Lecture 1 Flashcards
What does the study of cognition aim to do?
aims to understand the workings of the human mind by studying human behavior, often using experimental methods
What is the major goal of the Information-Processing Approach?
To specify the processes and structures involved in cognition
What is serial processing?
Serial processing - one thing is taking place after the other e.g. turn ignition and then step on the accelerator
What is parallel processing?
Can process/do two things at once e.g. talking and driving at the same time
What is cascaded processing?
One happens before the other but isn’t discretely serial e.g. turn on indicator, turn wheel to change lane
What is bottom-up processing?
External stimulus causes cognitive processes > producing desired response
What is top-down processing?
Triggered by what’s inside - individual’s expectations and knowledge e.g. Paris in the the spring.
What are the four approaches to the study of cognition?
- Cognitive psychology
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Computational Cognitive Science
- Cognitive neuropsychology
What is cognitive psychology?
Attempt to understand the nature of human cognitive by observing people’s behaviour
What is cognitive neuroscience?
Attempt to use information about behavior AND the brain to understand human cognition
What is computational cognitive science?
Attempt to use computational models to further understanding of human cognition
What is cognitive neuropsychology?
Attempt to understand human cognition by studying brain-damaged patients
What does cognitive psychology use?
Experimental methods to test research hypothesis e.g. phonological similarity effect
What are three main techniques used for cognitive neuroscience?
- Event-related potentials (ERPs)
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
- Magneto-encephalography (MEG)
What are three key terms for evaluating neuroscience methods?
- Temporal resolution
- Spatial resolution
- Invasiveness
What are Event-related potentials (ERPs)
non-invasively measures electrical activity in the brain
electrodes are places at the scalp
event-related potentials (ERPs) are recorded during repeated events
What are the limitations of ERPs?
Limited spatial resolution, high temporal resolution
requires may trials
skull and brain activity distort electrical fields
What is temporal resolution?
When an event occurs in the brain
What is spatial resolution?
Where an event occurs in the brain
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?
Measures changes in blood flow during cognitive activity
Active brain regions have a higher ratio of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
What is resolution like for fMRI’s?
High spatial resolution, poor temporal resolution
What is magneto-encephalography (MEG)?
uses SQUID
measures the magnetic fields produced by the brain’s electrical activity
What is resolution like for MEG’s?
high temporal resolution, moderate spatial resolution
What are three limitations of MEG’s?
- expensive
- requires participant to main uncomfortable position for long periods
- technology analysis is new and complicated
In cognitive neuropsychology, what is functional modality?
cognitive system consists of lots of independent processing units
modules exhibit domain specificity (only respond to one call of stimuli)
In cognitive neuropsychology, what is anatomical modularity?
each module is located in a specific brain region
