Term
| What is the classical view of cognition? |
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Definition
| The mind is the software and the brain is the hardware that runs the software (mental process). Cognition is a flow of information through info processing devices that encode (learns), store and retrieve symbolic representations of information |
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Term
What is the classical information processing model (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968) ?
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Definition
1. The visual stimulus is first perceived and encoded by the perceptual system.
2. It then goes through the short term memory and the working memory. In the working memory, the stimulus is examined, evaluated and compared to other mental images. The long term memory allows the retrieval of previous expriences that bring meaning to the stimulus.
3. Finally it goes to the long term memory system.
(Rehearsal of the stimulus allows it to be stored well in the long term memory) |
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Term
| What is a criticism of classical view of cognition? |
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Definition
| It cannot explain how we learn about symbols and what they represent. We do not have the innate ability to know the relationships between symbols and what they represent without some prior experience. Hence it was counter proposed that our conceptual knowledge of symbols are based upon our developmental, sensory-motor and social interactions with our environment. |
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Term
| What is the alternative theory for cognition that was counter proposed in lieu of the classical cognition model? How does it relate to situated or embodied cognition ? |
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Definition
Knowledge is not stored as symbolic date structures in the long term memory. Knowledge is retrieved dynamically as we engage with our physical environment.
Situated cognition- Cognition occurs not only inside the head but also outside. Our minds interacts with our external environment. For exampe we use external items such as maps and diagrams to help us process ideas and concepts. (i.e. Our interaction with a map, allows us to figure out where we are going and how to get there).
Embodied cognition- Our perceptual motor interactions with the external environment give us knowledge to helps us understand and explain abstract concepts.
(eg. I am feeling down. Our perceptual motor experience of down is used to describe negative emotions) |
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Term
| How does prosody and social interactions (social referencing) help in the learning of symbolic representations? |
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Definition
We learn about symbolic representations like language through our social interactions. These interactions provide us with social references. We learn to pick up the emotional cues from the other person through vocal prosody. Prosody helps us understand that vocal tones reflects certain emotional states, likes or dislikes etc...
(Eg. Leonardo the robot- He can pick up the vocal tones of the human speaking to him and react accordingly) |
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Term
| What is SOAR (State operator and result)? |
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Definition
SOAR is an artificial intelligent system which takes a set of processes in human cognition used for problem solving and reasoning and applies it to robots. The processes are associative semantic network of concepts, working memory, declarative memory, procedural memory and chunking.
How it works:
1. The problem space/goal state determines what knowledge is retrieved from the long term memory.
2. The relevant information from the long term memory is retrieved and activated in the working memory via associative memory processes (priming).
3. The working memory applies "production rules" which are it-then statements.
I.e If the (content of working memory are such) .....then (apply this knowledge).
4.Eventually as the the system applies more knowledge, it gets closer to the goal state.
If the system reaches an impasse/state of being 'stuck', it will go back to long term memory to retrieve information that may help resolve the impasse. If information is found that was not stored in the original activated knowledge set, this knowledge will be chunked into the schema, so that the information is immediately available next time a similar problem space arises. |
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Term
| How does the cognitive sense of representation differ from perceptual sense of representation? What does Kintsch proposed? How does it relate to encapsulated (embodied meaning)? |
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Definition
Perceptual sense of representation is the early stages of visual and other sensory processes that support the active perception of the present moment
Cognitive sense of representation is stored representation (memories) of experiences with the world. It can be retrieved when the direct experience of the thing represented is absent.
Both perceptual and cognitive processes interacts and informs each other.
Kintsch proposed that out representation of the present is always informed and infused with the our stored knowledge of our past.
Encapsulated (embodied) meaning
we understand propositions based on the prior knowledge grounded in (embedded) our motor -perceptual exprience with the external environment and linguistic knowledge.
We know what a red rose is because we have had previous experience with it during our motor perceptual interaction with the environment.
Words become meanigful when we understand its relationship with other words.
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Term
| What is Kintsch's dual system of mental representation? |
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Definition
The division of all the different levels of mental representation into the habit system and the cognitive system.
Habit System= Implicit/Non declarative/Procedural memory system= based on direct representation= knowledge embedded in procedural associations.
Cognitive system= Explicit/Declarative= Based on symbolic representations= Knowledge that one can describe linguistically to oneself or others. |
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Term
| What are the levels (hierarchy) of mental representation? |
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Definition
Basic level: Sensory-motor- Perceptual and procedural memory
Intermediate level: non-verbal episodic and semantic representation- basic non narrative event memory and mental imagery
(eg. A feeling of familiarity)
Highest level: verbal (declarative)- verbal narrative (advance episodic memory) and verbal abstract (concepts or conceptual labels such as words).
Other points to note:
Degree of consciousness (explicitness) is highest at the verbal declarative= You are more aware of what you know and are more able to describe your thought explicitly.
As we move up the levels. The degree of environmental/external/exogenous control is reduced. There is more cognitive control (endogenous system in more control).
The representation also become more abstract symbols. With Sensory motor it is more iconic but by the time it gets down to verbal declarative, it become abstract and discrete symbols.
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Term
| What are propositional representations? |
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Definition
| They are representative units at the narrative linguistic level. They are representations of the underlying meaning in speech (verbal utterances)= They tell us what is the underlying meaning being expressed linguistically. |
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Term
| What does proposition in language consist of? |
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Definition
1. Predicate- which expresses the relationship between the elements or property of elements in sentences/speech. It can be used ot describe the subject/object.
2. Arguments- which represents the subject and object of the sentence.
Example: May gave Tom some flowers.
Predicate- Relationship of agent and recipient. May= agent, Tom= Recipient, Object= flowers
Argument- The subjects are May and Tom. The object of the sentence is describing the action of giving away the book. |
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