Cogsci FINAL EXAM SG UPDATED Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Be prepared to give one example of a music neuroscience study that compares music and
language. You should be able to explain the basic method used (e.g., EEG, fMRI, behavioral),
what was measured, and how the authors used the findings to compare music and language. (The
lecture gave several examples—you should be able to fully explain one of them). - CORRECT
ANSWER - EEG Study 1: Correct ending vs incorrect ending
Participants listen to many musical chords while EEG is recorded. Are brains sensitive to
"incorrect" chords!? When is the brain first responsive to the "wrong" chords? (at least 180ms)-
Does the brain use similar resources for music errors as for language errors? (yes)
1 example of music neuroscience - CORRECT ANSWER - ERAN: Early Right Anterior
Negativity - Brain are sensitive to "incorrect chords" evoked by music syntax violations
Music Syntax Violations - CORRECT ANSWER - occur 180sms after hearing a "wrong"
chord
How are ERPs used to study music and language? - CORRECT ANSWER - Early Right
Anterior Negativity component (ERAN) is evoked by musical chords that are in the wrong place
for the type of chord that they are, just like the wrong kind of word can be a grammatical
violation.
Methods for detecting syntax violations - CORRECT ANSWER - EEG has poor spatial
resolution so it's hard to tell anatomically where it is
Embodied Cognition - CORRECT ANSWER - all theories share a view that the bodys
interaction with the environment (CHALLENGES CRUM) Uses body to solve problems the
mind cannot
CRUM Computation Representation and Theory of Mind - CORRECT ANSWER -
focuses on computational operations and representation of mind (perception - cognition - action)
, Forms of Cognition that do not require representations - CORRECT ANSWER -
Outfielder Problem
Outfielder problem - CORRECT ANSWER - How does the outfielder know where the ball
will land?
Outfielder solutions - CORRECT ANSWER - Embodied solution:
Uses body to interact with the environment & change one's perception of the ball
Computational solution:
one must use mind to calculate velocity, distance, speed and angle of ball
Watt Governor - CORRECT ANSWER - one unified system that offers a model for
thought
inputs (perception/sensation) = adjustments to movement
Understand a few ways that Embodied Cognition theories challenge CRUM - CORRECT
ANSWER - They all share the view that thinking depends on the body proper (i.e., not just
the brain) and its interaction with the environment
Cognition is not just something done inside the head, but rather through interaction with the
world - CORRECT ANSWER - Thinking is done by interacting with the world, not just
computing in the head.
Some forms of cognition might not require computation at all - CORRECT ANSWER -
Replacement hypothesis: We don't need representations to think-Sensorimotor contingencies
alone can produce intelligent behavior•E.g., the light-tracking robot
Be prepared to write about the outfielder problem (how outfielders figure out where a fly ball
will land in baseball). - CORRECT ANSWER - Calculate trajectory using velocity and
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Be prepared to give one example of a music neuroscience study that compares music and
language. You should be able to explain the basic method used (e.g., EEG, fMRI, behavioral),
what was measured, and how the authors used the findings to compare music and language. (The
lecture gave several examples—you should be able to fully explain one of them). - CORRECT
ANSWER - EEG Study 1: Correct ending vs incorrect ending
Participants listen to many musical chords while EEG is recorded. Are brains sensitive to
"incorrect" chords!? When is the brain first responsive to the "wrong" chords? (at least 180ms)-
Does the brain use similar resources for music errors as for language errors? (yes)
1 example of music neuroscience - CORRECT ANSWER - ERAN: Early Right Anterior
Negativity - Brain are sensitive to "incorrect chords" evoked by music syntax violations
Music Syntax Violations - CORRECT ANSWER - occur 180sms after hearing a "wrong"
chord
How are ERPs used to study music and language? - CORRECT ANSWER - Early Right
Anterior Negativity component (ERAN) is evoked by musical chords that are in the wrong place
for the type of chord that they are, just like the wrong kind of word can be a grammatical
violation.
Methods for detecting syntax violations - CORRECT ANSWER - EEG has poor spatial
resolution so it's hard to tell anatomically where it is
Embodied Cognition - CORRECT ANSWER - all theories share a view that the bodys
interaction with the environment (CHALLENGES CRUM) Uses body to solve problems the
mind cannot
CRUM Computation Representation and Theory of Mind - CORRECT ANSWER -
focuses on computational operations and representation of mind (perception - cognition - action)
, Forms of Cognition that do not require representations - CORRECT ANSWER -
Outfielder Problem
Outfielder problem - CORRECT ANSWER - How does the outfielder know where the ball
will land?
Outfielder solutions - CORRECT ANSWER - Embodied solution:
Uses body to interact with the environment & change one's perception of the ball
Computational solution:
one must use mind to calculate velocity, distance, speed and angle of ball
Watt Governor - CORRECT ANSWER - one unified system that offers a model for
thought
inputs (perception/sensation) = adjustments to movement
Understand a few ways that Embodied Cognition theories challenge CRUM - CORRECT
ANSWER - They all share the view that thinking depends on the body proper (i.e., not just
the brain) and its interaction with the environment
Cognition is not just something done inside the head, but rather through interaction with the
world - CORRECT ANSWER - Thinking is done by interacting with the world, not just
computing in the head.
Some forms of cognition might not require computation at all - CORRECT ANSWER -
Replacement hypothesis: We don't need representations to think-Sensorimotor contingencies
alone can produce intelligent behavior•E.g., the light-tracking robot
Be prepared to write about the outfielder problem (how outfielders figure out where a fly ball
will land in baseball). - CORRECT ANSWER - Calculate trajectory using velocity and
