Question 1

In response to a difficult question, the participant is likely to respond more slowly than if an easy question had been asked. In terms of the overall response times, the difficult question would yield:

Accepted Answer

Difficult questions typically require more cognitive processing, leading to longer response times compared to easier questions.

Question 2

In cognition, STM is a central component of:

Accepted Answer

The standard theory of memory includes Short-Term Memory (STM) as a central component, distinguishing it from Long-Term Memory (LTM) and sensory memory in the multi-store model.

Question 3

Your friend tells you he participated in a computerized experiment and had to respond to stimuli flashed on the screen. He was most likely participating in a(n) ________ experiment.

Accepted Answer

Information processing experiments often involve responding to stimuli presented on a screen, which aligns with the description given. These experiments study how people process information, including perception, memory, and decision-making.

Question 4

A synapse is:

Accepted Answer

A synapse is the junction between two neurons, where the exchange of electrical or chemical signals occurs, facilitating communication within the nervous system.

Question 5

PDP stands for:

Accepted Answer

D) Parallel distributed processing is the correct term, referring to a model of brain functioning that emphasizes the simultaneous processing of information across multiple neural networks.

Question 6

Which of the following is an assumption of a strict information-processing approach?

Accepted Answer

A strict information-processing approach assumes that cognitive processes occur in independent and nonoverlapping stages, where each stage must be completed before the next one begins. This contrasts with models that assume parallel processing or significant context effects.

Question 7

According to Kolb & Wishaw (1996), approximately how many cells are engaged in information processing in the typical human brain?

Accepted Answer

According to Kolb & Wishaw (1996), the typical human brain engages approximately eighty billion cells in information processing.

Question 8

The act of taking in information and converting it to a usable mental form.

Accepted Answer

Encoding is the process of taking in information and converting it into a form that can be mentally stored and used, fitting the description given.

Question 9

The cell that is specialized for receiving and transmitting a neural impulse.

Accepted Answer

Neurons are specialized cells in the nervous system that are designed to receive, process, and transmit information through electrical and chemical signals, making them essential for neural impulses.

Question 10

Which of the following is found at the receiving end of neurons?

Accepted Answer

Dendrites are the structures on neurons that receive electrical messages. These messages are then transmitted to the cell body.

Question 11

A ________ model is a hypothesis about the specific mental processes that take place when a particular task is performed.

Accepted Answer

A process model is a hypothesis or theory about the specific mental processes that occur when a person is engaged in a particular cognitive task. It aims to describe how different cognitive processes work together to perform that task.

Question 12

The region where the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another meet.

Accepted Answer

A synapse is the region where the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron meet, allowing for the transmission of signals between neurons.

Question 13

A timed task in which people decide if letter strings are or are not English words.

Accepted Answer

The task described is known as a Lexical Decision Task, where participants decide as quickly as possible if a string of letters is a real word or not, thus measuring their lexical (word) processing speed and efficiency.

Question 14

A synapse is:

Accepted Answer

A synapse is the gap between two neurons, where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals from one neuron to another.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes neurons communicating with each other?

Accepted Answer

Neurons communicate with each other through a chemical process at the synapse, where neurotransmitters are released from one neuron and bind to receptors on another.

Question 16

The brain area responsible for higher -level mental processes:

Accepted Answer

The neocortex is responsible for higher-level mental processes, including reasoning, conscious thought, and language.

Question 17

Situated between the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain:

Accepted Answer

The central fissure, also known as the central sulcus, is the brain structure situated between the frontal and parietal lobes.

Question 18

What should be true about reaction times if shapes are presented to the right hemisphere and words are presented to the left hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

Reaction times should be low because the right hemisphere is specialized for processing spatial and visual information, such as shapes, and the left hemisphere is specialized for language processing, including words. This specialization allows for efficient processing and quicker reaction times when stimuli are presented to the corresponding hemisphere.

Question 19

Information presented to the left visual field arrives first in the:

Accepted Answer

Information presented to the left visual field is processed first in the right hemisphere of the brain. This is because the visual pathways cross at the optic chiasm, meaning the left visual field of both eyes is processed by the right hemisphere, and the right visual field of both eyes is processed by the left hemisphere.

Question 20

Face recognition is especially dependent on:

Accepted Answer

Face recognition is primarily associated with the right hemisphere of the brain, which is involved in processing visual information and is particularly adept at recognizing faces, a phenomenon supported by neurological and psychological research.

Quiz 2: The Cognitive Science Approach

In response to a difficult question, the participant is likely to respond more slowly than if an easy question had been asked. In terms of the overall response times, the difficult question would yield:

In cognition, STM is a central component of:

Your friend tells you he participated in a computerized experiment and had to respond to stimuli flashed on the screen. He was most likely participating in a(n) ________ experiment.

A synapse is:

PDP stands for:

Which of the following is an assumption of a strict information-processing approach?

According to Kolb & Wishaw (1996) , approximately how many cells are engaged in information processing in the typical human brain?

The act of taking in information and converting it to a usable mental form.

The cell that is specialized for receiving and transmitting a neural impulse.

Which of the following is found at the receiving end of neurons?

A ________ model is a hypothesis about the specific mental processes that take place when a particular task is performed.

The region where the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another meet.

A timed task in which people decide if letter strings are or are not English words.

A synapse is:

Which of the following best describes neurons communicating with each other?

The brain area responsible for higher -level mental processes:

Situated between the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain:

What should be true about reaction times if shapes are presented to the right hemisphere and words are presented to the left hemisphere?

Information presented to the left visual field arrives first in the:

Face recognition is especially dependent on: