Midterm #1 Flashcards
What is cognition?
Cognitive function, our thoughts and actions, is regulated by brain activity.
What is cognitive function primarily concerned with
Understanding the processes that produce complex behaviours.
Basic research
Goal is to understand the world and its phenomena without regard to a specific end-use of this knowledge. Understand how we perceive information, reminder, reason and solve problems.
Applied research
End-goal of developing a solution to a problem. Like improving education.
Hypothesis guided research.
We have a theory, from this theory develop a hypothesis (a guess between the link between variables). Must be testable against evidence.
Phenomenon-based research
An “effect” is discovered, and follow-up research examines the nature of the effect. Eg. Placebo effect.
Emotional enhancement effect
Emotional stimuli are more easily attended to, remembered than neutral stimuli.
Amygdala activity predicts memory for…
emotional but not neutral images.
Computational modelling of emotion
Help understand the processes that are involved in a current effect - then try to create algorithms that can stimulate emotions.
Benefits of computation modelling
If we can see these computations lead to the same effects we see in humans, then it might help us to get a stronger understanding of how emotion is processed in the brain and how that can affect tour behaviour.
Advent of AI
Chat GPT is an example of a large language model (an algorithm trained on human data to predict how we use language). Effective at mimicking human behaviour.
Historical approaches to studying cognition
Philosophical foundations from Ancient Greece - Rationalism and Empiricism.
The early days of psychology as an experimental science - Structuralism and Functionalism.
Behaviourism and then cognitive psychology - Focusing on only observation actions to accepting thought processes.
Philosophical foundations of cognitive psychology
Many Ancient Greek philosophers took an analytic approach to understanding the human mind by breaking it down into ‘parts’ to study.
Plato on cognitive psychology
First early philosopher to consider the human mind. Rationalism: knowledge is the result of observation & prior reasoning. Since internal thoughts and external observations interact, the world is a ‘reflection of our reality’. There is an innate aspect to mental processes and reasoning.
Aristotle on cognitive psychology
Combined philosophical and scientific approaches to thinking. Empiricism: all knowledge comes from experience. The basis of thought is forming associations based on observations.
Link between philosophy and cognition
Studying Philosophy: asking questions about how and why we think. Studying Cognition: gathering evidence to support the answers.
Structuralism
Identifying the basic building blocks of the complex thoughts or the conscious experience. Emphasized systematic, controlled observation for understanding the structure of the mind. Introspection is self-report.
Wilhelm Wundt and his goal
Founded the first formal laboratory for psychological research and practiced Structuralism. Goal: identify the simplest units of the mind that he thought followed certain laws to create complex thoughts. Asked what is the mind made of using introspection.
Wundt’s empirical introspection
Experimental self-report or observation about conscious.
Mental chronometry
Estimating time for a participant to perceive something. Eg: The thought meter
Criticisms of Structuralism
Simplistic approaches. Introspection considered too subjective, it is self report.
Functionalism
Asks why the mind works. Not interested in breaking down mental states to basic elements. Cognition is about serving a function and so must adapt to current goals. Focuses on the ‘usefulness of knowledge’. Emphasis on the adaptive functions of our mind. William James.
William James and pragmatism
Pragmatic: practical approaches to studying cognition. Opposed searching for basic mental elements. Believed that consciousness is personal. Emphasized an eclectic methodological approach.
Criticisms of Functionalism
Difficult to study some of these ideas (consciousness, imagery), especially if cognition is always changing.