Topic 2.2 - The brain & mind

Question 1

Explain the concept of Cognitive Thinking

Answer 1

Mental activities that go on in the brain when processing, organising, understanding, or communicating information to others

Question 2

Explain Cognitive Processing (Problem Solving and Decision Making)

Answer 2

Problem Solving: a cognitive process of the brain at the higher cognitive layer that searches for a solution.

Decision Making: refers to the cognitive process of choosing between two or more alternatives

Question 3

What are the 5 methods of Problem Solving

Answer 3

1. Trial & Error - trying several solutions until one works.
2. Algorithm - a methodical, step-by-step procedure.
3. Heuristic - rule of thumb (judgemental shortcuts) based on prior experiences.
4. Insight - sudden realization of a problem’s solution.
5. Intuition - effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought.

Question 4

Explain the 4 types of Heuristic method.
(Representativeness, Availability, Working Backwards, Sub-Goals)

Answer 4

1. Representativeness Heuristic: a rule of thumb for judging the probability of membership in a category.
2. Availability Heuristic: estimating the frequency or likelihood of an event based on immediate examples that come to mind.
3. Working Backward: attempting to solve a problem by working
   from the goal backward to the starting point.
4. Sub-goals: breaking large problem into smaller, more manageable goals, so that as each sub-goal is achieved, the final solution is that much closer.

Question 5

Explain the 3 Problem Solving Barriers
(Functional Fixedness, Mental Set and Confirmation Bias)

Answer 5

1. Functional Fixedness: Fixated on thinking about objects only in terms of their typical functions resulting in a mental block
2. Mental Set: tendency to solve problems using approaches that worked previously for similar problems
3. Confirmation Bias: tendency to favour information that confirms one’s existing beliefs or theories, while ignoring any contradicting evidence

Question 6

Explain the 3 types of thinking
(Convergent, Divergent and Critical)

Answer 6

1. Convergent thinking: all thinking pointed to one solution.
2. Divergent thinking: generating more than one solution
3. Creative thinking: combination of flexibility in thinking and reorganization of understanding to produce innovative ideas and new solutions

Question 7

What are the 4 stimulation of creative thinking.

Answer 7

1. Brainstorming
2. Writing a Journal
3. Free writing
4. Mind or Subject Mapping.

Question 8

Explain “Reasoning” and the 3 types of reasoning
(Formal, Informal and Reflective Judgement)

Answer 8

Reasoning : purposeful mental activity that involves drawing conclusions.

1. Formal reasoning: algorithms & formal logic.
2. Informal reasoning: heuristics; problems often with no single correct solution that require evaluation of opposing points view.
3. Reflective Judgement (Critical Thinking): ability to evaluate and integrate evidence, consider alternative interpretations and reach a defensible conclusion.

Question 9

Explain “Intelligence”.

Answer 9

Intelligence: the ability to learn from experience, acquire knowledge, act purposefully, or adapt to new situations.

Question 10

Explain “Social-Intelligence” and “Emotional Intelligence”

Answer 10

Social Intelligence: “know-how” knowledge in social situations and self-management.

Emotional Intelligence: the ability to perceive, understand, manage and use emotions.

Question 11

What are the 4 abilities of Emotional Intelligence?
(Perceive, Evoke, Comprehend and Regulate)

Answer 11

1. to perceive and appraise emotions accurately
2. to access and evoke emotions when they facilitate cognition
3. to comprehend emotional language and make use of emotional information
4. to regulate one’s own and others’ emotions

Question 12

Explain “Intelligence Test”, “Chronological age (CA)”, “Mental age (MA)” and “Intelligence Quotient (IQ)”

Answer 12

Intelligence Test: assessing person’s mental abilities, in comparison to others.

Chronological age (CA): person’s age in years.

Mental age (MA): age that most typically corresponds to a given level of performance.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ): number representing a measure of intelligence.
- IQ= MA/CA x 100

Question 13

What are the 3 Most influential intelligence tests

Answer 13

1. Mental Ability Test
2. Stanford-Binet Test - Assesses variety of verbal and nonverbal skills
3. Wechsler Tests - Assess Verbal Comprehension (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning (PRI), Working Memory (WMI), and Processing Speed (PSI).

Question 14

What are the 3 Criteria of Intelligence tests?

