& Psychology: Key
Concepts and
Theories | Study
Guide
, Cognitive science Study of the mind as an information processor
Core loop Environment → Perception → Representation → Cognition → Action
Perception Turns world → internal representation
Action Turns thoughts → changes in world
Cognition Manipulating representations, NOT just thinking or awareness
Types of cognitive systems Animals → brain + senses + action; Robots → sensors + actuators; Software → pure
information processing; Distributed cognition → people + tools + environment =
ONE system
Representation Something that stands for something else
Examples of representation Words, images, symbols, memories
Learning Changing memory to improve behavior