Cognitive Science Midterm Exam UPDATED
Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Define and describe cognitive science. - CORRECT ANSWER - § Cognitive Science is
the interdisciplinary study of the mind.
§ This field is considered interdisciplinary because it draws from and integrates knowledge from
philosophy, psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science in order to understand
how the mind/brain works.
Identify and describe the problems solved by the mind/brain - CORRECT ANSWER -o
The problems solved by the mind/brain are...
§ Sensation and Perception - means making sense of the information from our environment using
our senses (vision, audition, olfactory, gustation, touch, temperature, vestibular, etc.).
Identify the perceptual capabilities that humans do not possess but some other organisms DO
possess - CORRECT ANSWER - § The perceptual capabilities that humans do not possess
but some other organisms do are...
· Infrared - perceived by rattlesnakes
· Echolocation - perceived by bats, porpoises, and some birds
· Magnetoreception - perceived by some birds and cows*
Compare and contrast the disciplines most closely associated with cognitive science -
CORRECT ANSWER - § Philosophy
· Reason-based approach to the mind
§ Psychology
· Study of mind and behavior using empirical methods, hypothesis testing, clinical cases, and
introspection
§ Neuroscience
· Study of the nervous system through neuroimaging and various methods
, § Computer science/Engineering/Robotics
· Study of the mind through the use of machines that simulate the functions of the mind
§ Linguistics
Define and describe reverse engineering - CORRECT ANSWER - § Reverse engineering
is defined as the process of working backward from a state of completion, to understand the
inner workings of something.
§ For the mind, this means that we have outcomes such as behaviors, but we do not necessarily
know how they come to be, so we must work backward to uncover the processes that cause these
behaviors.
Identify the major historical precursors to cognitive science.
Identify when the first mention of the brain occurred in ancient texts.
Identify where ancient civilizations believed the functions of the mind were localized in the
human body.
Identify who was the first to champion the brain as the seat of cognition in the body. -
CORRECT ANSWER -
Define and describe major historical theories and investigations of the mind/brain.
Define and describe the medieval cell doctrine.
Describe the role of dissection in establishing the brain as the seat of cognition.
Define and describe phrenology.
Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Define and describe cognitive science. - CORRECT ANSWER - § Cognitive Science is
the interdisciplinary study of the mind.
§ This field is considered interdisciplinary because it draws from and integrates knowledge from
philosophy, psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science in order to understand
how the mind/brain works.
Identify and describe the problems solved by the mind/brain - CORRECT ANSWER -o
The problems solved by the mind/brain are...
§ Sensation and Perception - means making sense of the information from our environment using
our senses (vision, audition, olfactory, gustation, touch, temperature, vestibular, etc.).
Identify the perceptual capabilities that humans do not possess but some other organisms DO
possess - CORRECT ANSWER - § The perceptual capabilities that humans do not possess
but some other organisms do are...
· Infrared - perceived by rattlesnakes
· Echolocation - perceived by bats, porpoises, and some birds
· Magnetoreception - perceived by some birds and cows*
Compare and contrast the disciplines most closely associated with cognitive science -
CORRECT ANSWER - § Philosophy
· Reason-based approach to the mind
§ Psychology
· Study of mind and behavior using empirical methods, hypothesis testing, clinical cases, and
introspection
§ Neuroscience
· Study of the nervous system through neuroimaging and various methods
, § Computer science/Engineering/Robotics
· Study of the mind through the use of machines that simulate the functions of the mind
§ Linguistics
Define and describe reverse engineering - CORRECT ANSWER - § Reverse engineering
is defined as the process of working backward from a state of completion, to understand the
inner workings of something.
§ For the mind, this means that we have outcomes such as behaviors, but we do not necessarily
know how they come to be, so we must work backward to uncover the processes that cause these
behaviors.
Identify the major historical precursors to cognitive science.
Identify when the first mention of the brain occurred in ancient texts.
Identify where ancient civilizations believed the functions of the mind were localized in the
human body.
Identify who was the first to champion the brain as the seat of cognition in the body. -
CORRECT ANSWER -
Define and describe major historical theories and investigations of the mind/brain.
Define and describe the medieval cell doctrine.
Describe the role of dissection in establishing the brain as the seat of cognition.
Define and describe phrenology.
