Cognitive Processes in Movement

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary related to cognitive processes in movement, focusing on planning, attention, reaction time, and motivation.

Cognition

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

Motor Planning

The process of planning and executing movements, involving several stages of cognitive processing.

Attention

The direction of conscious mental resources toward specific sensory stimuli; it involves awareness, effort/ arousal, and has limited capacity.

Reaction Time (RT)

The interval between the presentation of a stimulus and the beginning of the response, reflecting the speed of information processing.

Hick’s Law

The principle that the choice reaction time is linearly related to the number of stimulus-response alternatives.

Psychological Refractory Period

A delay in responding to a second of two closely spaced stimuli, creating a bottleneck in response processing.

Arousal-Axiel Anxiety Principle

The optimal level of arousal depicted by a bell-shaped curve that affects performance dependent on personal traits and task demands.

Motivation

An internal state or condition directing and energizing behavior, influenced by both personal and situational factors.

Goal-setting

The process of identifying specific objectives to focus attention and improve performance in a task.

Stimulus Identification

The perceptual stage of information processing where the presence of stimuli is determined and identified.

Steps in Motor Planning and Execution

1. Stimulus Identification: Recognizing the relevant stimuli in the environment.

2. Response Selection: Deciding on an appropriate response to the identified stimuli.

3. Motor Programming: Organizing the necessary movements to execute the chosen response.

4. Execution: Carrying out the planned movements to achieve the desired outcome.

Cognitive Processes in Movement Production

1. Evaluation: Assessing the situation and stimuli.

2. Planning: Formulating a strategy to respond.

3. Organizing: Structuring the components of movement.

4. Execution: Performing the movements as planned.

Cortical Structures and Their Roles

1. Prefrontal Cortex: Involved in decision-making and planning.

2. Motor Cortex: Responsible for executing voluntary movements.

3. Cerebellum: Coordinates and fine-tunes motor actions.

4. Basal Ganglia: Regulates movement initiation and learning.

Influence of Attention on Information Processing

Attention limits cognitive resources, which can affect the speed and accuracy of processing information, especially under high-stress conditions.

Factors Influencing Reaction Time and Decision-Making

Examples include:

• Complexity of the task: More choices increase reaction time (Hick’s Law).

• Practice: Familiarity can decrease reaction time.

• Arousal level: Optimal arousal can improve reaction time.

Learning Effects of Attention and Arousal Concepts

Attention and arousal influence the quality of information processing:

• Benefits: Higher attention and optimal arousal can enhance performance.

• Limitations: Overarousal may lead to decreased performance due to anxiety or distraction.

Personal and Task-Related Factors in Motivation

Factors influencing motivation:

• Positive Factors: Personal goals, rewards, supportive environment.

• Negative Factors: Fear of failure, lack of interest, external pressure.

Goal Categories in Performance

1. Outcome Goals: Focus on end results (e.g., winning a race).

2. Performance Goals: Emphasis on personal performance (e.g., improving time).

3. Process Goals: Concentration on the technique and process (e.g., maintaining form).

Memory Processes and Their Roles

1. Encoding: Transforming sensory input into a format usable for storage.

2. Storage: Keeping encoded information for future use.

3. Retrieval: Accessing and recalling stored information when needed.

Theoretical Perspectives on Memory

1. Multi-Store Model: Suggests memory is divided into three distinct stages (sensory, short-term, long-term).

2. Working Memory Model: Views short-term memory as an active system for information manipulation and processing.

Types of Information in Memory

1. Declarative Memory: Memory of facts and events that can be consciously recalled.

2. Procedural Memory: Skills and actions that are performed without conscious awareness.

Recognizing Natural Affordances

Natural affordances refer to the characteristics of objects and environments that suggest their potential uses to individuals, such as a door handle indicating it can be pulled or pushed.

Steps for Remembering Sensory Information

1. Sensation: The detection of sensory stimuli.

2. Attention: The focus on relevant information.

3. Encoding: Converting sensory information into a memory code for storage.

Memory Enhancement Strategies

1. Rehearsal: Repeating information to solidify memory retention.

2. Elaborative Encoding: Connecting new data to existing knowledge to foster memory.

3. Visualization: Using mental imagery to improve recall ability.

Anatomical Structures in Memory Functions

1. Hippocampus: Essential for the formation of new memories.

2. Amygdala: Key in processing emotional memories.

3. Cerebral Cortex: Responsible for long-term memory storage across various areas.

Theories of Forgetting

1. Decay Theory: Proposes that memories weaken over time without reinforcement.

2. Interference Theory: Suggests that other memories hinder the retrieval of specific information.

Practice Strategies for Learning

1. Massed Practice: Intensive study sessions, which can lead to burnout.

2. Distributed Practice: Spreading out study intervals to enhance retention and understanding.

Strategies for Enhancing Learning Transfer

1. Contextual Learning: Teaching concepts in varied contexts to improve the transition of skills.

2. Analogical Reasoning: Relating new information to well-known concepts for better understanding.

Roles in Memory Processes

1. Encoding: The transformation of sensory information into a usable format for storage.

2. Storage: The process of maintaining encoded information over time.

3. Retrieval: Accessing and recalling stored information for use.

Comparative Theories of Memory

1. Multi-Store Model: Proposes that memory is structured in a sequence of three stores: sensory, short-term, and long-term memory.

2. Working Memory Model: Depicts short-term memory as a dynamic system that manipulates information.

Types of Memory Information

1. Declarative Memory: Recallable facts and events (explicit knowledge).

2. Procedural Memory: Memory for skills and actions performed automatically (implicit knowledge).

Natural Affordances in Environments

Natural affordances are the inherent qualities of items and environments that suggest possible actions, such as a door handle indicating whether to pull or push.

Processing Steps for Sensory Memory

1. Sensation: The initial detection of sensory stimuli.
2. Attention: Focusing cognitive resources on relevant stimuli.
3. Encoding: Converting sensory information into a form that can be stored in memory.

Strategies to Enhance Memory

1. Rehearsal: Regularly repeating information to reinforce retention.
2. Elaborative Encoding: Connecting new information with existing knowledge to strengthen memory.
3. Visualization: Creating mental images to facilitate recall.

Memory-Related Anatomical Structures

1. Hippocampus: Important for forming new memories.
2. Amygdala: Crucial for processing emotional responses tied to memories.
3. Cerebral Cortex: Key player in the long-term storage of memories across different regions.

Theories Behind Forgetting

1. Decay Theory: Suggests that memories fade naturally over time without reinforcement.
2. Interference Theory: Argues that new information can obstruct the retrieval of old memories.

Effective Learning Strategies

1. Massed Practice: Engaging in intense study sessions that may lead to fatigue.
2. Distributed Practice: Spacing out study periods enhances retention and understanding.

Facilitating Learning Transfer

1. Contextual Learning: Teaching concepts in diverse environments to support the transfer of skills.
2. Analogical Reasoning: Linking new information to familiar concepts for improved comprehension.