Cognitive Psychology Flashcards
Cognition
How our brain processes and reacts to information overload
Information Processing Model
- Thinking requires sensation, encoding and storage of stimuli
- Stimuli must be analyzed before a response can be useful
- Situational modifications - decisions previously made can be extrapolated and adjusted to solve new problems
- Problem solving is dependent on cognitive level, content, context and complexity of the problem
Cognitive Development
Development of ones ability to think and solve problems across the lifespan
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
- Alfred BinetIQ = (Actual age / Mental Age) x 100
Fluid Intelligence
Problem Solving skills
Ability to quickly grasp relationships in situations and make correct deductions from them
Crystallized Intelligence
Learned skills and knowledge
Ability to understand relationships or solve problems that depend on knowledge acquired as a result of schooling or other life experiences
Delirium
Rapid fluctuation in cognitive function that is reversible and caused by medical (non-psychological) causes
Multiple Intelligences
Linguistic Logical (math) Musical Visual (spatial) Bodily (kinesthetic) Interpersonal Intrapersonal
Frame Problem
Create a mental image / schematic
Mental Set
Approach similar problems in the same way; Repeat solutions that worked in other situations
Past Experiences affects the strategies we use to solve problems
Problem Solving
- Frame Problem
- Potential Solutions
- Evaluate Results
Functional Fixedness
Inability to consider how to use a familiar object in an unfamiliar way
Trial and Error
Solutions are tried until one is found that works
Algorithms
Math formula or Instruction procedure - designed to auto produce a solution
Deductive Reasoning
Top - Down Reasoning
Start with general rules and make a conclusion from the information given
Inductive Reasoning
Bottom - Up Reasoning
Create a theory via generalizations
Heuristics
Rules of thumb; Short cuts to make decisions
Consciousness
Alertness, Sleep, Dreaming & Altered
Awareness of the world and ones existence within it
Alertness
Awake and able to think
Beta Waves
Awake, alert and attending to some mental task that requires concentration
- high frequency
- neurons randomly firing
Alpha Waves
Awake but relaxing with our eyes closed
- slower frequency
- more synchronized
Theta Waves
Sleep Stage 1: doze off
- Slower frequency
- Irregular and jagged waveform
- Higher voltage
- Sleep Spindles (shorts burst of alpha waves)
Sleep Stage 2:
- Theta waves become slower
- K Complexes occur
Delta Waves
Sleep Stage 3:
- Delta waves
- Low frequency
- Higher voltage
Sleep Stage 4: Deepest state of sleep
- Delta waveform reaches slowest rate
- Sleep spindles (short bursts of alpha waves) at their steepest
- Especially difficult to rouse someone from sleep
** Cognitive recovery, memory consolidation and Growth Hormone (GH) response
Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
- Desynchronized / paradoxical sleep
- Similar to Beta waves
- Characterized by quick, random movements of the eyes and paralysis of the muscles (muscle tone remains relaxed)
- Interspersed between cycles of NREM (non-REM) sleep stages
Non-REM stages
Theta; Stages 1-2
Delta: Stage 3-4
Paradoxical Sleep
Heart rate, breathing and EEG mimic wakefulness but they are actually asleep
Melatonin
Serotonin derived hormone from the pineal gland; responsible for circadian rhythms
Cortisol
Produced in the adrenal cortex and with increase when waking up / during early morning
Activation Synthesis Theory
Random activation of neural circuitry mimic incoming sensory information resulting in dreams
Problem Solving Dream
Ways to solve problems while sleeping
Cognitive Process
Sleeping counter part of stream of consciousness
Neurocognitive Models
Unify biological / psychological perspectives; correlating subjective and cognitive experience of dreaming with measurable physiological changes
Dyssomnias
Disorders making it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep or avoid sleep
Include insomniacs, narcolepsy, sleep paralysis, sleep apnea, hypnagogic (going to bed) hallucinations and hypnopompic (waking) hallucinations
Parasomnias
Abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep
Include night terrors and sleepwalking
Hypnosis
Appear to be in control of their functions but they are in a highly suggestible state
Depressants
Reduce nervous system activity with relaxation and by reducing anxiety
Alcohol
Increases activity of GABA
Barbiturates
Anxiety reducing sleep medication
Benzodiazapines
Increase activity of GABA
Stimulants
Increase arousal of the nervous system
Amphetamines
Increase dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin while decreasing their reuptake
Cocaine
Decrease reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin
Ecstacy (E)
Hallucinogen and amphetamine
Opiate
Natural drug that binds to opiod receptors
Opiods
Synthetic drug that binds to opiod receptors
Hallucinogens
Complex interaction of neurotransmitters; especially Serotonin
Marijuana
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) increases GABA and dopamine
Attention
Concentration on one aspect of the sensory environment (sensorium)
Selective Attention
Focus on one thing while ignoring other stimuli
Divded Attention
Ability to perform multiple tasks at the same time
Categorical Perception
Subtle differences in sounds of words represent a change in meaning
Sequential order of Brain Waves (leading to sleep)
Beta (awake)
Alpha (relaxing)
Theta (sleeping)
Delta (deep sleep)
REM Rebound
When people who have been deprived of REM sleep are allowed to sleep without being disturbed they compensate by spending more time in REM sleep than usual
Insomnia
Affecting the ability to fall asleep / stay asleep
Narcolepsy
Lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep; Consisting of sudden, brief periods of sleep
Sleep Apnea
Inability to breathe during sleep causing one to awaken during the night in order to breathe
Structuralism
Break consciousness down into its elements, or specific mental structures
Reaction Time
Time elapsed between a stimulus presentation and the subject’s response to it
Creativity
A cognitive ability that results in new ways of viewing problems or situations
Divergent Thinking
Thinking that involves producing as many creative answers to a question as possible; Individual’s thoughts diverge along multiple paths of possibilities
Availability Heuristics
Mental shortcut relying on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating specific topic, concept, method or decision
Trying to decide how likely something is; Making decisions based upon how easily similar instances (most readily available) can be imagined
Representativeness Heuristic
Making judgments about probability of an event under uncertainty; Categorizing things on the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical or representative image of the category
Base Rate Fallacy
Using prototypical or stereotypical factors rather than actual numerical info. about which is more numerous
Triarchic Theory
Suggests that there are three aspects to intelligence:
- Componential (performance on tests)
- Experiential (creativity)
- Contextual (street smarts / business sense)
“Meta”
Ability to reflect upon something
Metacognition
Person’s ability to think about and monitor cognition
Metamemory
Person’s ability to think about and monitor memory
