Cognition and evolution

Question 1

Describe the Wason selection task

Answer 1

Cards with vowels have an even number on the other side of it, which of the 4 card do you turn over to check if the rule has been violated?

Question 2

Brains make up what % of body mass, and how much % of the body’s energy

Answer 2

Brains make up 3% of your body mass, but use 20% of your body’s energy

Question 3

Outline the computer metaphor for the brain

Answer 3

We can understand our behaviour as how it computes and processes info from our environment. Our brains are computational mechanisms to deal with stimuli in our env

Question 4

Give Marr’s 3 levels of explanation for understanding how a system works

Answer 4

1) Computational theory- function of behaviour (ultimate level explanation)
2) Representation and algorithm-achievement at the computational/abstract level i.e. cognitive testing
3) Hardware implementation- physical substrates by which the computation can actually occur i.e. nuerons

Question 5

What does the Muller Lyer effect tell us about how vision works?

Answer 5

Picking out the most relevant info- our system cant extract all info, needs to be more efficient.

Question 6

Algorithms (reasoning and decision making)

Answer 6

> process/set of rule for calculations/computations for every possible outcome for an action/decision
computationally expensive
very rational decision-making

Question 7

Heuristics (reasoning and decision making)

Answer 7

Loosely defined rules/ trial and error approaches to calculations
> Short cuts that not as accurate as algorithms, but less expensive

Question 8

Describe the Kahnemann & Traversky bank teller problem

Answer 8

Description of a bank teller called Linda, who is described as being deeply involved with social issue.

Typically people choose the wrong answer (she is only a bank teller) - mislead by representative heuristic

Question 9

What is a conjunction fallacy (bank teller problem) ?

Answer 9

For A and B to apply to something (conjunction) A has to first apply and is therefore the more likely option

Question 10

Representative heuristic

Answer 10

We assume and make inferences about representativeness of our knowledge of a scenario/action. This is what leads to the bank teller misunderstanding

Question 11

What change leads people to do better at the bank teller problem?

Answer 11

People do better if the bank teller problem is presented with frequency data i.e 100 people in population

Question 12

Nested set, what is it and how can it help solve the bank teller problem?

Answer 12

Sub sets contained within a set (I.e. linda being a feminist is a sub set of her being a bank teller also)

Question 13

Representative heuristic when tossing a coin

Answer 13

people will think HTTHHT is the correct option of what is more likely, but actually HHHTTT is equally likely

Question 14

Modular reasoning and domain specific modules, which guy argued for modularity of the mind (areas designed for dealing with specific problems i.e

Answer 14

Brain evolved to solve specific adaptive problems.

Domain specific cognitive modules in the brain (i.e. specific processing units such as for face recognition, language)

Question 15

Conditional reasoning for understanding the Wason selection task

Answer 15

If/then problem. IF p THEN q.

The rule involves needing to falsify hypotheses (which people often understand,)

Question 16

Why is it that people commonly misunderstand and get the Wason task wrong?

Answer 16

WE tend to lean toward/ want to confirm hypotheses as opposed to falsifying them.
Correct cards to turn over are ‘a’ and ‘3’.
NO rule for what is behind an odd number, so need to see whats behind there

Question 17

Give an example of when conditional reasoning is easier (falsification requirement)

Answer 17

When the scenario is not abstract (like Wason). i.e. easier when it is applied to drinking/ detecting underage drinkers
(think of the JB, eminem, beer, coke cards from lecture)

Question 18

Cosmides/Tooby - altruistic detection findings?

Answer 18

People arent so good at detecting altruistic behaviour- since threats are more adaptive to take notice of, detect and make decisions to act

Question 19

Nature of logic tasks

Answer 19

Deontic tasks- determines the obligations of a task i.e. detecting violators, rather than falsifying a rule (we’re good at this)
Indicative task- determines the truth and falsehood of a rule (Wason)

Question 20

Rarity assumption

Answer 20

chances of something happening or being

Question 21

Darwinian algorithm

Answer 21

a cheater detection module suggested as evidence for detecting rule violators, would have been adaptive in our ancestral past

Question 22

What is Tooby and Cosmides ‘social contract algorithm

Answer 22

We’re good at detecting rule breaking.

Suggests we have a mental heuristic/system for detecting cheaters since they are threat

Question 23

Nature nurture debate?

Answer 23

Both are essential for development, evolution

Question 24

Define instinct, different from innate

Answer 24

Instinct- inborn behavioural tendency, present from birth

Innate- existing since birth, do not have to practice or learn such a behaviour

Question 25

Imprinting and critical period

Answer 25

Shows innate behaviour present - little goslings imprinted onto a researcher’s welly boots as if it were their mother

Question 26

Innate reflexes

Answer 26

Grasping, Moro reflex (extend body outward then onward), stepping

Question 27

Social referencing

Answer 27

Getting info from parents about whether something is safe or not
i.e. visual cliff paradigm

Question 28

Primary intersubjectivity

Answer 28

co-ordinating actions with others i.e. kid will stick out tongue if parent does

Question 29

Conditioned fear

Answer 29

Little albert, rats/loud bang

Question 30

learning and genes in conditioned fear

Answer 30

Monkeys and rubber snakes.
Captive monkeys learned to respond fearfully to a rubber snake when shown wild monkeys reaction to snakes. This did not work when trying to condition fear for a flower.
shows that there is something innately fearful about snakes

Question 31

Theory of mind- Sally Ann test

Answer 31

ToM- knowing that somebody else has a distinct set of knowledge different from your own.
Children tend to pass this at 4 years old, age to pass this is continually being pushed. Term ToM first developed for use on chimps, possible that they may understand others’ mental state (false belief)