Cognitive Psychology: The Basics

Description

Cognitive Psychology: The Basics provides a compact introduction to the core topics in the field, discussing the science behind the everyday cognitive phenomena experienced by us all. The book considers laboratory and applied theory and research alongside technological developments to demonstrate how our understanding of the brain’s role in cognition is improving all the time. Alongside coverage of traditional topics in the field, including attention and perception; learning and memory; thinking, problem-solving and decision-making; and language, the book also discusses developments in interrelated areas, such as neuroscience and computational cognitive science. New perspectives, including the contribution of evolutionary psychology to our understanding of cognition are also considered before a thoughtful discussion of future research directions. Using real-world examples throughout, the authors explain in an accessible and student-friendly manner the role our human cognition plays in all aspects of our lives. It is an essential introductory text suitable for all students of Cognitive Psychology and related disciplines. It will also be an ideal read for any reader interested in the role of the brain in human behavior. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Acknowledgements 1. What is cognitive psychology? Cognitive psychology Cognitive neuroscience Cognitive neuropsychology Computational cognitive science Areas of cognitive psychology Attention and perception Learning and memory Thinking: decision-making and problem-solving Language and communication Summary Further reading 2. Relationship between brain structure, function and cognitive modelling Structure of the human brain Microanatomy Gross anatomy Neural pathway activation in the brain Sensory organs: The eye and ear Neuron activation in the retina Function of the human brain Frontal lobes: The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) Corpus callosum Temporal lobes Parietal lobes Occipital lobes Cognitive modelling of the human brain Summary Further reading 3. Attention and perception Attention Models of auditory attention Visual attention Theories of visual attention Visual search 1. Feature integration theory 2. Texture tiling model 3. Dual-path model Divided attention Automatic processing Perception Perception of size, colour and depth Object perception Face perception Perception of motion and action Summary Further reading 4. Memory and learning Memory Structure of memory Multi-store model Working memory model A. Central executive B. Phonological loop C. Visuospatial sketchpad D. Episodic buffer Long-term memory models Everyday memory Autobiographical memory Flashbulb memories Lifetime memories Eyewitness memories Prospective memory Learning Levels of processing approach Implicit learning Consolidation Repetition priming Mnemonics Summary Further reading 5. Thinking: decision-making and problem-solving Thinking defined Judgements Decision-making Prospect theory Emotional influences Influence of selective exposure Naturalistic decision-making (NDM) Informal reasoning Inductive reasoning Deductive reasoning Propositional Syllogistic Problem-solving Gestalt school of thought Information-processing Experience and knowledge Summary Further reading 6. Language and communication What is language? Grammar Is language innate? Universal grammar Reading and speech Phonological processing Reading out loud Computational models of reading 1. The dual-route cascade model 2. The triangle model 3. Connectionist Dual Process models Speech perception Language comprehension Parsing Pragmatics Discourse and predictive inference Understanding discourse - the construction-integration model Writing and spelling Working memory in writing Summary Further reading 7. Consciousness and metacognition Consciousness Behavioural measures of consciousness Brain indicators of consciousness Consciousness and attention Metacognition Metacognition: help or hindrance? Summary Further reading 8. Cognitive neuropsychology Social cognition: tom, imitation and empathy Modularity hypothesis 'Mirror neuron' activity Perception of motion and action execution Neuroplasticity in learning Brain lateralisation Perceptual processing of facial emotional expressions Summary Further reading 9. Future directions of cognitive psychology Technological developments Evolutionary psychology Vision Memory Reasoning An XX advantage? So, what have we learnt about cognitive psychology? Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Summary Further reading Glossary References Index