CogSci 200 Umich Exam 1.

Functions are mappings from ________ to ________

inputs, outputs

Probabilistic Inference

The computation of posterior probabilities for query propositions given observed evidence

The perceptual inference problem

How do we get from the input (a 2D pattern of light on the retina) to the output (a 3D representation of reality)?

The only way to solve the perceptual inference problem is to rely on

_________

assumptions

Inverse Optics Problem

The impossibility of knowing the world directly by means of light stimuli; arises because of the ambiguity of light patterns projected onto the retina.

straight line assumption

things tend to move in a straight line

rigidity assumption

all points on a moving object are assumed to move in synchrony

occlusion assumption

A moving object will progressively cover and uncover portions of a persisting background

light assumption

there is a single overhead light source

shadow assumption

things that in a shadow are really lighter in color than what sensors detect

Bayes Rule

describes the probability of an event, based on prior knowledge of conditions that might be related to the event

blindsight

cortical blindness with preserved subcortical processing

blindsight can detect...

-simple shapes

-orientations of lines

-movement

-color

-emotional expressions and postures

-objects

blindsight can't detect...

name or gender of the person whose emotions they have percieved

functional neuroanatomy of visual perception

retina -> Lateral Geniculate Nucleus -> Visual Cortex -> Other Cortical Regions

lateral geniculate nucleus

initial superficial processing

visual cortex

complex processing with conscious awareness. people with blindsight don't utilize this.

Superior/Dorsal

to the top

Anterior/Rostral

towards the front

Posterior/Caudal

to the back

inferior/ventral

towards the bottom

lateral

away from the midline

medial

toward the midline

Herschberger's (1970) apparatus

Even though chicks never experienced light from above, they pecked up signaling that light coming from above is something that is innate

face processing

is a specialized process that operates quickly and automatically

Prosopagnosia (face blindness)

a condition characterized by the inability to recognize faces

The Sugita (2008) study

monkeys exposed to human faces prefer human faces to monkey faces and don't distinguish objects and monkey faces, and don't distinguish objects and monkey faces

What did we learn from the Sugita study?

An innate, computational template that is fine-tuned via "experience" with the world

Allison Gopnik

babies are designed to learn (nature and nurture)

What do babies know?

Arithmetic

Physics

Theory of mind: Reasoning about other minds

Probabilistic reasoning

The violation-of-expectation method

babies look longer at unexpected events than at more predictable ones

intuitive physics

continuity, cohesiveness, solidity, contact, gravity

continuity (2.5 months)

If an object is placed behind an occluder, it does not disappear. It continues to exist.

solidity (2.5 months)

Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Solid object cannot pass through other solid objects.

Cohesion (3 months)

Objects are single, integrated entities. includes rigidity assumption.

contact (6-7 months)

An object cannot exert force on another object from a distance

Gravity (4.5 months)

Objects must be supported from below

Probabilistic reasoning in 11 month old infants

When the sample of ping pong balls came from the experimenters pocket and not from the man big box, the infants did NOT look longer at the "unexpected" outcome

Bayesian Babies

1. Young children are able to generate a hypothesis

2. Able to test a hypothesis

Seen as early as 8 months the ability to predict about what is probable and improbable to happen

Both nature and nurture are easily combinable in...

Bayesian approaches to perception and cognition

Babies make rational inferences about what to do on the basis of _______

sparse evidence

Cognitivism

A theory of learning. The idea is that learning is a conscious, rational process. People learn by making models, maps and frameworks in their mind. ~ is the opposite of behaviorism.

Motor cortex is in.....

frontal lobe

primary auditory cortex is in...

temporal lobe