Cognition, Consciousness, and Language Flashcards
Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development
Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational
Schema
- 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?)
Assimilation vs. Accomodation
Assimilation: classsifying new information into existing schemata
Accomodation: existing schemata are modified to encompass new info

Sensorimotor stage
- (0-2 years)
- Child learns to manipulate his or her environment
- Lack object permanence
Preoperational stage
- 2-7 years
- symbolic thinking (pretend or make-believe)
- Egocentrism
- Centration (can’t understand concept of conservation)

Concrete operational stage
- 7-11 years
- Can understand conservation and perspectives of others
- Able to engage in logical thought but cannot think abstractly
Formal operational stage
- 11 years
- Able to think logically about abstract ideas
- Pendulum problem (hold variables constant)
Fluid intelligence
- Problem-solving skills
- peaks in early adulthood
Crystallized intelligence
- related to use of learned skills and knowledge
- Peaks in middle adulthood
Delirium
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
Electroencephalography (EEG)
- 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)

REM Sleep
- 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
Sleep cycle
- Single complete progression through the sleep stages
- Early in the night, SWS predominates; Later in the night, REM dominates
Circadian rhythm
- Daily cycle of waking and sleeping
- sleepiness: melatonin
- alertness: cortisol
Activation-synthesis theory
- Dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry
Problem-solving dream theory
- Dreams are a way to solve problems while you are sleeping
cognitive process dream theory
- dreams are merely the sleeping counterpart of stream-of-consciousness
Dyssomnias
Sleeping disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep i.e. insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea
Parasomnias
abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep i.e. night terrors and sleepwalking
Hypnagogic vs. Hypnopompic hallucinations
Hypnagogic hallucinations occur when one is going to bed. Hypnopompic hallucinations occur when one is popping up out of bed.
Depressants
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
alcohol myopia
Inability to recognize consequences of actions, creating a short-sighted view of the world.
Stimulants
Cause an increase in arousal in the nervous system.
- amphetamines: increased release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin
Opiates and Opioids
Opiates: naturally occurring i.e. morphine and codeine
Opioids: semisynthetic i.e. oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heorin