Introduction to Cognitive Processes

• Cognition involves processes like thinking,

understanding, learning, and remembering. It
encompasses various mental functions that allow us to
process information, solve problems, and make
decisions.Cognitive psychology originated in the 1960s
as a break from behaviorism, which held that mental
processes were outside of empirical science. The field
was influenced by linguistics, cybernetics, applied
psychology, artificial intelligence, computer science,
philosophy, anthropology, biology, and neuroscience.
 Historical background
Cognitive psychology's history is marked by a shift in focus from behavior to mental processes,
and a number of influential factors that contributed to its development:

Behaviorism
The dominant perspective in psychology from the 1920s to 1950s, behaviorism focused on
observable behavior and believed that mental processes were outside of scientific study.

Cognitive revolution
The period from the 1950s to 1970s when psychologists began to focus on mental processes like
attention, memory, and problem solving. This shift was influenced by a number of factors,
including World War II, the rise of information science, and the development of computers.
 Major theories
1 information processing theory
Information processing theory is a cognitive theory that explains how people
process, store, and retrieve information. It compares the human brain to a
computer, with information being inputted, processed, and stored in similar ways.
.schemma theory

In psychoogy and cognitive science, a schema (pl.: schemata or schemas) describes a

pattern of thought or behavior that organizes categories of information and the
relationships among them.[1][2] It can also be described as a mental structure of
preconceived ideas, a framework representing some aspect of the world, or a system of
organizing and perceiving new information,[3] such as a mental schema or conceptual
model
Dual process theory is a psychological theory that
explains how thought can arise from two different
processes. It's a popular theory for explaining why
people make decisions that are bounded by
rationality. The theory is based on the idea that there
are two types of thinking:

Type 1: A fast, intuitive process that's often the basis

for an initial response

Type 2: A slow, reflective process that's more

deliberative and logical
Mental processes in cognitive
psychology

1 perception
2 attention
3 memory
4 language processing
5 problem solving
 Perception
• Perception is the process of interpreting sensory information
from our environment. It helps us understand and react to the
world around us. Examples include recognizing faces, objects,
and sounds.
All perception involves signals that go through the nervous
system, which in turn result from physical or chemical
stimulation of the sensory system.[3] Vision involves light
striking the retina of the eye; smell is mediated by odor
molecules; and hearing involves pressure waves.
 Attention
• Attention is the cognitive process of focusing mental
resources on specific information. It involves filtering
out irrelevant stimuli to concentrate on important
tasks.
It's a state of consciousness that allows people to
respond to a stimulus, such as an object, event, or
task. Attention is a combination of how long someone
can focus and how many things they can focus on.
 Memory
• Memory is the ability to store and retrieve information. It plays a key role in learning and
decision-making. There are different types of memory: sensory, short-term, and long-term
memory.

It's a key part of human cognition, allowing people to understand the present and future, and to recall
past events.

Here are some things to know about memory:

Types of memory
Psychologists classify memory into three types: sensory, short-term, and long-term.

Stages of memory
The three stages of memory are encoding, storage, and retrieval.

Working memory
Working memory capacity is measured by the number of items a person can recall. It's strongly related
to general intelligence.
 Learning
• Learning refers to acquiring new knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or
preferences. It involves cognitive processes such as observation, imitation,
and reinforcement.

There are several psychological theories that explain how people learn, including:

Classical conditioning
A basic form of learning that is well-known for its influence on human health, emotion,
motivation, and therapy.

Operant conditioning
A theory that emphasizes how rewards and punishments for certain behaviors can impact
future actions.

Learning theory
A theory that explains how behaviors are learned and acquired through conditioning.
 Problem-Solving
• Problem-solving is a mental process of finding
solutions to complex issues. It requires logical
thinking, creativity, and decision-making skills.

