cognitive approach

what is the cognitive approach focused on

mental processes

what are the two parts of the cognitive approach?

theoretical models (computer), role of the schema

what is approach is the theoretical model?

information processing approach

what does the information processing approach suggest?

suggests that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages

what are the stages of informational processing approach?

input, storage and retrieval

what is the computer model?

idea that there are similarities between humans and computers, the concepts of coding and stores

what does the role of the schema suggest?

that we have schemas which can distort our views of the world

what is a schema

'packages' or a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing, developed from experience

what is cognitive neuroscience

the study of brain structures on mental processing

what techniques have been useful for cognitive neuroscience?

brain scans, pet, fmri

why have these scans been useful?

scientists able to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes

what did cognitive neuroscience find about LTM?

that different types may be located on different sides of the prefrontal cortex

3 strengths of the cognitive approach

lab studies- high studies, applications- artificial intelligence, soft determinism

3 weaknesses of the cognitive approach

artificial environments- lab studies, machine reductionism, lack external validity, infer behaviour from observations

best describe the aim of cognitive neuroscience

to relate mental processes to brain structures

Write a brief explanation of inference

make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed

Outline two examples of the techniques or methods they have used

lab experiments - computer models, case studies- analysis people with brain damage

Briefly explain why computer analogies are used to help us understand human cognitive processes

because computers and humans process information in similar ways, both humans and computers use coding, storage units

Briefly discuss one strength of using experiments to investigate cognitive processes in humans.

replication