Unit 4: Cognition, Creativity, and Intelligence Concepts

Cognition

Mental activities related to thinking and knowing.

Metacognition

Awareness and evaluation of one's own thought processes.

Concepts

Mental groupings of similar objects or ideas.

Schemas

Frameworks that organize and interpret information.

Prototypes

Best examples of a category for quick sorting.

Assimilation

Interpreting new experiences through existing schemas.

Accommodation

Adapting schemas to incorporate new information.

Creativity

Ability to produce novel and valuable ideas.

Expertise

Well-developed knowledge used as mental building blocks.

Imagination

Seeing things in new ways and recognizing patterns.

Adventuresome Personality

Willingness to seek new experiences and take risks.

Intrinsic Motivation

Drive to create based on interest and satisfaction.

Creative Environment

Surroundings that foster and support creative thinking.

Convergent Thinking

Narrowing down solutions to find the best one.

Divergent Thinking

Expanding possible solutions in various directions.

Executive Functions

High-level abilities for problem-solving and decision-making.

Trial and Error

Trying multiple solutions until one works.

Algorithms

Step-by-step procedures for solving problems.

Heuristics

Simple strategies or shortcuts for problem-solving.

Confirmation Bias

Favoring information that supports existing beliefs.

Fixation

Inability to see problems from new perspectives.

Mental Set

Persisting in using past problem-solving strategies.

Functional Fixedness

Inability to see novel uses for an item.

Overconfidence

Overestimating the accuracy of one's beliefs.

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to beliefs despite contradictory evidence.

Framing

Presentation of an issue affecting responses.

Insight

Sudden realization of a problem's solution.

Availability Heuristic

Estimating likelihood based on easily recalled instances.

Representativeness Heuristic

Estimating probability based on similarity to prototypes.

Intuition

Fast, automatic thoughts based on experience.

Memory

Learning stored over time through encoding and retrieval.

Recall

Retrieving previously learned information from memory.

Encoding

Forming memory codes through attention and meaning.

Attention

Focusing awareness on specific stimuli or events.

Storage

Maintaining encoded information over time.

Retrieval

Recovering information from memory stores.

Recognition

Identifying previously learned items or information.

Relearning

Learning something faster upon subsequent exposure.

Parallel Processing

Simultaneously processing multiple aspects of information.

Sensory Memory

Brief recording of sensory information.

Short-term Memory

Holds 5-9 items for 10-30 seconds.

Long-term Memory

Permanent and limitless memory storage.

Working Memory

Active processing of incoming and retrieved information.

Central Executive

Coordinates focused processing in working memory.

Phonological Loop

Holds auditory information for processing.

Visuospatial Sketchpad

Holds visual and spatial information briefly.

Neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons through mental exercise.

Long-term Potentiation (LTP)

Increased nerve cell firing potential after stimulation.

Explicit Memory

Consciously known facts and experiences.

Effortful Processing

Requires attention and conscious effort for encoding.

Implicit Memory

Retention of skills without conscious recollection.

Automatic Processing

Unconscious encoding of incidental information.

Chunking

Organizing information into manageable units.

Mnemonics

Memory aids using vivid imagery and organization.

Spacing Effect

Distributed practice improves long-term retention.

Testing Effect

Enhanced memory through retrieval practice.

Shallow Processing

Basic encoding of words' letters or sounds.

Deep Processing

Semantic encoding based on word meanings.

Memory Consolidation

Neural storage process for long-term memory.

Semantic Memory

Memories of facts and general knowledge.

Hippocampus

Brain region crucial for memory formation.

Frontal Lobes

Brain areas involved in planning and decision-making.

Episodic Memory

Memories of personally experienced events.

Cerebellum

Brain region for motor control and coordination.

Basal Ganglia

Brain structures involved in procedural memory.

Emotional Memories

Memories triggered by strong emotions.

Flashbulb Memories

Vivid memories of emotionally significant events.

Retrieval Cues

Associations aiding memory recall.

Priming

Unconscious activation of memory associations.

Context-Dependent Memory

Recall improved in original encoding context.

Encoding Specificity Principle

Specific cues enhance memory recall.

Mood-Congruent Memory

Recall consistent with current mood.

State-Dependent Memory

Recall consistent with state during encoding.

Interleaving

Mixing study topics to improve retention.

Serial Position Effect

Better recall for beginning and end items.

Recency Effect

Better recall for last items in a list.

Primacy Effect

Better recall for first items in a list.

Forgetting

Necessary process for cognitive functioning.

Ineffective Encoding

Poor memory retention due to lack of attention.

Decay Theory

Memory traces fade over time.

Interference Theory

Competition from other material causes forgetting.

Retroactive Interference

New information disrupts retention of old information.

Proactive Interference

Old information disrupts retention of new information.

Repression

Defense mechanism to forget distressing thoughts.

Amnesia

Extensive memory loss in various forms.

Organic Amnesia

Memory loss due to brain injury.

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memories before amnesia onset.

Anterograde Amnesia

Loss of memories after amnesia onset.

Reconsolidation

Altering memories upon retrieval before storage.

Misinformation Effect

Misleading information distorts memory recall.

Source Amnesia

Impaired memory of learning context.

Deja Vu

Eerie sense of previous experience.

False Memories

Reconstructed memories that may not be real.

Rehearsal

Repeated practice to strengthen memory.

General Intelligence (g)

Overall cognitive ability influencing various skills.

Factor Analysis

Statistical method identifying intelligence dimensions.

Multiple intelligence

Theories proposed by L.L. Thurstone and Howard Gardner where people could have strengths and weaknesses but are still considered intelligent.

Savant syndrome

A condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional skill, such as computation or drawing.

Average IQ score

The average IQ score is 100, and anyone above 120 is considered 'gifted' with superior intelligence.

Fluid intelligence (Gf)

The ability to reason quickly and abstractly; tends to decrease with age; especially in later years.