question 13

long-term memory

Answer 13

• The memory process in the brain that takes information from the STM store
• It creates long-lasting memories

Question 14

explicit memories

Answer 14

memories of facts or events

Question 15

implicit memories

Answer 15

skills or habits

Question 16

multi-store model

Answer 16

• Atkinson and Shiffrin assume there are three separate memory stores
• Information is transferred between these stores in a linear sequence

Question 17

working memory model

Answer 17

This model describes how we actively process and manipulate information in our minds for cognitive tasks
4 main components
1. central executive
2. the phonological loop
3. visual-spatial sketchpad
4. the episodic buffer

Question 18

central executive

Answer 18

the control center, responsible for attention, task switching and coordinating other components

Question 19

visuospatial sketchpad

Answer 19

allows us to visualize and manipulate objects in our minds

Question 20

phonological loop

Answer 20

processes verbal and auditory information

Question 21

episodic buffer

Answer 21

It integrates information from the other components and LTM into a single, coherent episode

Question 22

heuristic

Answer 22

mental shortcuts or rule of thumbs
- fast and efficient
- do not guarantee a correct solution

Question 23

algorithms

Answer 23

step-by-step procedures
- time consuming
- guarantee a correct solution

Question 24

SOAR

Answer 24

Another problem-solving model
Views problem solving as searching through a problem space of states and operators

Question 25

state

Answer 25

Represents the condition of the problem at a specific point in time

Question 26

operator

Answer 26

An action that can be applied to a state to transform it into a different state