Slide 2: Information

Cognitive approach to psychology

Examines processes of thinking, language, remembering, learning

Theoretical Inputs to Cognitive Science

• Mathematics & Computation

• The Neuronal Model

• Cybernetics

Logical Scheme

is that of a neuron being activated and then causing another neuron to fire

The Neuronal Model

a nerve cell and its connections could be modeled in terms of “logical elements” (Action Potential)

What did Alan Turing Invent?

Turing Machine: he developed the concept of a simple “theoretical” machine

What did Jon Van Neummann Invent?

idea of a stored program within the computer’s internal memory

Norbert Wiener

Cybernetics - machines are purposeful - machines can exhibit feedback and be consistent  

BIT

basic unit of information

Information Theory

the idea that information can be thought of as simply a single decision between 2 alternatives

Information

A quantity that reduces uncertainty

Common Thread

one could consider cognitive processes apart from physical structure 

Constraints

specifies the pattern to be learned, memorized, performed 

Donders (1868)

first to use chronometric techniques to measure information processing.

Chronometric Approach

examines the temporal aspects of information processing, concentrating on the duration of processes

Donder’s RT Studies

Compared to simple RT , choice RT, and discrimination RT require additional processing which account for greater time.

Stimulus Identification Phase

the detection of a stimulus and pattern recognition

Pattern Recognition

pattern detection is learned and often differentiates experts and novices  

Schimdt (1987)

automaticity in motor performance develops due to sensory info being detected quickly and accurately

Response Selection Stage

the perceiver takes the information and selects an appropriate response

Hick’s Law

Processing of more info takes time so it takes longer to initiate a response 

Choice RT is linearly related to the log of the number of stimulus options

Choice RT = k log2 (N+1)

Stimulus Response Compatibilty

S-R Compatibility concerns the extent to which the stimulus and its associated response are connected in a “natural” manner.

Henry-Rogers Experiment (1960)

Manipulated complexity of the movement, while keeping the stimulus the same.

Complex movements required longer MT and RT, suggesting longer movement programming/planning.

Stroop Effect

We learn to process the color and meaning in parallel.