Lecture 9 - Information Processing

Question 1

What is a common analogy used for info processing?

Answer 1

• the computer analogy
  
  1. encoding - initial input of info
  2. storage - info saved for future use, stored in LTM
  3. retrieval - recovery of stored info

Question 2

Informational processing

Answer 2

• environmental input processed by series of cognitive operations which transform info
• IE: attention, perception, working mem, long term mem

Question 3

What are the limitations of the computer analogy?

Answer 3

• limited by processing speed
• can only do so many things before become overloaded
• computers can be updated, humans can also do this by problem solving

Question 4

Problem solving

Answer 4

attaining a goal by using a strategy to overcome an obstacle

Question 5

Cognitive flexibility

Answer 5

• ability to shifting attention and thoughts quickly
• association w/ myelination and dev of prefrontal cortex

Question 6

Constructivist approach of IP

Answer 6

• dev is continuous
• constructivist
• change is gradual and accumulates over time
• domain specific - changes in one domain of thought does not mean that there is a change in any other areas

Question 7

What is the Modal Model of Memory?

Answer 7

• consists of 3 key structures
• sensory memory
• working memory
• long-term memory

Question 8

Sensory memory

Answer 8

• info received via 5 senses
• no meaning attached to info
• usually forgotten
• iconic memory - visual input
• echoic memory - auditory input

Question 9

Working memory

Answer 9

• actively thinking or making sense of info
• info from sensory and LTM are integrated
• new knowledge being integrated w/ old info
• limited in children
• tested via digit span test

Question 10

Long-term memory

Answer 10

• info is stored permanently, totality of knowledge
• infinite capacity
• adults have larger LTM than children

Question 11

Semantic memory

Answer 11

• type of LTM
• concepts, facts, ideas and beliefs
• increases across lifespan

Question 12

Episodic memory

Answer 12

• temporal, has a time component
• recollection of specific events, situations, and experiences
• improves during childhood, decreases as you get older

Question 13

Autobiographical memory

Answer 13

• episodic memory
• explicit memories of events that took place in your personal past

Question 14

Infantile amnesia

Answer 14

• inability of most adults to remember life before age of 3
• rapid dev of brain might cause autobiographical mems to be removed
• mems are stored in a nonverbal way and arent able to be recovered by language dev adults

Question 15

Encoding

Answer 15

• ## representation in memory of specific features of objs and events

Question 16

Automatization

Answer 16

• degree to which activity requires attention
• automatic - requires relatively little attention, automatically encoding
• effortful/controlled - requires relatively large amounts of attention/deliberate thought

Question 17

Rehearsal

Answer 17

• strategies of memory retention
• maintenance - items are cycles through WM by repeating them over and over, no transfer to LTM
• relational - thinking about connections btwn items and/or previous knowledge, transfer to LTM

Question 18

What ages do children start practicing rehearsal?

Answer 18

• age 9 and above
• realize memory is limited and will enact strategies

Question 19

Processing speed

Answer 19

• ability to automatically and fluently perform cog tasks
• influences by myelination and connectivity btwn brain regions

Question 20

Executive Functioning

Answer 20

• cognitive control over areas of the brain
• plan, focus, attention, remember instructions, and juggling multiple tasks successfully
• controlled by dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (frontal lobe)

Question 21

Selective attention

Answer 21

• develops btwn 5-8 y.o.
• ability to strategically focus on info most relevant to current goal
• Attention getting stimuli quickly get and lose your attention
• Attention holding stimuli keep your attention over time

Question 22

Divided Attention

Answer 22

• simultaneously maintaining cog focus on more than one thing
• less efficient than focusing on one task

Question 23

Switch cost

Answer 23

lag when you’re switching between objects