Introduction to Cognition

Question 1

What is the computer metaphor of the mind?

Answer 1

View by cognitive scientists that the brain is a computer, storing and processing information.

Middle part between input and response focused on.

1. Input
2. Internal State
3. Output

Agreed by

• Cognitive maps in rats
• Information processing models of cognitive abilities e.g. Broadbent’s model

Question 2

What are examples of studies which challenged behaviourism?

Answer 2

Behaviourists assume all learning involves association and reinforcement.<br></br><br></br><b>Tolman & Honzik (1930)</b> - Learning without reward <br></br>- 3 groups of rats. The third group have no reward until day 3, but still learn rapidly and have the best performance. Group 1 get reward for solving maze, fewer errors over time. Group 2 show no reward, but slow. <br></br>- Learning in the absence of reward.<br></br><br></br><b>Tolman, Ritchie & Kalish (1946)</b> - Cognitive maps in rats<br></br> - Group 1 always receive a reward at some point. Used place learning and faster than those who always received a reward at right turn. <br></br>- Easier to learn spatial map than sequence of actions.<br></br>- Learning in absence of reward.

When rat initially experienced map it formed a cognitive map, conception of the maze’s layout. Even though learned to turn right, when placed differently it used its map to turn left to reach food.

Question 3

Epstein (2016)

Answer 3

Holds view that brain is not a computer. <br></br>We are born with things that computers don’t have e.g. rules, knowledge.<br></br>Every individual has unique experiences and reacts to things differently.

Question 4

Shallit (2016)

Answer 4

Criticises Epstein (2016) by arguing that there is success in the metaphor. <br></br><br></br>Organisms can do things in the same ways as computers, but not in the exact same way.<br></br><br></br>Humans can process and store information.

Question 5

What is the behaviourist approach which existed before the cognitive era?

Answer 5

Internal behaviour cannot be studied bc can’t see what happens in mind. Focuses on external behaviour. Only look at observable behaviour.

Two assumptions

1. All learning is the result of conditioning
2. Conditioning depends upon processes of association and reinforcement.

Aim to explain all behaviour in terms of conditioned responses. How pairing one stimulus with another causes changes in response to the neutral stimulus. Used to argue that behaviour can be analysed without any reference to the mind.

Question 6

Describe the philosophical approaches to cognitive science

Answer 6

<u><b>Dualism Epi-phenomenalism</b></u><div>- States that physical events in the brain/body cause mental events. <br></br>Evidence for is the readiness potential - if ask someone to push button when they feel the urge, the brain builds up activity before. Suggests that conscious intent is a mental by-product.<br></br>Evidence Against - Randomness, could be neural noise. Incompatible with evolutionary account.<br></br><br></br><b><u>Monism: Functionalism</u></b><br></br>Looks at functional concepts vs physical things. Brains are machines which implement function of computation. </div>

Question 7

Describe introspection during the pre-cognitive era

Answer 7

Examination and description of one’s own mental thoughts in order to explain behaviour.

However, there are problems with these method.

• How do you measure brain states
• Different results from person to person
• Results difficult to verify because interpreted as mental processes.

Led to behaviourism

Question 8

Describe the mind-body problem

Answer 8

Core philosophical idea in cognitive science.

Mind - Involved in inner mental experiences not observable to others. Creates and controls mental functions.

Body - Physical aspects of our brain/body we can’t objectively measure.

Dualism and monism try to answer these questions. Dualism says mind and body are different whereas monism says they are the same type of thing.

Question 9

Compare the behavioural vs the cognitive approach to psychology

Answer 9

Cognitive

• Focused more on thought processes, internal thoughts, what is in the mind.
• Computer metaphor of the mind. Computer and human mind are alike, encode and store info.
• Between stimulus and response are complex mental processes which can be studied. Behaviourists did not look at this.
• Methods scientific

Behavioural

• Founded by Watson
• Focused on observable events, visible behaviour, external
• All learning is the result of conditioning
• Conditioning depends upon processes of association and reinforcement
• Classical Conditioning - Predicting what will get you a reward again. Depends upin association. Shown by Pavlov who suggested that dogs could be conditioned to salivate when hearing sound of bell. Food acted as unconditioned stimulus.

Question 10

Explain the information processing approach

Answer 10

Shannon - Environment is the sender and the perception is the receiver. Information channel might have capacity which limits how much information can transmit. Information often described in terms of bits, neurons have a binary code.

Information Theory

• How messages are encoded into signals and then transmitted to a receiver.
• Looking at info gain

Cognitive Science

• More concerned with how information is transformed rather than how it is transmitted.
• Information understood in terms of representations

Question 11

Describe Miller (1956) 7+2 experiment

Answer 11

Separate experiments done for different sensory channels.

Participant picked 3 frequencies and assigned labels. Said if they heard 1, 2 or 3.

Capacity limit of 2.5 bits roughly 7+2 items held for

• Absolute judgment tasks
• Short-term memory tasks

Capacity of information transmission is limited.