Cognition

All languages contain…. Phonemes The smallest units of sound in a language. English has about 44 phonemes. Morphemes The smallest unit of language that carries meaning. “pre, ed, I, s, and bat” So, how many morphemes do we have? Can also be parts of words like prefixes or suffixes…”ed” at the end of a word means past tense. How many phonemes does platypus have?

Functional Fixedness The inability to see new use for an object. Think of as many uses as you can for a ……

Mental set The tendency to fall into established thought patterns. Some examples are…. O-T-T-F-?-?-?

Algorithms Rule that guarantees right solution to problem. Usually by formula. What is an example? Recipe? Equation? Any problems?

Heuristics A rule of thumb that generally, but not always, can be used to make a judgment to solve a problem. Fast, but is… Prone to errors Two major types of heuristics….

What is thought? There are basically two types of thought… 1.Prototypes: preferred mental picture 2.Symbols: images that represent “thing” or “idea”

LTP or Long-term potentiation LTP: is a basis for memory. An increase in synapse’s firing after rapid simulation. Example: the more you study, the strengthening of synaptic efficiency or improved memory!

Representativeness Heuristic Judging something based on prototypes or even stereotypes. Also a “snap” judgement. Who went to Harvard?

Availability Heuristic Judging situation on examples of situations that come to mind. Vivid examples in the news often cause an availability heuristic. Horses and falling off chairs kill more people! Horses actually kill more people than shark attacks….but you wouldn’t think so!

Three Stage Model Atkinson-Shriffin: time frames Sensory memory: lasts less than a second – Iconic (visual) – Echoic (auditory) – Semantic (meaning) STM: 7 items, plus or minus 2 for 20 seconds LTM: Unlimited

Short Term Memory The stuff we encode from the sensory goes to STM. Events are encoded visually, acoustically or semantically. Holds about 7 (plus or minus 2) items for short duration (seconds). We recall digits better than letters. Short Term Memory Activity

Explicit (Declarative) Memories: Semantic Memories Semantic Memories Structured record of facts, meanings, functions. Usually about the outside world. Derived FROM episodic – Learn new facts from experiences Concentrated in frontal and temporal lobes.

Implicit (Procedural) Memories Without conscious recall Found in cerebellum Skills Driving, riding a bike, playing sports Classical and operant conditioning effects

Chomsky’s Theory Inborn Universal Grammar We learn language too quickly to be through social learning. Kids are not taught “I hate you, Daddy” Inborn universal language acquisition device Speak in nouns and it happens “naturally”

Social Learning Theory B.F. Skinner from the Behaviorist School Baby may imitate a parent. If they are reinforced they keep saying the word. If they are punished, they stop saying the word.

Misinformation Effect Incorporating misleading information into one’s memory of an event. Elizabeth Loftus A constructed memory is a created memory. “How fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?” “How fast were the cars going when they hit each other?”

Language can be…..

So….age old question? Is language biological (nature) or behavioral (through learning, reinforcement, and punishment?) or nurture Chomsky vs. Skinner?

Grammar and Syntax The rules of a language. Syntax: the order of words in a language. Is this the White House or the House White? Common grammar mistakes?

Four Words….One Picture

Weird Al and his grammar lesson! vPoDc vPoDc

Language Acquisition Stages that we learn language… 1.Babbling Stage- uttering “variety of sounds” 2.Holophrastic Stage (one word stage)- around first b-day! “Doggy” 3.Telegraphic Speech Stage (two-word stage)- 2 yrs. “want juice” Overgeneralization.- application of grammar rule- “doesn’t apply” “We goed to the store”

Social Learning Theory B.F. Skinner from the Behaviorist School Baby may imitate a parent. If they are reinforced they keep saying the word. If they are punished, they stop saying the word.

Whorf’s Linguistic determinism The idea that language determines the way we think. The Hopi tribe- no past tense in their language, so Whorf rarely think of the past. Papua New Guinea “Yellow” Japanese “interpersonal emotions” such as “sympathy” English “more self-focused”

How do we learn language?

Do animals communicate? Honey bees and the “waggle dance” Gorillas, signing, and crying

Jeannie: The Secret of the Wild Child i4QA i4QA

Thinking and Language: Review

Problem Solving Concepts: Mental groupings of similar “things.” Example: Holiday Why? Prototypes: Your “preferred” example of a grouping of things! Example: July 4 th Why?

Problem Solving Algorithm: Step-by-step way to solve problem. Example: Trying EVERY chess move Why? Heuristic: Quicker way to problem solve. Example: Taking a short cut on the road Why?

Problem Solving Issues Representativeness heuristic: Using “prototype” to solve a problem. Example: You are 6’11”? You must play basketball. Why? Availability heuristic: Using “what comes to mind” to problem solve. Example: I just saw someone win lottery today, I’m going to buy ticket! Why?

Hurdles to Problem Solving Functional fixedness: Can’t see more creative uses for objects, fixation. Example: Not seeing that a pencil could be used as a hair tie. Why? Confirmation bias: Focusing on evidence that only confirms your opinion. Example: Finding “negative” stories on Obama and overlooking “positive” stories. Why?

Hurdles to Problem Solving Framing: Specific “wording” can change how we view things. Example: Selling raffle tickets and stating people have 10% of winning. Why? Belief perseverance: Initial “belief” perseveares even after bad press. Example: Supporting candidate even. Why? after stories about corruption come out

Language Phonemes: Sounds of English language (about 44). Example: ch, a, sh. Why? Morphemes: Smallest units of meaning of English language. Example: cat, ed, ly. Why?

Language Grammar: Rules of a language. Example: their vs. there. Why? Syntax: word order of a language. Example: the White House, not the House White. Why?

Stages of Language One-word stage: Productive language (one word). Example: Mommy. Why? Overgeneralization: Misuse of grammar rules. Example: We “goed” to store. Why?

Language Theories Chomsky: Born with inborn universal grammar acquisition device. Example: we say words haven’t heard. Why? Skinner: Social learning theory or learn language through imitating. Example: little kids imitating siblings. Why?

Whorf’s Linguistic determinism The idea that language determines the way we think. The Hopi tribe- no past tense in their language, so Whorf rarely think of the past. Papua New Guinea “Yellow” Japanese “interpersonal emotions” such as “sympathy” English “more self-focused”