History + Neuroscience

Question 1

Empiricist vs. Nativist beliefs?

Answer 1

Nativist: Ideas are innate
Empiricist: Ideas are learned

Question 2

How did Descartes provide a compromise between Nativism and Empiricism?

Answer 2

-First extended the philosophy f mind to say that ideas can either be innate or learned.

Question 3

Credited as the first experimental psychology lab?

Answer 3

Wundt’s lab, where he studied the introspective method.

Question 4

Problems with the introspective method?

Answer 4

• Results not consistent across labs

- training may have produced “right” answers

Question 5

Functionalism, as studied by James, Cattel, and Thorndike

Answer 5

William James: focused on functions and thought we should change our thoughts to adapt better to the environment

• James Cattell: How can we use these ideas for better training and education.?
• Edward Thorndike: Did learning and trial and error research. Put cats in puzzle boxes where they had to incrementally learn steps to get out.

Question 6

Another name for the behaviourist approach to psychology

Answer 6

Stimulus-Response Psychology/ S.R. Psychology

Question 7

Verbal Learning

Answer 7

A behaviourist approach to human learning, which in reality studied human memory (mental)

Question 8

Information Processing

Answer 8

Mathematical development of information theory. Information in bits which we can use as measures of its capacity.
Allowed us to put numbers to the mind as an information processing system.

Question 9

Signal Processing/ Signal Detection Theory

Answer 9

An extension of information processing theory; we can discuss the mind and perception out of a single detection system in much the same way as a radio transmitter sending info back and forth.

Question 10

List the tasks used to measure information processing

Answer 10

Choice reaction, rapid forgetting (when prevent rehearsal), iconic memory

Question 11

What do the complex mental events underlying simple tasks tell us (info processing theory)

Answer 11

Implies a sequence of rapid mental events which determines response and provides a compelling case for the inclusion of the mind in our studies.

Question 12

Chomsky vs. Skinner: views on language

Answer 12

Chomsky: Transformational Grammar theory of language understanding; a revolutionary response arguing that S-R is inadequate to explain language and its acquisition.
Skinner: Behaviourist; successful application of SR in a broad range of learning phenomena which he attempted to extend to the human acquisition of language.

Question 13

Continuing contributions of behaviourism to psychology?

Answer 13

Objective measures (observable), reproducible methods, and descriptive precision.

Question 14

The Atkinson-Shiffrin Framework/ The Modal Model

Answer 14

• Processing Pathways
• Representation Formats
• Inclusive theorizing

Question 15

One criticism of the modal model

Answer 15

A variety of behavioural descriptions are provided with a lack of explanation as to how these phenomena occur.

Question 16

Knowledge based processing

Answer 16

• Context and perception
• Analysis by Synthesis (generate expectations via our knowledge of circumstance, and match these against perceptual information)
• Schema theory

Question 17

Task Analysis

Answer 17

To understand problem solving you have to have a detailed understanding of the problem itself

Question 18

Verbal Protocols

Answer 18

Have people describe thinking as they solve a problem (but not introspection) and determine what kind of representation of the problem they have (data).

Question 19

Computer Simulation

Answer 19

The idea that a computer program, which goes through a sequence of operations to solve a problem, might provide a description of how humans solve programs.

Question 20

Parallel Distributed Processing Theories

Answer 20

(Recent trend

• Neural-like models (processing units resemble neurone in character)
• Power of large numbers (many units doing a lot in combination, though each does very little)
• Unsupervised processing (un-correcting learning process)
• Neural network to which processing units pass information

Question 21

Evolutionary Perspective

Answer 21

• behaviour determined by structure
• brain has evolved to be adaptively suited to the cognitive environment
• understanding the cognitive environment helps us to understand what the brain is suited to do
• Rational analysis of problems

Question 22

Neuropsychology

Answer 22

Looks at the effects of brain damage

Question 23

Event-related potentials

Answer 23

Tell us when (and roughly where) brain activity occurs during a task

Question 24

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Answer 24

Tells us where (and roughly when) brain activity occurs during a task

Question 25

As the cognitive and neuroscientific perspective become more specific…

Answer 25

They start to come together

idea of levels; interconnectivity and mutual constraints

Question 26

Single-Cell recording in anesthetitized cats’ visual cortex by Hubel + Weisel found…

Answer 26

Cells that respond to line segments and more complex patterns.