Key defintions

Bottom-Up Processing

Recognition guided by the object itself, driven purely by the data in front of us.

Top-Down Processing

Recognition influenced by prior knowledge and experience, skipping features to focus on the whole.

Parallel Processing

Different brain areas analyzing basic features and large-scale configurations simultaneously.

Unconscious Inference

Perception influenced by prior knowledge and experience without conscious awareness.

Prosopagnosia

Inability to recognize faces while being able to recognize objects and words.

Inversion Effect

Difficulty in recognizing faces when upside down compared to other objects.

Perceptual Constancy

Ability to perceive an object the same despite changes in sensation.

Composite Effect

Difficulty in focusing on one half of a face when combined with another half.

Viewpoint Independent

Recognition of objects regardless of viewing angle.

Viewpoint Dependent

Recognition based on stored images from various angles.

Late Selection Hypothesis

Selective attention operates at a late stage of processing.

Biased Competition Theory

Attention shifts neuron priorities to favor relevant inputs.

Spatial Attention

Allocating processing resources to specific positions in space.

Expectation-Based Priming

Expecting a stimulus reduces attention to other detectors.

Repetition Priming

Prior exposure to a stimulus leads to quicker response.

The Binding Problem

Reuniting elements of a scene initially processed by different brain systems.

Divided Attention

Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.

Task Similarity

Tasks with similar processes making multitasking harder.

Task Difficulty

Inability to divide attention when a task is challenging.

Executive Control

Mechanism to keep current goals in mind during overlapping tasks.

Deductive reasoning

Starting with given claims or assertions to derive conclusions logically.

Confirmation bias

Tendency to seek information confirming existing beliefs and disregard conflicting evidence.

Belief perseverance

Persistence in beliefs despite contradictory evidence.

Categorical syllogisms

Logical arguments involving categories to draw conclusions.

Four card task

Experimental procedure to study reasoning using four cards with information on each side.

Utility maximization

Decision-making based on selecting options with the highest utility.

Framing

Decision-making influenced by how options are presented.

Affective forecasting

Predicting future feelings about an object or situation.

Problem Solving

Process of setting a goal and finding steps to achieve it.

Hill-climbing strategy

Problem-solving approach choosing options leading closer to the goal.

Means-end analysis

Problem-solving strategy guided by reducing the difference between current and goal states.

Ill-defined

Problem with vague goal and unclear steps to reach it.

Well-defined

Problem with clear initial conditions, goals, and limited solutions.

Intelligence quotient (IQ)

Total score from standardized tests assessing human intelligence.

Fluid intelligence

Ability to solve new and unusual problems.

Crystalized intelligence

Acquired knowledge and cognitive skills.

Practical Intelligence

Solving everyday problems using reasoning and experience.

Emotional Intelligence

Understanding and managing emotions effectively.

Theory of multiple intelligences

Proposal of various forms of intelligence beyond traditional measures.

Flynn effect

Global increase in IQ scores over decades.

Stereotype threat

Performance influenced by fear of confirming stereotypes.