Cognition
60 flashcards covering Cognition for the MCAT Chem / Phys / Psych / Soc section.
Cognition refers to the mental processes that enable us to acquire, process, and apply knowledge. It includes activities like thinking, remembering, paying attention, solving problems, and using language. Essentially, it's how our brains handle information to make sense of the world, influencing everything from learning new skills to making decisions. Understanding cognition helps explain human behavior and is foundational for fields like psychology and neuroscience.
On the MCAT, cognition appears in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section, often through multiple-choice questions based on passages or standalone items. You'll encounter questions testing theories like Piaget's stages of development or memory models, with common traps including mistaking correlation for causation or overlooking cultural influences. Focus on integrating cognitive concepts with biological factors, such as brain structures, and practice applying them to real-world scenarios.
A concrete tip: Review sample questions to spot how cognition intersects with social behaviors.
Terms (60)
- 01
Cognition
Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, storing, and using knowledge, including thinking, remembering, and problem-solving.
- 02
Perception
Perception is the process by which the brain organizes and interprets sensory information to give meaning to the environment.
- 03
Sensation
Sensation is the initial detection of physical stimuli from the environment by sensory receptors, such as light or sound.
- 04
Attention
Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other stimuli.
- 05
Selective Attention
Selective attention is the ability to focus on specific information while filtering out irrelevant details, as seen in tasks requiring concentration.
- 06
Divided Attention
Divided attention involves managing multiple tasks simultaneously, which can lead to decreased performance if cognitive resources are overloaded.
- 07
Working Memory
Working memory is a short-term storage system that holds and manipulates information for immediate use, such as solving a math problem.
- 08
Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory is the capacity to store information indefinitely for later retrieval, encompassing facts, skills, and experiences.
- 09
Explicit Memory
Explicit memory involves conscious recollection of facts and events, like remembering a birthday, and requires effort to access.
- 10
Implicit Memory
Implicit memory is the unconscious retention of skills and procedures, such as riding a bike, without deliberate recall.
- 11
Encoding
Encoding is the initial process of transforming sensory input into a form that can be stored in memory, often through rehearsal or association.
- 12
Storage
Storage is the maintenance of encoded information in the brain over time, allowing for later access through neural connections.
- 13
Retrieval
Retrieval is the process of accessing and bringing stored information back into consciousness, which can be influenced by cues.
- 14
Forgetting
Forgetting occurs when previously stored information becomes inaccessible, often due to decay, interference, or lack of retrieval practice.
- 15
Interference Theory
Interference theory explains forgetting as a result of new information disrupting old memories or vice versa, such as confusing two similar events.
- 16
Decay Theory
Decay theory posits that memories fade over time if not accessed, due to the natural weakening of neural traces.
- 17
Schema
A schema is a mental framework that organizes and interprets information based on existing knowledge, helping to predict and understand new experiences.
- 18
Prototype
A prototype is a mental representation of the most typical example of a category, used to classify objects quickly.
- 19
Concept Formation
Concept formation is the cognitive process of grouping objects or ideas into categories based on shared characteristics.
- 20
Problem Solving
Problem solving is the cognitive process of finding solutions to obstacles, often involving strategies like trial and error or logical reasoning.
- 21
Algorithms
Algorithms are step-by-step procedures guaranteed to solve a problem if followed correctly, such as a mathematical formula.
- 22
Heuristics
Heuristics are mental shortcuts that simplify decision-making, though they can lead to errors by relying on quick judgments.
- 23
Representativeness Heuristic
The representativeness heuristic involves judging the probability of an event based on how similar it is to a prototype, often overlooking base rates.
- 24
Availability Heuristic
The availability heuristic is estimating the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind, which can skew perceptions.
- 25
Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek and favor information that confirms preexisting beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence.
- 26
Language Acquisition
Language acquisition is the process by which humans learn to understand and produce language, influenced by both innate abilities and environment.