Solutions to these problems are usually

situation- or context-specific. The process starts
with problem finding and problem shaping, in
which the problem is discovered and simplified.
 Decision-Making
• Decision-making is choosing between different
options. It involves weighing the pros and cons
of each option and selecting the most
beneficial one.
 Language and Cognition
Language is crucial for communication
and cognitive development. It allows us
to express thoughts, understand others,
and engage in abstract thinking.
It's a complex cognitive function that involves many components,
including:
Incremental processing: Using ongoing input to activate meaning as
it happens
Segmental processing: Consolidating the mental representation
Interaction with other cognitive functions: Such as attention and
memory
 Cognitive bias

A cognitive bias is a systematic

pattern of deviation from norm
or rationality in judgment.Indivi
duals create their own "subjective
reality" from their perception of
the input. An individual's construc
tion of reality, not the objective input,
may dictate their behavior in the world.
Thus, cognitive biases may sometimes
lead to perceptual distortion, inaccurate
judgment, illogical interpretation, and irrationality.
 Cognitive Development
• Cognitive development refers to the growth of cognitive abilities
throughout a person's life. Factors influencing this development include
genetics, environment, and education.It's a key part of overall
development and includes the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Piaget's theory
Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development describes how children
develop intellectually through hands-on engagement with their environment.

Cultural factors
Poverty and other cultural factors can impact cognitive development. For example,
children from families living in poverty may have fewer books in their homes and
parents may read less to them.

Art therapy
Art materials and creative experiences can help stimulate a child's brain and positively
impact their cognitive development.
 Cognitive disorders
Cognitive disorders are mental health conditions that affect a
person's ability to learn, think, remember, perceive, and solve
problems. They can be caused by a number of factors, including:
physical or mental conditions, drug use or withdrawal, aging, head
trauma, and substance abuse.

Some common types of cognitive disorders include:

Dementia: A loss of cognitive abilities
Delirium: Confusion and disorientation
Amnesia: Problems with memory storage or retrieval
 Advantages
Improves understanding of mental processes: Cognitive psychology has helped us understand
complex processes like memory, learning, and decision-making, which are critical in everyday
life.
Influence on education: Cognitive theories have led to the development of effective teaching
methods that cater to how the brain processes information.
Applications in therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective
treatments for mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Disadvantages of Cognitive Psychology

Overemphasis on laboratory studies: Much of the research is

conducted in controlled environments, which may not always
represent real-life scenarios.
Neglects emotional and social factors: Cognitive psychology
 Cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is a field of study that
combines psychology and neuroscience to
explore how the brain enables the mind. It's an
interdisciplinary area that uses experimental
methods to study the brain and mind, and to
answer questions like:
How does the brain enable the mind?
How are cognitive processes represented in the
brain?
How are cognitive processes used in thought,
perception, and action?
Application of cognitive psychology

Cognitive psychology is a broad field that has many practical applications,

including:

Technology
Cognitive psychology principles guide the design of software, hardware, and AI
systems. For example, cognitive psychology can help create more intuitive and
user-friendly computer interfaces.

Education
Cognitive psychology can help improve learning and thinking processes by
teaching cognitive strategies and emphasizing active learning.

Healthcare
Cognitive psychology can help improve cognitive function in older adults and
help people recover from brain injury.
 Factors Affecting Cognition
• Cognition can be influenced by various factors, including age,
mental health, physical health, sleep, nutrition, and stress.

Stress is another factor that can impact cognition, with the intensity,
origin, and duration of stress playing a role in determining its
effects. The specific cognitive operation and information processing
phases are also important in defining the impact of stress on
cognition [??]. Hormonal changes have been found to affect
neuronal networking and mechanisms of cognitive function, with
different types of hormones producing different outcomes
 Improving Cognitive Abilities
Cognitive abilities can be enhanced through activities like reading, puzzles,
learning new languages, physical exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Eat healthy
A nutritious diet can help with brain development and cognitive ability, which can lead to better focus and
memory.

Stay active
Physical activity can help improve cognitive function, memory, attention, and processing speed in older
people. It can also reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Learn a new language

Learning a new language can change the structure of your brain and improve cognitive function. Bilingual
people tend to have better problem-solving skills, memory, and attention span.
 Conclusion
• Cognitive processes are essential for everyday
functioning. Understanding and improving
cognition can lead to better decision-making,
problem-solving, and overall mental well-
being.