CGSC F100 ACTUAL TEST QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWER KEY
●● why is cog sci so interdisciplinary?
Answer: - natural alignment of our interests to learn about the mind
(intersection of fields to find answer to question)
- learn about the mind by looking at research on many subjects
- cog sci is defined by questions, not methods
●● what is instinct blindness?
Answer: - we are familiar with our own minds so we think we know
how it works already
- problematic b/c our assumptions are usually wrong
●● how can we cure instinct blindness? what is an example?
Answer: - add different disciplines to the mix and view the question
from a different perspective
- ex: computer science = when you have to implement/build a process,
you find out how difficult it is (you realize that even though it's quick,
it's very complex)
●● what are marr's 3 levels of analysis?
Answer: - computational
,- algorithmic
- implementation
●● describe the marr's 3 levels of analysis
Answer: 1. computational:
- what is the problem being solved?
- has input + output
- cs and computer modeling
2. algorithmic
- what are the steps to solve it?
-there are diff ways to solve a problem (ex: multiplication can be solved
by adding numbers repeatedly, multiply numbers together, etc)
- experimental psych
3. implementation
- how are these steps implemented in underlying hardware
- neuroscience
●● is each level (marr's 3 levels) critical?
Answer: yes!
,●● why can't you just get by with only computation (marr's 3 levels)?
Answer: - many aspects of cognition need to be explained by appeal to
nature of algorithm or substrate
- ex: afterimages or color photoreceptors need to be explained with
neuroscience too, not just psych
●● why can't you just get by with only implementation (marr's 3 levels)?
Answer: - the purpose of science is to capture generalizations (take 2 diff
things and explain them using same deeper underlying principles)
- would end up ignoring computation and algorithm
- ex: microsoft word bug affects all computers similarly, regardless of
their chip and/or hardware, bc of the computation level (programming)
●● what doesn't cog sci just study neurons?
Answer: - not where all the action is
- wouldn't be able to study abilities + emotions of humans
●● why is it not cognitive "sciences" (plural)?
Answer: - individual sciences don't contrain each other but the topics in
cog sci does limit each other
- there are constraints from below and above
- all the themes work together in unity to form an answer to a question
, ●● what are the constraints from below?
Answer: - i.e. the 100-step-rule (neuro constraining psych): neuron takes
5 miliseconds to fire to the next one to communicate & process with
each other (neuro) but our understanding of spoken lang. requires serial
steps of neuron firing and need to be less than 100 serial steps
- rule says that brain operation cannot take more than 100 neuron firing
steps
●● what are the constraints from above?
Answer: - i.e. Ullman's rigidity constraint (computational analysis
constrains psych and neuro)
- 3D motion from 2D image/shape
- we automatically perceive depth
●● what is cognitive architecture?
Answer: - refers to the idea that "primitive" info processing mechanisms
exist in the mind
- ideas come from cs: memory capacity, fundamental operations, brute
contraints
- foundation for everything our mind can do
●● what is the importance of cognitive architecture?
Answer: - specifics scope of human nature (everything cognition is able
to do)
COMPLETE ANSWER KEY
●● why is cog sci so interdisciplinary?
Answer: - natural alignment of our interests to learn about the mind
(intersection of fields to find answer to question)
- learn about the mind by looking at research on many subjects
- cog sci is defined by questions, not methods
●● what is instinct blindness?
Answer: - we are familiar with our own minds so we think we know
how it works already
- problematic b/c our assumptions are usually wrong
●● how can we cure instinct blindness? what is an example?
Answer: - add different disciplines to the mix and view the question
from a different perspective
- ex: computer science = when you have to implement/build a process,
you find out how difficult it is (you realize that even though it's quick,
it's very complex)
●● what are marr's 3 levels of analysis?
Answer: - computational
,- algorithmic
- implementation
●● describe the marr's 3 levels of analysis
Answer: 1. computational:
- what is the problem being solved?
- has input + output
- cs and computer modeling
2. algorithmic
- what are the steps to solve it?
-there are diff ways to solve a problem (ex: multiplication can be solved
by adding numbers repeatedly, multiply numbers together, etc)
- experimental psych
3. implementation
- how are these steps implemented in underlying hardware
- neuroscience
●● is each level (marr's 3 levels) critical?
Answer: yes!
,●● why can't you just get by with only computation (marr's 3 levels)?
Answer: - many aspects of cognition need to be explained by appeal to
nature of algorithm or substrate
- ex: afterimages or color photoreceptors need to be explained with
neuroscience too, not just psych
●● why can't you just get by with only implementation (marr's 3 levels)?
Answer: - the purpose of science is to capture generalizations (take 2 diff
things and explain them using same deeper underlying principles)
- would end up ignoring computation and algorithm
- ex: microsoft word bug affects all computers similarly, regardless of
their chip and/or hardware, bc of the computation level (programming)
●● what doesn't cog sci just study neurons?
Answer: - not where all the action is
- wouldn't be able to study abilities + emotions of humans
●● why is it not cognitive "sciences" (plural)?
Answer: - individual sciences don't contrain each other but the topics in
cog sci does limit each other
- there are constraints from below and above
- all the themes work together in unity to form an answer to a question
, ●● what are the constraints from below?
Answer: - i.e. the 100-step-rule (neuro constraining psych): neuron takes
5 miliseconds to fire to the next one to communicate & process with
each other (neuro) but our understanding of spoken lang. requires serial
steps of neuron firing and need to be less than 100 serial steps
- rule says that brain operation cannot take more than 100 neuron firing
steps
●● what are the constraints from above?
Answer: - i.e. Ullman's rigidity constraint (computational analysis
constrains psych and neuro)
- 3D motion from 2D image/shape
- we automatically perceive depth
●● what is cognitive architecture?
Answer: - refers to the idea that "primitive" info processing mechanisms
exist in the mind
- ideas come from cs: memory capacity, fundamental operations, brute
contraints
- foundation for everything our mind can do
●● what is the importance of cognitive architecture?
Answer: - specifics scope of human nature (everything cognition is able
to do)
