1. INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION PROCESSING THEORY AND ECOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

2. Learning objectives
understand the basics of information processing theory
understand the basics of ecological psychology (action systems and dynamical systems) theories

3. Information processing theory
Developed at the same time as computer technology
Follows the same logical approach
Good use of models to show the process

4. The black box model
CENTRAL
NERVOUS
SYSTEM
INPUT
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
The central nervous system is the brain plus the spinal cord. The early theorists made no attempt to say what happened in there

5. PERCEPTION
DECISION
EFFERENT
ORGANISATION
STM
LTM
INPUT
FEEDBACK
OUTPUT
SENSATION
Welford’s information processing model (adapted from Welford, A. T., 1968, Fundamentals of skill, Methuen, London).

6. Stages of information processing model
Sensation provides the brain with visual, auditory, vestibular and proprioceptive information
Perception makes sense of the information
Perception requires input from short-term and long-term memory
Comparison of perceived information held in STM with past experiences held in LTM allow for decision making
Efferent organization oversees the execution of the chosen movement
The bottom feedback loop represents information allowing changes in movement control
The top feedback loop represents information about success or failure for future use

7. Weaknesses of information processing theory
Can not really explain how we produce very fast responses
Can not really explain how we produce novel responses (responses for which we have no LTM store)

8. Regional brain functions and information processing and movement
Auditory, visual and somatosensory cortices are responsible for sensation and some perception
Perception activates the sensory regions and their association areas and the prefrontal cortex, which are responsible for the organization and interpretation of the sensory information,
Decision making is a prefrontal cortex activity
Efferent organization is under the control of the primary motor cortex, with the premotor cortex and supplementary motor area playing large roles. The basal ganglia and cerebellum are also involved

9. SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX
PRIMARY MOTOR CORTEX
SMA
PMC
SOMATOSENSORY
ASSOCIATION AREA
VISUAL CORTEX
VISUAL ASSOCIATION AREA
CEREBELLUM
AUDITORY CORTEX
AUDITORY ASSOCIATION AREA
PREFRONTAL CORTEX
DLPFC a b
BASAL
GANGLIA
Major brain regions involved in information processing and movement (anterior cingulate cortex is not included): a)
shows a lateral view of the left-hemisphere. The basal ganglia are not visible: their position within the brain is depicted in
b).
DLPFC dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: PMC premotor cortex: SMA supplementary motor area

10. Ecological psychology
Several theories
Main theories are: -
Dynamic systems theory (Bernstein, 1967)
Action systems theory (Gibson, 1979)

11. Bases of ecological psychology
We do not know what is happening in the brain so
Let us try to account for performance based on scientific laws and Man’s interaction with nature
We do not use memory to perform skills
All the information we need is present in the environment

12. Environment The environment provides us with opportunities to act
These are called affordances
We must actively search the environment for the affordances
All the necessary information is there, memory plays no part
This is called direct perception

13. Perception and action
We must actively search an environment in order to perceive an affordance
So perception is active not passive
Once we perceive the affordance we carry out the action but we constantly monitor that action
So action requires perception
Therefore perception and action are coupled

14. Role of the brain Brain decides what we want to do
Brain issues a set of very broad instructions
These are functionally specific, e.g. catch the ball, run up the hill, do a cartwheel
Spinal cord and peripheral nervous system take care of the rest

15. Motor control
Movement depends on all of the nerves, limbs and joints (degrees of freedom) which must combine to produce the movement
These obey the laws of physics and mechanics
They self-organize to control movement

16. Summary Information processing theory places the brain at its centre
It has a top-down approach
Memory is vital
Ecological psychology theories attempt to explain performance without reference to the brain
There is no recourse to memory
Perception and action are the result of the interaction between the person and the environment