Lecture Notes

Question 1

What happens in the pre-attentive stage of the Feature-Integration Theory?

Answer 1

Objects are divided into shape, orientation, color and location.

Question 2

What happens in the focused attention stage of the Feature-Integration Theory?

Answer 2

The perceived features are connected to form discrete objects.

Question 3

How can feature integration theory explain illusory conjunctions?

Answer 3

Illusory Conjunctions occur, if features are wrongly integrated into an object

Question 4

What is the difference between overt vs covert attention?

Answer 4

In overt attention, one shifts the gaze from one location to another, while covert attention is more “mental” and the fovea remains in the same location.

Question 5

What argument that criticises previous studies of consciousness is made by Lamme’s Theory?

Answer 5

According to the theory of access consciousness, people can only indicate their access consciousness of something, so when they don’t indicate something, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not conscious to some degree.

Question 6

What was once proposed to underlie consciousness but is now refutet?

Answer 6

40Hz-Theory: Synchronized Gamma oscillations in brain activation

Question 7

According to the Broadcasting Theory, when is content conscious?

Answer 7

When it is made available to all modules in the brain / Widespread fronto-parietal activity

Question 8

The vegetative state is also referred to as…?

Answer 8

Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS)

Question 9

What is a state, in which one is highly aware but not able to use motor-functions?

Answer 9

Locked-In Syndrome (LIS)

Question 10

What are two main aspects of the conscious state?

Answer 10

Awareness and Arousal

Question 11

Which of these is NOT classified as a disorder of consciousness?
A) Locked-in-Syndrome
B) Vegetative State
C) Coma

Answer 11

A)

Question 12

Can patients of UWS feel pain and why is this question important?

Answer 12

Yes, they can. This is significant as patients might be in pain without being able to communicate this, so we must give patients pain medication.

Question 13

Name two modes of search

Answer 13

1. Serial

2. Parallel

Question 14

Attention can be ___-based or ___-based.

Answer 14

Object-

Feature-

Question 15

In which type of posner task is attention usually shifted faster?

Answer 15

Exogenous

Question 16

How does the hemispatial theory explain the fact that left-side neglect is more common?

Answer 16

According to the hemispatial theory, the right hemisphere accounts for both sides of the visual field whereas the left hemisphere concentrates on the right side. Thus, the left side has a sort of “safety net”.

Question 17

Which brain part seems to be necessary for blindsight?

Answer 17

V1

Question 18

Why is discussing the concept of free will difficult between philosophers and neuroscientists?

Answer 18

Philosophers focus more on the “free” part whereas neuroscientists are more occupied with the “will” part and equate “free” more or less with “conscious”.