4 - intro to psychology - cognitive

what is cognitive psychology

the mental processing of information

what is executive function

mental processes required for controlling behaviour, making it possible to achieve chosen goals.

frontal lobe is v important

what are examples of EF

working memory - hold info in mind for purpose of completing a task

attentional control - being able to attend to one thing and not another

inhibitory control - being able to stop an action

cognitive flexibility - adapting behvaiour and being able to think in response to th environment

what is working memory and how is it different to stm

not just a store of info - manipulate at the same time

our ability to pay conscious attention to info

limited

how does working moemory change w age

rapid increse as grow up then decrease as older

what are the roles of the componants in the working memory model

central executive - attentional system

episodic buffer - tempory storage of intergrated info (added later )

visuospacial sketchpad - processes and breifly stores visual and spacial information

phonological loop - procresses and breifly store phonological form

what is the capacity of working memory

4-+ 1

what is cognitive flexibility

Being able to switch your thinking from one concept (or

set of concepts) to another

what is attention

selecting what information to process

what is attentional control

the mechanism that allows us to choose what to focus on, ignore irrelevant stimuli, and switch focus when needed.

what is selecrive and divided attention

selective is focused - requires inhibition

divided is looking at many things at the same time - requires cognitive flexibility

what behaviours represent executiev function.

awareness

planning

working memory

goal setting

self monitoring

strategic behaviour

what area of the brain control EF

the frontal lobe

what factors can imfluence EF

social interactions

parenting styles

autonomy

teaching stratagies

poverty/neglect

age

brain development

prenatal heath issues

language skills