Cognition, Consciousness, and Language

Question 1

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Answer 1

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational

Question 2

Schema

Answer 2

• An organized pattern of behavior and thought
• Can include a concept (what is a dog?), a behavior (what do you do when someone asks you your name?), or a sequence of events (what do you normally do in a sit-down restaurant?)

Question 3

Assimilation vs. Accomodation

Answer 3

Assimilation: classsifying new information into existing schemata

Accomodation: existing schemata are modified to encompass new info

Question 4

Sensorimotor stage

Answer 4

• (0-2 years)
• Child learns to manipulate his or her environment
• Lack object permanence

Question 5

Preoperational stage

Answer 5

• 2-7 years
• symbolic thinking (pretend or make-believe)
• Egocentrism
• Centration (can’t understand concept of conservation)

Question 6

Concrete operational stage

Answer 6

• 7-11 years
• Can understand conservation and perspectives of others
• Able to engage in logical thought but cannot think abstractly

Question 7

Formal operational stage

Answer 7

• • 11 years
• Able to think logically about abstract ideas
• Pendulum problem (hold variables constant)

Question 8

Fluid intelligence

Answer 8

• Problem-solving skills
• peaks in early adulthood

Question 9

Crystallized intelligence

Answer 9

• related to use of learned skills and knowledge
• Peaks in middle adulthood

Question 10

Delirium

Answer 10

Rapid fluctutation in cognitive function that is reversible and caused by medical (nonpsychological) causes i.e. electrolyte and pH disturbances, malnutrition, low blood sugar, infection, a drug reaction, alcohol withdrawal, and pain

Question 11

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 11

• records an average of the elctrical patterns within different portions of the brain
• 4 patterns with waking and sleeping: BAT-D
  
  • Beta: awake and alert
  • Alpha: awake, relaxed with eyes closed
  • Theta: As soon as you doze off (Stages 1 & 2)
  • Delta: Deep sleep (Stages 3 and 4)

Question 12

REM Sleep

Answer 12

• AKA paradoxical sleep
• interspersed b/w cycles of NREM sleep
• arousal levels reach that of wakefulness, but muscles are paralyzed
• dreaming is likely to occur
• associated with procedural memory consolidation

Question 13

Sleep cycle

Answer 13

• Single complete progression through the sleep stages
• Early in the night, SWS predominates; Later in the night, REM dominates

Question 14

Circadian rhythm

Answer 14

• Daily cycle of waking and sleeping
• sleepiness: melatonin
• alertness: cortisol

Question 15

Activation-synthesis theory

Answer 15

• Dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry

Question 16

Problem-solving dream theory

Answer 16

• Dreams are a way to solve problems while you are sleeping

Question 17

cognitive process dream theory

Answer 17

• dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness

Question 18

Dyssomnias

Answer 18

Sleeping disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep i.e. insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea

Question 19

Parasomnias

Answer 19

abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep i.e. night terrors and sleepwalking

Question 20

Hypnagogic vs. Hypnopompic hallucinations

Answer 20

Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when one is going to bed. Hypnopompic hallucinations occur when one is popping up out of bed.

Question 21

Depressants

Answer 21

Reduce nervous system activity, resulting in a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety i.e. alcohol

• increased GABA receptor activity-chloride channel that causes hyperpolarization

Question 22

alcohol myopia

Answer 22

Inability to recognize consequences of actions, creating a short-sighted view of the world.

Question 23

Stimulants

Answer 23

Cause an increase in arousal in the nervous system.

• amphetamines: increased release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

Question 24

Opiates and Opioids

Answer 24

Opiates: naturally occurring i.e. morphine and codeine

Opioids: semisynthetic i.e. oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heorin

Question 25

Mesolimbic reward pathway

Answer 25

Includes the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and the connection b/w called the medial forebrain bundle.

• associated with addiction

Question 26

Selective attention vs. divided attention

Answer 26

Selective: focusing on one thing while ignoring other stimuli i.e. hearing name across party

Divided: multitasking

Question 27

Social interactionist theory

Answer 27

Language acquisition is driven by the dhild’s desire to communicate and behave in a social manner, such as interacting with caretakers and other children.

Question 28

Whorfian hypothesis

Answer 28

Language affects the way we think rather than the other way around i.e. inuit and different types of snow

Question 29

Broca’s aphasia

Answer 29

Patients are stuck with sensation of having every word on the tip of their tongue. Broca’s area controls speech.

Question 30

Wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 30

Patients speak nonsensical sounds and inappropriate word combinations devoid of meaning. Wernicke’s area is responsible for audition and comprehension