Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Psychology: An Introduction
Corey McMillan
University of Edinburgh, PPLS
23 September 2006
Introduction
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Corey McMillan [
[email protected]] http://homepages.ed.ac.uk/s0340151/teaching.html Course Outline Assessment
Outline
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
1
Introduction What is Psychology? What is Cognitive Psychology? Approaches to Cognitive Psychology Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
2
3
4
Defining Psychology
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Psychology is the study of behaviour. But what kind of study and behaviour?
Defining Psychology
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
The origin is philosophical (psyche = “soul” in Greek). Late 19th - Early 20th century:
Laboratories founded (Wundt, James, & Pavlov) Introspection approach (Freud)
In this course we will focus on the scientific study of behaviour
The Origins of (Scientific) Psychology Behaviourism
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Classical conditioning (Pavlov, B.F. Skinner): An initially neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus) elicits a learned response (conditioned response). Operant conditioning (Thorndike):
Positive reinforcement: A behaviour (response) is followed by a favourable stimulus; > frequency. Negative reinforcement: A behaviour (response) is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus; > frequency. Positive punishment: A behaviour (response) is followed by an aversive stimulus; < behaviour. Negative punishment: A behaviour (response) is followed by the removal of a favourable stimulus; < behaviour.
The Birth of Cognition
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
The trouble with the behaviourist approach: Behaviour is completely determined by the environment Apart from genetic endowment behaviour is determined from reinforcement Struggles to account for language Scientific hypothesis can not be tested because it is so dogmatic Can’t account for choice or a non-reinforced behaviour see http://www.chomsky.info/articles/19711230.htm
Outline
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
1
Introduction What is Psychology? What is Cognitive Psychology? Approaches to Cognitive Psychology Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
2
3
4
The Birth of Cognition
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Cognitive Psychology is the scientific study of human thought and the mental processes that underly behaviour. This includes: Memory Problem-Solving Perception Language
Approaches to Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Information Processing Investigated in several ways:
Experimental cognitive psychology Cognitive neuropsychology Computational cognitive science Cognitive neuroscience Also incorporated in other disciplines (developmental, psycholinguistics, . . . )
Information Processing Approach
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Assumptions: Info in the environment is processed by a series of processing systems (e.g. attention, memory, perception) The systems alter the information in various ways (3 connected lines equal a triangle). The goal is to specify the processes and structures of cognition. Information processing of people resembles computers (?).
Information Processing Approach
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
How is information processed? Serial
Bottom-up Top-down
Parallel
Cascading Feedback
Approaches to Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Information Processing Investigated in several ways:
Experimental cognitive psychology Cognitive neuropsychology Computational cognitive science Cognitive neuroscience Also incorporated in other disciplines (developmental, psycholinguistics,. . . )
Experimental Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
The heart of all cognitive psychology Use carefully controlled experiments Experimental approach is influential on all of psychology (clinical, social, developmental) Sound methods
Experimental Methods
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Based on the Scientific Method Define the question Gather information and resources Form hypothesis Perform experiment and collect data Analyse data Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypotheses Publish results
Limitations of Experimental . . .
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Ecological Validity is the applicability of laboratory findings to the real world. People do not behave the same in lab as outside of the lab. Experiments are designed in advance and often ignore responses.
Limitations of Experimental . . .
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Speed & Accuracy are indirect measures - assume that they represent internal processes. Individual differences (e.g. IQ, socio-economic status) are often ignored. Research is very focused to a small topic and little work integrates it into a larger model.
Cognitive Neuropsychology
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Cognitive Neuropsychology is the investigation of cognitive performance in brain–damaged or brain–diseased patients.
Brain Lesion ⇐⇒ Normal Brain
Cognitive Neuropsychology Assumptions
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Modularity Functional modularity: cognitive systems each have a module Anatomic modularity: brain areas each have a cognitive function
Cognitive Neuropsychology Assumptions
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Dissociation: X is normal, Y is impaired. Double dissociation: X is normal, Y is impaired; Y is normal, X is impaired. Groups vs. Individuals: Not all patients perform the same.
Cognitive Neuropsychology Limitations
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Compensatory strategies can obscure results. Damage often impairs more than one module or a partial module. Modularity often exaggerated. Just because same damage in patients, often not matched for other factors.
Computational Cognitive Science
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Computational CS involves computer programming to model or mimic some kind of cognitive function. Definition Artificial Intelligence involves computer programming to construct intelligent outcomes, not necessarily resembling human processes. Computational CS is beyond the scope of this course.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Definition Cognitive Neuroscience is the study of mental processes in the functioning brain to understand how the brain works (or functions cognitively). The majority of this work uses neuroimaging.
Cognitive Neuroscience Methods
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Technique EEG/ERP PET fMRI MEG TMS
Spatial X
Temporal X X
X
Next Week
Cognitive Psychology: Introduction
Introduction General Psychology Cognitive Psychology Approaches
Information Processing Approach Subfields of Cognitive Psychology
Read: Eysenck Chapters 1 (Approaches) and 2 (Basic processes). Decide: Do you want credit for this course? Optional: http://www.chomsky.info/articles/19711230.htm Discuss: Visual Perception