Lecture 1

Question 1

What does the study of cognition aim to do?

Answer 1

aims to understand the workings of the human mind by studying human behavior, often using experimental methods

Question 2

What is the major goal of the Information-Processing Approach?

Answer 2

To specify the processes and structures involved in cognition

Question 3

What is serial processing?

Answer 3

Serial processing - one thing is taking place after the other e.g. turn ignition and then step on the accelerator

Question 4

What is parallel processing?

Answer 4

Can process/do two things at once e.g. talking and driving at the same time

Question 5

What is cascaded processing?

Answer 5

One happens before the other but isn’t discretely serial e.g. turn on indicator, turn wheel to change lane

Question 6

What is bottom-up processing?

Answer 6

External stimulus causes cognitive processes > producing desired response

Question 7

What is top-down processing?

Answer 7

Triggered by what’s inside - individual’s expectations and knowledge e.g. Paris in the the spring.

Question 8

What are the four approaches to the study of cognition?

Answer 8

1. Cognitive psychology
2. Cognitive neuroscience
3. Computational Cognitive Science
4. Cognitive neuropsychology

Question 9

What is cognitive psychology?

Answer 9

Attempt to understand the nature of human cognitive by observing people’s behaviour

Question 10

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 10

Attempt to use information about behavior AND the brain to understand human cognition

Question 11

What is computational cognitive science?

Answer 11

Attempt to use computational models to further understanding of human cognition

Question 12

What is cognitive neuropsychology?

Answer 12

Attempt to understand human cognition by studying brain-damaged patients

Question 13

What does cognitive psychology use?

Answer 13

Experimental methods to test research hypothesis e.g. phonological similarity effect

Question 14

What are three main techniques used for cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 14

1. Event-related potentials (ERPs)
2. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
3. Magneto-encephalography (MEG)

Question 15

What are three key terms for evaluating neuroscience methods?

Answer 15

1. Temporal resolution
2. Spatial resolution
3. Invasiveness

Question 16

What are Event-related potentials (ERPs)

Answer 16

non-invasively measures electrical activity in the brain
electrodes are places at the scalp
event-related potentials (ERPs) are recorded during repeated events

Question 17

What are the limitations of ERPs?

Answer 17

Limited spatial resolution, high temporal resolution
requires may trials
skull and brain activity distort electrical fields

Question 18

What is temporal resolution?

Answer 18

When an event occurs in the brain

Question 19

What is spatial resolution?

Answer 19

Where an event occurs in the brain

Question 20

What is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?

Answer 20

Measures changes in blood flow during cognitive activity

Active brain regions have a higher ratio of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

Question 21

What is resolution like for fMRI’s?

Answer 21

High spatial resolution, poor temporal resolution

Question 22

What is magneto-encephalography (MEG)?

Answer 22

uses SQUID

measures the magnetic fields produced by the brain’s electrical activity

Question 23

What is resolution like for MEG’s?

Answer 23

high temporal resolution, moderate spatial resolution

Question 24

What are three limitations of MEG’s?

Answer 24

1. expensive
2. requires participant to main uncomfortable position for long periods
3. technology analysis is new and complicated

Question 25

In cognitive neuropsychology, what is functional modality?

Answer 25

cognitive system consists of lots of independent processing units
modules exhibit domain specificity (only respond to one call of stimuli)

Question 26

In cognitive neuropsychology, what is anatomical modularity?

Answer 26

each module is located in a specific brain region