Cognitive 325 Week 1a - Intro

Course Overview

Course Title: Cognitive Psychology 325

Instructor: Dr. Jonas Vibell

Key Topics Covered

Core Areas in Cognitive Psychology:

• Information Theory: Understanding how information is quantified and transmitted, including concepts like entropy and data compression.

• Cognitive Neuroscience: Exploring the biological processes and neural mechanisms that underlie mental functions.

• Perception: Examining how sensory information is processed and interpreted, including theories of perception such as Gestalt principles.

• Varieties of Attention: Differentiating between types of attention such as selective attention, divided attention, and sustained attention, along with experiments demonstrating these concepts.

• Memory Systems and Traces: Investigating the types of memory (e.g., short-term, long-term, procedural) and how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved.

• Imagery and Concepts: Analyzing mental imagery and the formation of concepts, including how they influence cognition and behavior.

• Language Syntax and Semantics: Understanding the structure (syntax) and meaning (semantics) of language, and how language reflects cognitive processes.

• Computational Neuroscience: Applying computational models to understand brain function and cognition.

• Problem Solving and Creativity: Studying cognitive strategies used in problem-solving and the role of creativity in cognitive processes.

• Reasoning (Deductive and Inductive): Differentiating between deduction and induction, with a focus on logical reasoning and decision-making processes.

• Judgment and Choice: Exploring how people make judgments and choices, including biases and heuristics that affect decision-making.

• Intelligence and Creativity: Examining theories of intelligence and the interplay between intelligence and creative thought.

• Consciousness: Investigating the nature of consciousness, awareness, and the subconscious processes.

• Brain Imaging: Utilizing techniques like fMRI and PET scans to study brain activity related to cognitive processes.

• Future of Cognitive Science: Discussing emerging fields and technologies in cognitive science and their implications for understanding the mind.

Introductory Concepts

What Is the Mind?

• Historical Context:

  • Early Work in Cognitive Psychology: Foundations laid by early psychologists exploring cognitive functions.

  • Watson's Behaviorism: The shift to behaviorism that focused on observable behaviors and rejected introspection.

  • Skinner’s Operant Conditioning: Emphasizing reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.

  • Reemergence of the Mind in Psychology: The gradual shift back towards understanding mental processes.

  • Artificial Intelligence and Information Theory: Emergence of AI and its influences on cognitive psychology.

Cognitive Psychology Defined

• Scientific Study:

  • Encompasses the study of how the mind processes information, focusing on perception, learning, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making.

• Cognitions:

  • Refers to the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and processing of knowledge through various cognitive processes.

• Definitions:

  • Sternberg (1999): "How people perceive, learn, remember, and think about information."

  • Solso (2005): "Processes underlying mental events."

  • Sinnett et al.: "How we come to know."

History of Cognitive Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920):

• First to employ introspection as a method for studying the workings of the mind, establishing psychology as a scientific discipline.

• Examined the complexities of thoughts and emotions but faced challenges: participants often had difficulty accurately articulating internal experiences, leading to questions about the reliability of introscription as a method.

Behaviorism's Rise:

• Behaviorism dominated for a significant portion of the early 20th century, focusing exclusively on observable behavior and minimizing mental processes.

• Key Figures:

  • John Watson: Advocated for a scientific approach to psychology that prioritized observable data over subjective experiences.

Evolution of Cognitive Psychology

• Three Stages of Progression:

  • Late 1950s - Early 1960s: Traditional psychophysics and experimental psychology shaped initial cognitive approaches.

• Mid-1970s: The emergence of cognitive science marked by the advent of computational methods and interdisciplinary integration of psychology, neuroscience, and computer science.

• Mid-1980s: A significant evolution involving neuropsychology and animal studies leading to breakthroughs in understanding cognitive processes, paired with advancements in brain imaging technologies that allowed for deeper insights into mental functions.

Fields of Study Within Cognitive Psychology

• Related Disciplines:

  • Linguistics, Philosophy, Neurosciences, Logic, Computer Sciences.

• Core Cognitive Processes:

  • In-depth research covers perception, memory, decision-making, learning, problem-solving, and creativity.

Cognitive Phenomena of Interest

• Exploration of Unusual Cognitive Responses:

  • Rubber Hand Illusion: A phenomenon in which individuals feel sensations in a fake rubber hand when it is placed in a position that corresponds with their own hand.

  • Planning Novel Routes in Familiar Environments: Investigates how people navigate through known spaces, often employing mental modeling strategies.

  • Visual Perception Issues: Examines cognitive biases and errors in visual perception, such as distortions in size and depth perception.

Mental Models

• Definition:

  • Psychological representations of real or hypothetical situations, serving as simplified versions of reality that aid in understanding complex concepts.

• Importance:

  • These models are crucial cognitive tools that help individuals interpret the world, predict outcomes, and engage in reasoning processes.