cognitive approach

• key assumptions

  • internal mental processes should be scientifically studied
  • processing information can be influenced by a persons beliefs and expectations
  • processes are internal and can't be directly studied suggests that their operations must be inferred from the observations and measurements.
• inferences

  computer models:

  involves the human mind being compared to help explain and make inferences about internal mental processes. the computer model suggests similarity's to human brain in processing.

  • knowledge of long term memory being hard disk, short term memory being comps RAM. being applied to under stand the human brain.
• inferences

  what is an inference:

  the process where cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about how mental processes operate off observable behaviour.

  • through experiments on behaviour

  explaining and making inferences on mental processes:

  The theoretical model - visual representations of internal mental processes are used to help researchers simplify and study complex processes, making inferences.

  
  

  the multistore model: sensory information goes to (attention) sensory register then goes to short term memory (rehersal loop) then consolidation and retrieval happen to get to long term memory.
• schema

  a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing. they are developed by experiences e.g going to a restaurant.

  role of schema

  helps us predict what will happen in the world based on experiences. enabling us to process vast amounts of information rapidly. BUT schema can distort by perception errors or inaccurate eye witness testimony.

  • negative schema can impact mental health
  • schema can prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by the environment as can mentally short cut to conclusions causing bias recalls
• cognitive neuroscience

  cognitive neuroscience aims to discover how brain structures influence how we process information and map mental cognitive function to specific area of the brain.

  e.g. of research

  • researchers demonstrated that there is possible for individuals with tetraplegia a condition in which the function of limbs and toros is lost, to move and click a computer screen cursor via an imputed BCI.

  when and why did it emerge:

  • 20th century
  • because there was avaliblity scanning the live brain (MRI)