Learning Outcomes (CLOA)

Question 1

Outline any two principles that defines the CLOA

Answer 1

Introduction:
Define CLOA, state the principles of CLOA, purpose of principles, and define cognition.
Body:
State P1: the mind can be studied scientifically. Describe the principle, application of study to principle (French and Richards), connect the principle and study.
State P2: cognition can be affected by socio cultural factors. Describe and mention the applications of the study (Bartlett 1932), connect the principle to the theory.
Conclusion: mention that there are three principles, but to truly understand cognition, an unbiased, wholistic view of all three is required

Question 2

Describe one research study that has investigated schema theory.

Answer 2

Intro: What is schema?, types of schema, what is the schema theory?, explain the effects of schema. State the study you will be using. (Anderson and Pitchert 1978)
Body: expand on Anderson and Pitchert, and relate it to a principle.
Conclusion: revisit importance of schema, and how Anderson and Pitchert help us understand that importance.

Question 3

Explain one model/theory of one cognitive process, with reference to case studies.

Answer 3

Intro: Define memory, outline memory processes, state the the three models of processing: multistore, working memory, levels of processing. State your model. (LOP)
Body: describe LOP. State the three LOP. Craik and Lockhart 1972 and Craik and Tulving 1975
Conclusion: restate how the case studies justify LOP

Question 4

Discuss how social and cultural factors affect cognitive processes

Answer 4

Intro: define schema, expand on schema, join memory and schema (schema is affected by what we perceive and affect what we store in our memory), define memory, connect it to question.

Case studies: Bartlett (1932) , Brewer and Tyrens (1981) , and French and Richards (1933): focus on the studies cultural aspects.

Question 5

To what extent is one cognitive process reliable

Answer 5

Intro: memory+eye witness testimony. How EWT is used, where it is used, how it is impacted by memory.
Memory is often subject to reconstruction and distortion and how testing this in labs is not innaccurate.
Bartlett (1932) concluded that people make sense of things using the information they already have about the world. So, we change things so that they more sense to us.

Question 6

Explain how biological factors may affect one cognitive process

Answer 6

Intro: human cognitive processes have biological basis.define memory. Define AD: loss of neurons that causes dementia. Gradual and irreversible, impairs creation of new memories procedural memory is unaffected. Episodic memory is most severely affected. Steady decline in semantic memory (knowledge about the world)
Medial temporal lobe, deterioration of neurons responsible for acetyl production, amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and genetic predisposition.

Biological factor 1: MTL
Because it is known to play a role in the storage of the episodic memory which is known to be one of the first factors pathologically affected by AD.

(Schwindt and Black 2009) -main
Introduce deterioration of neurons.

Biological factor 2: - in acetyl neurons in the hippocampus.
Memory is affected by the deterioration of neurons and there a decrease in the production of acetylcholine. Prevalent in the hippocampus (known to a memory center HM 1957)
Mosconi 2005 used PET scan and found that there was a reduced metabolism rate in the hippocampus (later staged AD)

Biological factor 3: Amyloid plaques

Deposits of amyloid-beta protein accumulated in between neurons and damages the membranes of the axon and dendrites of the neuron. Plaques have a dense core made of amyloid beta, accumulated before onset of AD

Biological Factor 4: neurofibrillary tangles
In the cell body and in the dendrites, a series of tangles form in the microtubules, making the the neuron lose structure and support and making it shrivel up and die. Inhibition movement of neurotransmitters across the synapse prevents electrical messages. Caused by a buildup of tau protein
Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques are known to mess up the atrophy of areas of the brain.

Biological factor 5: Genetic predisposition
Chromosomes 21, 1,14,10 there is evidence that although genetic predisposition, getting Alzheimer’s is not confirmed.