Learning, Memory, and Representation

Question 1

What is the basic model of a Cognitive System?

Answer 1

Our cognitive system is a cycle which starts from us performing an action, which affects the environment, and we perceive it. This happens usually in the form of energy. Our eyes take in light, our ears take in sound, and our hands take in touch. These get transformed to something within the cognitive system. For example, when we move our hand, this action affects the environment around us, and we may perceive it as feeling a breeze due to fast motion.

Question 2

What does a robot have that assist it in affecting its environment?

Answer 2

It has actuators (sensors) in the form of rollers, weapons, light, etc.

Question 3

What is an example of disembodied software?

Answer 3

This could be the relationship between Amazon and its webpage. Software is Amazon, the action would be displaying stuff which affects the webpage, and Amazon perceives this data when the database is updated.

Question 4

What is an example of distributed cognition?

Answer 4

This is when the cognitive system uses artifacts to aid in committing an action which affects the world. This in turn comes back to us. For example, a construction worker using a blueprint to build a house is distributed cognition. The mind and the blueprint is the system, and the house and materials is the environment. Aspects of the one or other cannot overlap.

Question 5

What are representations? How do we manipulate them?

Answer 5

Representations aren’t accurate to what is real. They are the way we perceive something or someone. For example, the way we view a friend doesn’t mean the representation is the person. They may act differently than what we think given a scenario.

Question 6

How are representations stored in memory for different things?

Answer 6

For animals = brain, short-term, and long-term memory
For software = databases, and symbols
For distributed system = paper, brain, desk, environment manipulation

Question 7

What is sensory memory?

Answer 7

Sensory memory is memory that is always changing and being replaced with new perceptions. There are two things that aid in remembering certain things which is the phonological loop (kinda like a recorder that records sounds and things around us) and a scratch pad (visual in our head to keep notes). The phonological loop would be responsible for answering someone after sometime when you’re focused on something else. You’re mentally elsewhere, but you’re able to hear the person still.

Question 8

What is short-term memory?

Answer 8

It’s a temporary store of thoughts and experiences which may stick for a few days to up to 20 years. Some will turn into long-term memory.

Question 9

What is long-term memory?

Answer 9

Memories that will probably be stored forever, but might be difficult to recall. Gets harder with age.

Question 10

What are the two things part of declarative memory?

Answer 10

1) Semantic memories which are facts that we know, and 2) Episodic memory which comes from our experiences.

Question 11

What are the two things part of implicit memory?

Answer 11

1) Procedural knowledge, which is something we learn but may be difficult to explain. Like, riding a bike or tying you shoes. 2) Implicit knowledge which are things we know but not completely and are produced from our past experiences. So, singing a song when someone prompts you with the first few words is implicit.

Question 12

What does our hippocampus do?

Answer 12

Aids in memory transfer between short-term and long-term memories.

Question 13

What does our Basal Ganglia do?

Answer 13

Responsible for procedural knowledge

Question 14

Motor Cortex?

Answer 14

Plans are made here

Question 15

Cerebellum?

Answer 15

Sends messages to body for actions, such as the need to go to pee or hunger.

Question 16

What is the purpose of learning?

Answer 16

Changing our memories for the purpose of preparing a system for better action in the future.

Question 17

What is habituation?

Answer 17

You don’t react as much to something that is repetitive. For example, when someone yells the first time vs the 20th time the same day.

Question 18

What is sensitization?

Answer 18

You get more and more aware (opposite of habituation), where an action may make you annoyed like when someone repeatedly pokes you in the arm or your phone keeps on vibrating.

Question 19

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 19

This is learning to associate two previously unrelated objects. For example, cats running to the kitchen for food at the sound of their bowl or food being opened in the mornings.

Question 20

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 20

Changing your behavior according to punishment and reinforcement.

Question 21

What are the four methods of operant conditioning?

Answer 21

1) Positive reinforcement is when something is added for an action which will likely reoccur (in a good way). For example, giving candy to a child when they do well in school.
2) Negative reinforcement is taking away unpleasant stimuli to reinforce behavior. For example, giving an iPad to a crying baby to stop them from crying.
3) Positive punishment is introducing unpleasant feeling so behavior is reduced. Ex) slapping someone who steals food.
4) Negative punishment takes away pleasant feeling to change behavior. Ex) Taking away phone when bad grades come.

Question 22

What is practice?

Answer 22

Doing something repeatedly until you get it. Automatized thinking helps us remember stuff until it’s automatic, but it’s tough to do things starting from the middle. (saying the alphabet starting from j)

Question 23

What is imprinting?

Answer 23

Time sensitive learning in an animal that’s sensitive to behavioral outcomes. (chicks imprinting on their moms when born).

Question 24

What is observational thinking?

Answer 24

Learning by observing another individual. (slang, habits, eating)

Question 25

What is testimonial learning?

Answer 25

Learning from someone else’s words. Not something you learn on your own.

Question 26

What is mentorship?

Answer 26

We learn from others and teach each other.

Question 27

What is cultural learning?

Answer 27

Learning based on what people before you in your community have done. Eating things that aren’t poisonous. There are three subtopics: 1) content bias = good ideas. 2) prestige bias = doing something because someone successful is doing it. 3) conformist bias = common ways of doing things