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HM/KF - what do these studies tell us about memory and brain damage?

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Outline key features of the cognitive approach in psychology. Compare the cognitive approach with the psychodynamic approach. (12 marks)
A01 - describe key assumptions of cognitive approach - computer models; study scientifically; mediational processes etc.
A03- comparisons: Conscious vs unconscious; stage based theories - gender/moral development vs personality; nomothetic/idiographic; hard/soft determinism.

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Cognitive psychologists often use the experimental method in their investigations. Briefly

discuss one strength of using experiments to investigate cognitive processes in humans.
[2 marks]

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To explain internal cognitive processes such as memory, cognitive psychologists often
use an information processing model based on the computer analogy.

Briefly explain why computer analogies are used to help us understand human cognitive
processes. [2 marks]

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Describe and evaluate the cognitive approach in psychology. [10 marks]

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Outline two assumptions of the cognitive approach. For each assumption, illustrate your answer with reference to a topic in psychology. Use a different topic for each assumption.

[4 marks]

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Briefly explain one strength of using a laboratory experiment to investigate human cognitive processes.[2 marks]

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e.g. Artificial intelligence

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Interactionist - cognitive and biological approaches - how damage to different parts of the brain affects both behaviour and cognitive functions - biological states are linked to menatl states, e.g. damage to broca's area (biological damage) affects language - unable to speak (mental states).
Scans enable us to show a neurological basis for disorders, e.g.OCD and schizophrenia.
fMRI/PET scans - episodic and semantic memory are located in opposite sides of pre-frontal cortex.
Recently computer generated models to read the brain - mind mapping techniques 'brain fingerprinting' - future applications could be analysis of brain wave patterns of eyewitnesses to see if they are lying in court.

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It could be argued that cognitive models over-simplify explanations for complex mental processes.

The data supporting cognitive theories often come from unrealistic tasks used in laboratory experiments, which puts the ecological validity of theories into question (i.e. whether or not they are truly representative of our normal cognitive patterns).

Comparing a human mind to a machine or computer is arguably an unsophisticated analogy - humans get tired, feel upset, stressed etc.

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Models have presented a useful means to help explain internal mental processes

The approach provides a strong focus on internal mental processes, which behaviourists before did not.

The experimental methods used by the approach are considered scientific.
Successful treatments for depression, e.g. CBT

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This related field became prevalent over the latter half of the twentieth century, incorporating neuroscience techniques such as brain scanning to study the impact of brain structures on cognitive processes.
Bringing together biological and cognitive approaches.
Brain scanning techniques, e.g. scans show excess dopamine in the brains of schizophrenics

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A key concept to the approach is the schema, an internal ‘script’ for how to act or what to expect from a given situation. For example, gender schemas assume how males/females behave and how is best to respond accordingly, e.g. a child may assume that all boys enjoy playing football. Schemas are like stereotypes, and alter mental processing of incoming information; their role in eyewitness testimony can be negative, as what somebody expects to see may distort their memory of was actually witnessed.

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Theoretical and computer models are proposed to attempt to explain and infer information about mental processes. For example, the Information-Processing Model (Figure 1) describes the mind as if a computer, in terms of the relationship between incoming information to be encoded (from the senses), manipulating this mentally (e.g. storage, a decision), and consequently directing an output (e.g. a behaviour, emotion). An example might be an artist looking at a picturesque landscape, deciding which paint colour suits a given area, before brushing the selected colour onto a canvas.

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The mind actively processes information from our senses (touch, taste etc.).

Between stimulus and response are complex mental processes, which can be studied scientifically.

Humans can be seen as data processing systems.

The workings of a computer and the human mind are alike – they encode and store information, and they have outputs.

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How do Cognitive psychologists study human behaviour?

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How do Cognitive psychologists study human behaviour?

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Objective, controlled, scientific methods for investigating behaviour. They use the results of their investigations as the basis for making inferences about mental processes. One strand of cognitive research involves conducting case studies of people with brain damage. Comparing their performance on mental

tasks with that of uninjured people can help psychologists understand which parts of the brain are used to process which sorts of information. Laboratory experiments are often

used for this as the laboratory situation gives better  opportunities than field settings for careful manipulation and control of information processing and precise measurement of cognitive

performance.