- 27
Phonology
Phonology is the study of the sound systems of languages, including how phonemes are organized and used to convey meaning.
- 28
Morphology
Morphology examines the structure of words and how they are formed from smaller units like roots and affixes.
- 29
Syntax
Syntax is the set of rules governing how words are combined to form grammatically correct sentences in a language.
- 30
Semantics
Semantics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences in communication.
- 31
Broca's Area
Broca's area is a region in the frontal lobe of the brain responsible for speech production and language expression.
- 32
Wernicke's Area
Wernicke's area is a brain region in the temporal lobe that plays a key role in language comprehension and processing.
- 33
Intelligence
Intelligence is the ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and adapt to new situations, measured through various tests.
- 34
Fluid Intelligence
Fluid intelligence involves the capacity to reason and solve novel problems independently of acquired knowledge.
- 35
Crystallized Intelligence
Crystallized intelligence refers to the accumulation of knowledge and skills from culture and education, which increases with age.
- 36
Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
Gardner's theory proposes that intelligence consists of multiple distinct types, such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, and spatial.
- 37
Sternberg's Triarchic Theory
Sternberg's triarchic theory divides intelligence into analytical, creative, and practical components for effective adaptation.
- 38
IQ Test
An IQ test measures cognitive abilities like reasoning and problem-solving, providing a score relative to the population average.
- 39
Flynn Effect
The Flynn Effect is the observed rise in average IQ scores over generations, possibly due to improved education and environment.
- 40
Decision Making
Decision making is the cognitive process of selecting among options based on evaluation of potential outcomes and risks.
- 41
Rational Choice Theory
Rational choice theory assumes individuals make decisions by weighing costs and benefits to maximize personal utility.
- 42
Prospect Theory
Prospect theory describes how people make decisions under uncertainty, often valuing losses more than equivalent gains.
- 43
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, motivating changes in behavior or thoughts.
- 44
Mental Set
A mental set is a fixed way of thinking based on past experiences that can hinder solving new problems creatively.
- 45
Functional Fixedness
Functional fixedness is the inability to see alternative uses for an object due to its typical function, blocking innovative solutions.
- 46
Insight
Insight is the sudden realization of a solution to a problem, often occurring after a period of unconscious processing.
- 47
Creativity
Creativity is the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas, involving divergent thinking and breaking from conventional patterns.
- 48
Divergent Thinking
Divergent thinking generates multiple possible solutions to a problem, fostering creativity and innovation.
- 49
Convergent Thinking
Convergent thinking focuses on finding the single best solution to a problem through logical evaluation.
- 50
Categorization
Categorization is the cognitive process of grouping items based on shared features, aiding in organization and memory.
- 51
Categorization by Prototype
Categorization by prototype involves classifying objects based on their similarity to an ideal example of the category.
- 52
Categorization by Exemplar
Categorization by exemplar compares new items to specific stored examples of a category for classification.
- 53
Top-Down Processing
Top-down processing uses prior knowledge and expectations to interpret sensory information, influencing perception.
- 54
Bottom-Up Processing
Bottom-up processing builds perceptions from individual sensory details, starting with raw data from the environment.
- 55
Gestalt Principles
Gestalt principles are rules that explain how the brain organizes visual elements into unified wholes, such as grouping by proximity.
- 56
Figure-Ground
Figure-ground is a Gestalt principle where the brain distinguishes an object (figure) from its surrounding background.
- 57
Similarity
Similarity, a Gestalt principle, groups elements that look alike, such as shapes of the same color, into perceived units.
- 58
Proximity
Proximity, a Gestalt principle, suggests that objects close to each other are perceived as a group.
- 59
Continuity
Continuity, a Gestalt principle, leads the brain to perceive lines and patterns as continuing in a smooth, flowing manner.
- 60
Closure
Closure, a Gestalt principle, is the tendency to perceive incomplete figures as complete wholes by filling in gaps.