Cognition, Consciousness, & Language Flashcards
What theory states that visual images & verbal associations are used to process & store info ?
Paivio’s dual-coding theory
What are the 4 key components of the info processing model ?
- Thinking requires sensation, encoding, & storage of stimuli
- Stimuli must be analyzed by brain to be useful in decision making
- Decisions made in one instance can be used to solve new problems (situational modification)
- Problem solving is dependent on cognitive level, context, and complexity of problem
What is the difference between assimilation & accommodation ?
Assimilation = incorporating new info into existing schemata Accommodation = modifying existing schemata to encompass new info *Schemata = organized patterns of thoughts & behaviors
What does stage 1 (sensorimotor) of Piaget’s model encompass ?
0-2 yrs
Child learns to manipulate environment to meet needs & match sensory input w/ motor actions
Exhibit circular reactions
-Primary: repetition of body movements that occured by chance (soothing)
-Secondary: manipulation focused on outside the body (attention)
What milestone essentially ends the sensorimotor stage ?
Object permanence: things still exist even out of view
Marks beginning of representational thought
What does stage 2 (preoperational) of Piaget’s model encompass ?
2-7 yrs
Characterized by:
-Symbolic thinking: refers to pretending & imagination
-Egocentrism: inability to imagine what others are thinking/feeling
-Inability to grasp conservation (amount is same regardless of form)—> due to centration: tendency to focus on only 1 aspect of a phenomena
What does stage 3 (concrete operational) of Piaget’s model encompass ?
7-11 yrs
Children understand conservation & consider others’ perspectives (loss of egocentrism)
What does stage 4 (formal operational) of Piaget’s model encompass ?
11 yrs
Able to think logically & abstractly (can engage in hypothetical reasoning)
The idea that culture is a prominent driving force of cognitive development in children was coined by ?
Lev Vygotsky
What is the difference between fluid & crystallized intelligence ?
Fluid = consists of solving new problems (can be creative) Crystallized = consists of solving problems using acquired knowledge (can be procedural)
A rapid fluctuation in cognitive function that is reversible & caused by medical causes is known as ?
Delirium
The tendency to approach similar problems in the same way is known as ?
Mental set
The inability to consider how to use an object in a nontraditional manner is known as ?
Functional fixedness
A formula or procedure for solving a certain type of problem is known as ?
Algorithm
Reasoning that starts w/ a set of general rules, then draws conclusion from the info given is known as ?
Deductive (top-down) reasoning
Reasoning that seeks to create a theory based on generalizations is known as ?
Inductive reasoning (bottom-up)
Simplified principles that are used to make decisions (“rules of thumb”) are known as ?
Heuristics
- Availability heuristic: used to base likelihood of an event on how easily examples of that event come to mind
- Representativeness heuristic: categorizes items on basis of prototypical, stereotypical, or representative image of the category
Using prototypical/stereotypical factors while ignoring the actual numerical info is called ?
Base rate fallacy
The tendency to focus on info that fits an individual’s beliefs while rejecting info that goes against them is known as ?
Confirmation bias
*contributes to overconfidence
The tendency for people to overestimate their ability to predict the outcome of past events is known as ?
Hindsight bias
*Similar to belief perseverance: inability to reject a belief despite clear evidence to the contrary
What is the formula for calculating IQ?
IQ = (mental age/chronological age) x 100
A state of consciousness in which we are awake & able to think is known as ?
Alertness (experience physiological arousal)
What is the best tool to use to study brain wave activity while asleep ?
EEG: records average electrical patterns within different portions of the brain
What are the different EEG patterns that correlate to waking & sleeping
Beta: alert & awake
Alpha: awake, but resting w/ eyes closed
Theta (Stage 1 NREM): Doze off
Theta (Stage 2 NREM): More deeply asleep; form sleep spindles (high f waves) & k complexes (single high amp waves)
Delta: (Stage 3 NREM): Deep sleep; slow wave sleep
*REM: arousal levels mimic wakefulness, but person is asleep (memory recall & dreaming occurs)
The idea that dreams are caused by widespread, random activation of neural circuitry is called the ?
Activation-synthesis theory
The idea that dreams are a way to solve problems while sleeping is known as what ?
Problem solving dream theory
The idea that dreams are merely the counterpart of stream of consciousness is known as ?
Cognitive process dream theory
What is the difference between dyssomnias & parasomnias ?
Dys. are disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or avoid sleep (insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea)
Par. are abnormal movements/behaviors while asleep (night terrors & sleepwalking)
What reduces nervous system activity & results in a state of relaxation & reduced anxiety ?
Depressants
- Alcohol
- Sedatives
What are the effects of alcohol on the brain ?
Increase GABA release (hyperpolarization)
Disinhibition: lack of self control
Increased dopamine level
Alcohol myopia: short sighted view of the world
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (thiamine deficiency)
What are the 2 different types of sedatives & what are their functions ?
Barbiturates: historically used as anxiety reducing & sleep medication
Benzodiazepines: more modern & less prone to overdose
*Increase GABA activity
*Taken w/ alcohol = coma or death
Stimulants cause an increase in nervous system arousal. What are the different stimulants & what are their functions ?
Amphetamines: increase arousal by release of dopamine, norepinephrine, & serotonin @ synapse & decrease their reuptake
Cocaine: acts on dopamine, norepinephrine, & serotonin synapses, but decreases reuptake of neurotransmitters (crack = can be smoked)
Ecstasy (MDMA): a hallucinogen combined w/ amphetamine
What are Opioids & Opiates, & how do they differ ?
Narcotics (painkillers)
Opiates (naturally occuring)—> morphine & codeine
Opioids (semi-synthetic)—> oxycodone, hydrocodone, & heroin
What are the 5 basic components of language ?
Phonology: sound of language
Morphology: structure of words
Semantics: association of meaning w/ a word
Syntax: how words are put together to form sentences
Pragmatics: dependence of language on context & preexisting knowledge
The idea that advocates for the existence of some innate capacity for language is known as ?
Nativist (biological) theory—>Noam Chomsky
- Transformational grammar: rearrange words, still same meaning
- Language acquisition device: theoretical pathway in brain = allows infants to process & absorb language rules
- Critical period: 2 years-puberty to learn or no bueno
The idea that language acquisition is obtained by means of operant conditioning is known as ?
Learning (behaviorist) Theory—>B.F. Skinner
The idea that our perception of reality is based on the content of language is based on what theory ?
Whorfian hypothesis/linguistic relativity hypothesis
A deficit of language production or comprehension is known as ?
Aphasia
What are the different types of aphasia ?
Broca’s (expressive): reduced or absent ability to produce spoken word
Wernicke’s (receptive): no comprehension of speech
Conduction: arcuate fasciculus is affected & patient isn’t able to repeat what was said
Focusing on one part of the sensorium & ignoring other stimuli is known as ?
Selective attention
Cocktail party phenomenon: engaged in convo & respond to name being called (shifting attention to stimuli more important)
Dichotic listening tests: stimuli going to each ear then asked to repeat out loud (shadowing)
The ability to perform multiple tasks @ the same time is termed ?
Divided attention
Automatic processing due to familiar/routine tasks
Ex: driving a car & doing other things
The idea that lang. acquisition is derived from one’s desire to interact w/ others is based on ?
Social Interactionist Theory
Which dopaminergic pathway does drug addiction most resemble ?
Mesolimbic reward pathway (Nucleus accumbens, Ventral tegmental area, & medial forebrain bundle)
-Typically responsible for emotional response & motivation