Answer 14

1. Standardization
2. Reliability
3. Validity

Question 15

Explain the 3 Criteria of Intelligence tests.
(Standardization, Reliability and Validity)

Answer 15

1. Standardization: implies uniformity of procedure in administering and scoring test in large group of people.
2. Reliability: test produces same results each time given to same people.
3. Validity: test measures what it’s supposed to measure or predict.

Question 16

What are the Low and High Extremes of IQ?

Answer 16

The Low Extreme: Intellectual Disability (<70)
The High Extreme: Giftedness (>140)

Question 17

What are 2 main influences on intelligence?

Answer 17

1. Environmental.
2. Motivation and self-discipline.

Question 18

Explain “Cognitive Fitness”

Answer 18

Cognitive fitness: a state of optimized ability to reason, remember, learn, plan, and adapt

Question 19

Explain the 3 Memory Processes.
(Encoding, Storage, Retrieval)

Answer 19

1. Encoding: transforming incoming information (sensory input) into a form that can be stored.
2. Storage: holding information until it is needed.
3. Retrieval: locating stored information in memory and getting it out so that it can be used.

Question 20

What are the 3 models of memory?

Answer 20

1. Information Processing Model
2. Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) Model
3. Levels-of-Processing Model

Question 21

Explain “Sensory Memory”, “Short-Term Memory”, “Long-Term Memory”.

Answer 21

Sensory Memory: “split second” holding tank for all sensory information
1. Visual, <1s, 20 items
2. Auditory, <3s, 1-2 items

STM: memory’s “notepad”; holds information briefly (~30 secs)

LTM: Relatively permanent and limitless memory depot of well
learned and rehearsed information

Question 22

Explain the 2 ways to Boosts STM.
(Chunking and Rehearsal)

Answer 22

1. Chunking: combining information into meaningful bits (chunks) to improve STM capacity
2. Rehearsal: repeating bits of information in one’s head to maintain it in STM.

Question 23

Explain the 2 types of LTM.
(Explicit and Implicit)

Answer 23

1. Explicit / Declarative: conscious recall of factual information
   -Semantic Memory: General Knowledge
   -Episodic Memory: personal recollections
2. Implicit / Non-declarative: does not require conscious recall, but implicit in action
   -Procedural Memory: motor skills & habits
   -Conditioned Memory: automatic conditioned responses

Question 24

Explain “Retrieval” and its 3 Cues
(Priming, Context-Dependent and State-Dependent)

Answer 24

Retrieval: process of accessing information stored in LTM

1. Priming: activation, often unconsciously, of particular associations in memory.
2. Context-dependent: memory improves due to being in location similar to when memory was formed.
3. State-dependent: memory improves due to being in a mood/state similar to when memory was formed.

Question 25

Explain the 2 type of Retrieval and its issues.
(Recall and Recognition)

Answer 25

1. Recall: retrieving information not currently in conscious awareness but learnt previously. Issues: Tip of the tongue & Serial position effect.

2.Recognition: identifying items previously learnt from a list.
Issues: False positive.

Question 26

What is “Constructive processing”, “Hindsight Bias”, “Misinformation effect” and “False Memory Syndrome”.

Answer 26

1. Constructive processing: retrieval of memories in which those memories are altered, revised, or influenced by newer information
2. Hindsight Bias: tendency to believe after learning an outcome that one would have foreseen it.
3. Misinformation effect: incorporation of inaccurate information into actual memory.
4. False Memory Syndrome: creation of inaccurate memories usually through suggestion of others.

Question 27

Explain the 4 Memory Conditions.
(Organic amnesia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Infantile Amnesia & Psychogenic amnesia)

Answer 27

1. Organic amnesia: physical damage to the brain causing memory loss. (Retrograde and Anterograde).
2. Alzheimer’s Disease: irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest task.
3. Infantile Amnesia: inability to remember clearly or accurately the first years of life.
4. Psychogenic amnesia: loss of memory and important personal
   information due to a traumatic event

Question 28

Explain the 4 methods/ techniques to obtaining Healthy Memory.
(Sleep, Diet, Exercise & Behaviour)

Answer 28

1. Sleep: new information better consolidated while sleeping
2. Diet – Food rich in: omega-3 fatty acid, antioxidants and vitamin-B.
3. Exercise: Improves learning and mental performance. Aerobic training ↑ brain connectivity
4. Behavioural Techniques: Rehearse and test new material, Use mnemonics, Minimise interference.