Cognitive approach Flashcards
What is inference
Going beyond the immediate evidence to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed
State the two theoretical models put forward by the cognitive approach
The computer analogy and the information processing model
State the three assumptions of the cognitive approach
- internal mental processes can be and should be studies scientifically- inferences are made about what is going on inside people’s minds on the basis of their behaviour
- how our brains process the world affects how we behave
- the mind works like a computer
What is the information processing model
information flows through the cognitive system in three stages which influences our behaviour
1. input (senses)
2. process (cognitive processes)
3. output (behaviour)
What is the computer model
The belief that the mind works like a computer in the way it processes information (the ‘computer analogy’)
Define a schema
A mental framework gained from experience which helps us to predict what happens in the world around us
State two advantages of schemas
- they help us to process a lot of information quickly and act as a mental short cut
- help us to predict what will happen in our world based on our experiences
State two disadvantages of schemas
- they may distort our interpretations of sensory information leading to perceptual errors
- can cause biased recall based on what we expect to happen
Define cognitive neuroscience
The study of the brain to investigate the neurological basis of the cognitive process
Describe the early history of the link between brain structures and cognition
In the 1860’s, Paul Broca identified how damage to an area in the frontal lobe can lead to damaged speech production- the brain region known as Broca’s area
What advanced which allowed the establishment of cognitive neuroscience
Brain scanning techniques eg. fMRI and PET scans
What is a practical application of cognitive neuroscience
Brain scanning techniques used to locate different types of memory in different areas of the brain- allowed for development of effective treatment for people with memory problems
What is an example of a study which has used cognitive neuroscience to reveal different types of memory in different parts of the brain
Tulving et al. (1972) used PET scans to show how episodic and semantic memory are located on opposite sides of the pre-frontal cortex
State two real life applications of the cognitive approach
Used to treat psychopathological disorders (OCD, depression) and artificial intelligence (AI)
