Cognition, consciousness, and language (BS 4)

Question 1

cognitive development

Answer 1

Developing the ability to think and solve problems

Question 2

dual coding theory

Answer 2

visual and verbal associations are used to encode and retrieve information

Question 3

information processing model

Answer 3

cognition involves info intake, analysis, situational modification, and problem solving (depends on content/complexity of problem)

Question 4

Piaget’s stages of cognitive development

Answer 4

divides the lifespan into sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages

Question 5

sensorimotor stage (Piaget stage 1)

Answer 5

birth-2yrs a child learns to manipulate the environment via repetitive primary and secondary circular reactions; ends when child develops object permanence (objects continue to exist out of view)

Question 6

preoperational stage (Piaget stage 2)

Answer 6

2-7yrs a child develops symbolic thinking (play pretend), egocentrism (inability to understand how others think/feel), and centration

Question 7

concrete operational stage (Piaget stage 3)

Answer 7

7-11yrs a child can understand conservation and consider the perspectives of others, they can also engage in logical thought when working with concrete objects

Question 8

formal operational stage (Piaget stage 4)

Answer 8

starts ~11yrs when children learn to think logically about abstract ideas

Question 9

Vygotsky’s theory

Answer 9

childhood internalization of culture drives cognitive development

Question 10

functional fixedness

Answer 10

the inability to consider how to use an object beyond usual purpose

Question 11

heuristics

Answer 11

rules of thumb or shortcuts to make decisions in problem solving

Question 12

availability heuristic

Answer 12

a shortcut that relies on information hat is most readily available instead of all the information on the subject

Question 13

representativeness heuristic

Answer 13

a shortcut that relies on categorizing items on the basis of whether they fit the stereotypical image of the category

Question 14

confirmation bias

Answer 14

the tendency to focus on information that fits an individual’s beliefs and rejecting information that goes against them

Question 15

recognition-primed decision model

Answer 15

experience and recognition of similar situations one has already experienced play a role in decision making actions; explains intuition

Question 16

multiple intelligences

Answer 16

intelligence may exist in multiple areas, not just in the areas typically assessed by traditional intelligence tests

Question 17

intelligence quotient

Answer 17

numerical measurement of intelligence; IQ tests pioneered by Binet

Question 18

REM sleep

Answer 18

arousal levels reach that of wakefulness but the muscles are paralyzed

Question 19

sleep hormones

Answer 19

melatonin (pineal gland), cortisol (from adrenal cortex), ACTH (hypothalamus triggers anterior pituitary with CRF)

Question 20

depressants

Answer 20

drugs that reduce nervous system activity resulting in a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety (ex. alcohol)

Question 21

alcohol

Answer 21

a depressant that increases activity of the GABA receptor which causes hyperpolarization of the membrane causing decreased arousal, also increases dopamine causing mild euphoria

Question 22

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Answer 22

caused by thiamine deficiency, common in alcoholics and characterized by severe memory impairment with changes in mental status and loss of motor skills

Question 23

barbiturates and benzodiazepines

Answer 23

anxiety reducing medications that increase GABA activity causing a sense of relaxation; highly addictive

Question 24

stimulants

Answer 24

increase arousal in the nervous system, includes amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy; cause increased arousal by increasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin (decrease in reuptake)

Question 25

opiates and opioids

Answer 25

opiates are naturally ocurring (morphine, codeine), opioids are semisynthetic derivatives (oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin); bind to opioid receptors in PNS and CNS causing decreased reaction to pain and a sense of euphoria

Question 26

hallucinogens

Answer 26

work through a complex interaction between various neurotransmitters, especially serotonin; includes LSD and mushrooms

Question 27

marijuana

Answer 27

active chemical THC acts on cannabinoid receptors, glycine receptors, and opioid receptors; THC inhibits GABA activity and indirectly increases dopamine activity

Question 28

mesolimbic reward pathway

Answer 28

one of four dopaminergic pathways in the brain and is related to drug addiction; contains nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and the medial forebrain bundle

Question 29

phonology

Answer 29

the sound of a language; english contains about 40 phonemes; categorical perception is the ability to perceive subtle differences in speech sounds

Question 30

morphology

Answer 30

the structure of words, built by morphemes

Question 31

semantics

Answer 31

the association of meaning with a word

Question 32

syntax

Answer 32

how words are put together to form sentences

Question 33

pragmatics

Answer 33

the dependence of language on context and preexisting knowledge; the way we speak may differ by audience and our relationship to the audience

Question 34

timeline of language development

Answer 34

9-12mo babbling, 12-18mo one word per month, 18-20mo language explosion and word combination, 2-3yrs longer sentences, 5yrs language rules largely mastered

Question 35

nativist (biological) theory of language

Answer 35

Noam Chomsky posits the existence of an innate capacity for language, referred to as the language acquisition device; belief in a critical period for acquisition

Question 36

learning (behaviorist) theory of language

Answer 36

B. F. Skinner explains language acquisition by reinforcement; caregivers repeat and reinforce sounds and over time infants perceive certain sounds as valuable

Question 37

social interactionist theory of language

Answer 37

focused on the interplay between biological and social processes; language is driven by the child’s desire to communicate and behave in a social manner

Question 38

Whorfian hypothesis

linguistic relativity hypothesis

Answer 38

suggests that one’s perception of reality is largely determined by the content, form, and structure of language

Question 39

Broca’s and Wernicke’s area

Answer 39

Broca’s area is located in the frontal lobe and controls speech production, Wernicke’s area is in the temporal lobe and is responsible for language comprehension; connected by the arcuate fasciculus

Question 40

aphasia

Answer 40

a deficit in language production or comprehension; damage to Broca’s inhibits language production, damage to Wernicke’s results in a loss of comprehension of speech