Cognitive_325_Week_1b_-Intro_to_Cognitive_Psychology
Cognitive Psychology Overview
Instructor: Dr. Jonas Vibell
Course Structure
Topics covered include:
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Perception
Various types of Attention
Memory Systems
Memory Traces & Memory Schemas
Imagery and Concepts
Language Syntax & Semantics
Computational Neuroscience
Problem Solving and Creativity
Reasoning (deductive & inductive)
Judgement and Choice
Intelligence and Creativity
Consciousness
Brain Imaging
Future of Cognitive Science
Key Themes in Cognitive Psychology
Information Processing: Focus on understanding how inputs relate to outputs within the nervous system.
History: Evolution from behaviorism toward studying cognitive processes like attention, memory, and problem-solving.
Cognitive Ethology: Understanding cognitive processes in situational context to increase ecological validity in studies.
Important Theoretical Concepts
Black Box: The mind is viewed as a system with observable inputs and outputs but unknown internal workings.
Cognitive Psychology: A research field systematically testing the relationship between stimuli (inputs) and responses (outputs).
Rebirth of Mind Study: Emphasizes the importance of cognitive neuroscience, memory, and language, paralleling computer analogies.
Research and Methodology
Reaction Time Studies
Investigations conducted by Hick and Hyman show that response times increase:
With the number of signals
For less frequent and less probable signals
Capacity of Memory and Perception
Memory limits impact processing capacity as demonstrated by Webster and Thompson's experiments, highlighting:
Constraints in simultaneous listening tasks and complex message identification.
Ecological Validity
Introduction to Cognitive Ethology
Cognitive processes can vary based on situational context; lab findings may not always reflect real-world cognition.
Steps for Ecological Research:
Observe natural behavior.
Simplify and test in the lab.
Assess the applicability of lab findings to real-world contexts.
Historical Foundations of Cognitive Psychology
Donders (1868) Reaction Time Experiment
Introduced simple vs choice reaction time tasks to measure cognitive processing duration.
Behaviorism and Its Limitations
Behaviorism: Emphasizes observable behavior, as championed by figures like Watson and Skinner, focusing on:
Environmental control over behavior.
Operant and classical conditioning as key learning mechanisms.
Conditioning Theories
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)
Relationship between neutral stimuli and unconditioned stimuli to produce conditioned responses.
Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
Focuses on how consequences affect voluntary behavior through:
Reinforcement (positive/negative) to increase behavior.
Punishment to decrease behavior.
Memory Over Time
Ebbinghaus Experiments
Demonstrated the forgetting curve and retention scores over time post-learning, emphasizing the decay of memory with elapsed time.
Information Processing Models
Waugh and Norman’s Memory Model
Distinction between Primary Memory (immediate moment awareness) and Secondary Memory (long-term storage).
Brown-Peterson Task illustrates the effect of distractions on memory recall.
Broadbent’s Filter Model
Model Structure
Addresses information channel capacity.
Information processing occurs in a series of steps involving sensory input, filtering, and higher-level analysis.
Experimental Findings
Higher accuracy in recalling information when processed in a sequential versus simultaneous manner across different channels.
Information Theory Contributions
Claude Shannon’s insights have established the framework for understanding how information can be measured and transmitted effectively.
Ecological Approach to Perception
Gibson emphasizes the role of environmental context, highlighting the significance of affordances in perception and interaction with stimuli.
Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology
Both fMRI, EEG, and other outputs serve as indicators of cognitive processes, illustrating the integration of neuroscience in understanding cognition.