VC: History and Paradigms Flashcards
Define cognitive control.
A set of evaluative and executive processes that regulate the operation of more specialised cognitive processes.
Define evaluative control.
The ability to monitor the internal and external environment for signals that indicate the demand for (increased) executive control.
Define executive control.
The adaptive ability to configure the cognitive system in accordance with complex, confusing, or novel demands.
Briefly describe the modularity hypothesis.
The cognitive system consists of a hierarchy of subunits of processing that have specific functions, and operate in a temporally interrelated, nearly autonomous manner.
What motivated Flourens’ aggregate field theory?
He gave birds brain lesions, and found that they recovered fully, regardless of the site of the lesions, suggesting the whole brain participates in behaviour.
Give 2 criticisms of the modularity hypothesis.
A one-to-one mapping of the functional to the physical level is in principle impossible and behaviour programs are independently of specific brain architectures.
Explain slower responses to incompatible stimuli using the yak route model.
Response competition: both the object and location are processed at once, and if they are different they generate a different motor response, which causes a delay.
In a Flanker task, reaction times from fastest to slowest are: Incompatible, neutral, compatible. What does this show?
The effect is higher when the i positive response is activated, as opposed to just another response, and that the response and stimulus conflict are separate.
Why is there a strong compatibility effect in colour naming, but not word reading, Stroop tasks?
Word reading occurs quickly and automatically before colour recognition, even if it irrelevant, slowing the colour naming response and increasing errors.
Give 2 reasons that post error trials are slower than any other responses.
People are more conservative after detecting an error and ongoing error processing interferes with subsequent event processing.
Describe the Gratton effect.
Reducing of the Eriksen/Flanker effect after a previous incompatible trial.
How does the Gratton effect work?
An incompatible trial leads to a strengthening of control that is associated with adaptive changes in processing, causing less conflict on the following incompatible trial.
How does a preceding non-corresponding event effect lateralised readiness potential in a Simon task?
Only correct activation occurs, rather than bored incorrect activation.
