PSYCH 207 COGNITIVE PROCESSES
EXAM 1 MATERIALS QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS
Four major paradigms in Cognitive Psychology - Answer-Information Processing,
Connectionism, Evolutionary and Ecological
Information Processing - Answer-spawned by computer analogy of the mind. Cognition
= information. Information flows from low level detectors through more temporary
memory stores to long term memory stores
Key Assumptions of Information Processing - Answer-Cognition is built upon interacting
sub-skills. The same cognitive operations can be used for different kinds of stimuli (ie
letters, numbers, images)
Connectionism - Answer-Cognitive machinery that underlies all cognition is composed
of highly interactive network of connections among simple processing units (called
neural networks). Units code information across large population of similar units, and
are connected to each other by weights that are modifiable by learning. A single model
can learn & acquire information without changing the inherent structure of the model.
Connectionism Model process - Answer-When any unit reaches a certain level of
activation, it activates other units it has positively weighted connections with. Once
activation is strong enough among inter-related connections, a response for a specific
person will come to mind.
Positive and Negative weighting in connectionist model is based on? - Answer-Prior
experience and prior learning
Evolutionary approach - Answer-Cognition is based on evolution like other biological
features - the mind has to respond to evolutionary pressures that resulted in humans
evolving special purpose cognition mechanisms
Ecological approach - Answer-cognitive activities are shaped by the culture, context and
environment in which they occur. The context in which cognition occurs shapes the
cognitive processes. Thus it must be studied in a natural context
Five major schools of thought that served as precursors to cognitive psychology? -
Answer-Structuralism, Functionalism, Individual Differences, Gestalt Psychology &
Behaviourism
, Four Major approaches to modern study of cognitive phenomena? - Answer-Information
Processing framework, Connectionist model, Evolutionary approach and Ecological
Approach
Phylogenetic Division of the brain - Answer-organises brain structures in terms of the
order in which they are thought to have evolved. Includes the Forebrain, Midbrain and
Hindbrain
Two sections of the Forebrain? - Answer-Cortical (Cerebral Cortex) and Subcortical
(regions that sit underneath the cerebral cortex)
Parts in the subcortical region? - Answer-Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Amygdala &
Hippocampus
Function of the Thalamus? - Answer-Information that is processed by other regions
becomes integrated & communicate with each other via this region
Function of the Hypothalamus? - Answer-Regulate basic biological function ie hunger,
sexual arousal, temperature etc
Function of the Hippocampus? - Answer-Learning and memory
Function of the Amygdala? - Answer-Mainly emotion and aggression. Has relationship
with the hippocampus and provides emotional context to memories
Lobes of the cerebral cortex? - Answer-Parietal lobes, Occipital Lobes, Temporal Lobes
& Frontal Lobes
Function of the Parietal Lobes? - Answer-spatial processing and attention. Contains
somatic sensory cortex - sensing information from the body (pressure, pain etc)
Function of the Occipital Lobes? - Answer-Processing visual information ie shape,
colour, orientation
Function of the Temporal Lobes? - Answer-processing auditory information
Function of the Frontal Lobes? - Answer-Higher order functions
3 Regions of the frontal lobes? - Answer-Motor cortex (fine motor skills), Premotor
cortex (planning fine motor skills) and prefrontal cortex (executive functioning like
planning, decision making, strategising etc)
Phrenology - Answer-Brain is divided by the specific function of the area and is sized
accordingly ie someone who is good at planning has a physically larger planning region.
Assumes each region is autonomous and independent
EXAM 1 MATERIALS QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE ANSWERS
Four major paradigms in Cognitive Psychology - Answer-Information Processing,
Connectionism, Evolutionary and Ecological
Information Processing - Answer-spawned by computer analogy of the mind. Cognition
= information. Information flows from low level detectors through more temporary
memory stores to long term memory stores
Key Assumptions of Information Processing - Answer-Cognition is built upon interacting
sub-skills. The same cognitive operations can be used for different kinds of stimuli (ie
letters, numbers, images)
Connectionism - Answer-Cognitive machinery that underlies all cognition is composed
of highly interactive network of connections among simple processing units (called
neural networks). Units code information across large population of similar units, and
are connected to each other by weights that are modifiable by learning. A single model
can learn & acquire information without changing the inherent structure of the model.
Connectionism Model process - Answer-When any unit reaches a certain level of
activation, it activates other units it has positively weighted connections with. Once
activation is strong enough among inter-related connections, a response for a specific
person will come to mind.
Positive and Negative weighting in connectionist model is based on? - Answer-Prior
experience and prior learning
Evolutionary approach - Answer-Cognition is based on evolution like other biological
features - the mind has to respond to evolutionary pressures that resulted in humans
evolving special purpose cognition mechanisms
Ecological approach - Answer-cognitive activities are shaped by the culture, context and
environment in which they occur. The context in which cognition occurs shapes the
cognitive processes. Thus it must be studied in a natural context
Five major schools of thought that served as precursors to cognitive psychology? -
Answer-Structuralism, Functionalism, Individual Differences, Gestalt Psychology &
Behaviourism
, Four Major approaches to modern study of cognitive phenomena? - Answer-Information
Processing framework, Connectionist model, Evolutionary approach and Ecological
Approach
Phylogenetic Division of the brain - Answer-organises brain structures in terms of the
order in which they are thought to have evolved. Includes the Forebrain, Midbrain and
Hindbrain
Two sections of the Forebrain? - Answer-Cortical (Cerebral Cortex) and Subcortical
(regions that sit underneath the cerebral cortex)
Parts in the subcortical region? - Answer-Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Amygdala &
Hippocampus
Function of the Thalamus? - Answer-Information that is processed by other regions
becomes integrated & communicate with each other via this region
Function of the Hypothalamus? - Answer-Regulate basic biological function ie hunger,
sexual arousal, temperature etc
Function of the Hippocampus? - Answer-Learning and memory
Function of the Amygdala? - Answer-Mainly emotion and aggression. Has relationship
with the hippocampus and provides emotional context to memories
Lobes of the cerebral cortex? - Answer-Parietal lobes, Occipital Lobes, Temporal Lobes
& Frontal Lobes
Function of the Parietal Lobes? - Answer-spatial processing and attention. Contains
somatic sensory cortex - sensing information from the body (pressure, pain etc)
Function of the Occipital Lobes? - Answer-Processing visual information ie shape,
colour, orientation
Function of the Temporal Lobes? - Answer-processing auditory information
Function of the Frontal Lobes? - Answer-Higher order functions
3 Regions of the frontal lobes? - Answer-Motor cortex (fine motor skills), Premotor
cortex (planning fine motor skills) and prefrontal cortex (executive functioning like
planning, decision making, strategising etc)
Phrenology - Answer-Brain is divided by the specific function of the area and is sized
accordingly ie someone who is good at planning has a physically larger planning region.
Assumes each region is autonomous and independent
