PSYC 357 Chapter : ch 6 Cognitive Functions - Textbook notes and definition

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 357
• Professor: Wendy Loken Thornton

Document Summary

Study of abilities to learn, remember, solve problem, become knowledgeable about world. Cognitive functioning of human = comparable to functioning of computer. Data from experiences = enter into brain through various sensory routes = progress through series of stages of analysis + can discard info, store or use instantly. Amount of time it takes to process signal, prepare response, then execute that response. Studied by computer which record reaction times to a target in array. Studies = made theories about changes in overall quality of information processing in adulthood. Time calculated for individual to study a stimulus array then respond when that stimulus array takes a certain form. Lower (quicker) in young adult vs. old several hundred milliseconds increase in rxn time in adulthood. Age-related increase in reaction time reflects general decline of information processing speed within aging ns. Studies of reaction times of older adults vs. younger = brinle plot.