Current research in Cognitive Psychology

Major Theories of Cognition

There are three main theories of cognition. The first one is the Dual coding theory. Allan Pavlov hypothesized this theory. The theory hypothesizes that two sensory imagery and verbal information are both used by humans to represent information. The processing of the imagery and verbal information differs and happens along distinct channels within the human brain (Taylor, 2021). This creates a scenario where information is represented differently in every channel. The mental coding corresponding to the representation is then used to organize information getting into the brain that needs to be stored, acted on, or retrieved for later use. The second theory is the cognitive loading theory, which refers to the number of working memory resources used ((Taylor, 2021). In some cases, cognitive load theory is considered as many other theories explaining how the brain processes and stores data. The third theory is the Cognitive theory of multimedia learning. Richard Mayer developed this approach, and he came up with three assumptions that underpin this theory (Taylor, 2021). The first one is that two channels, the visual and the auditory, are used to process information. The second assumption is that the channel capacity for processing information is limited. The same research explains that learning is an active process of filtering, choosing, integrating, and organizing information.

The Historical and Contemporary Context of Cognition

In its form today, cognitive psychology has many different forms of technology, even though it did not have any specific technology attached when it started. For instance, Aristotle was the first scientist to study cognition. Historically, cognitive psychology started with developing methods of solving psychological challenges in the early 1900s (Taylor, 2021). Cognitive psychology declined in the 20^th century when behaviorism emerged as a science related to cognition. In the mid-1950s, a cognitive revolution emerged when researchers sought to develop mental theories based on complex computation and representation processes (Taylor, 2021). It then became popular in the 1060s when Ulric Neisser’s book was published.

Biological Basis of Cognition

The brain is one of the bases of cognition. It contains brain and nervous tissues necessary for transmitting and interpreting information in human cognition. The Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems are another biological segment of understanding since the brain needs them to make the body act on the news (Taylor, 2021). The Lower-Level Structures of the Brain are also part of cognition because the brain needs them to make the body, through the backbone, act on the information processed in the understanding (Taylor, 2021). Then there are the Lobes – Cerebral Hemispheres and Lobes of the Brain. All these parts of the brain are crucial to the brain’s functioning, which is the central part of cognition.

Attention, Consciousness, and Perception

Attention is a part of cognition that enables humans and animals to position themselves toward the correct stimuli and then give a response. Consciousness in cognitive psychology is the awareness of internal and external stimuli, such as sleepiness, pain, thirst, and hunger, and awareness of emotions and thoughts. On the other hand, perception is the act of capturing, processing, and making sense of the information that the human senses have received externally (Taylor, 2021). This is a cognitive process that helps people interpret their surroundings. The connection between these three is that they are all a part of cognition that ensures a person responds correctly to external and internal stimuli.

Differential Impact of Cognition on the Individual Based on Past Experience, Current Demands, Culture, and Environmental Conditions

Human cognition can influence present behavior based on past experiences. In other words, if someone hears a honk and then an individual is knocked down by a car, their cognition will always relate the honk with danger, so they will seek safety when they hear the honk. Consistently, cognitive functions can be affected or interrupted by current demands. Culture can affect cognition because it determines the perception that people have. Environmental conditions, on the other hand, can affect cognitive development and perception.

Analyzing Literature

Biological Basis of Cognition

Gajewski, P. D., Getzmann, S., Bröde, P., Burke, M., Cadenas, C., Capellino, S., Claus, M., Genç, E., Golka, K., Hengstler, J. G., Kleinsorge, T., Marchan, R., Nitsche, M. A., Reinders, J., van Thriel, C., Watzl, C., & Wascher, E. (2022). Impact of Biological and Lifestyle Factors on Cognitive Aging and Work Ability in the Dortmund Vital Study: Protocol of an Interdisciplinary, Cross-sectional, and Longitudinal Study. JMIR research protocols, 11(3), e32352. https://doi.org/10.2196/32352

This journal is research conducted to better understand the relationship between aging and cognitive functions. The results of this research study showed that it is true that lifestyle and biological factors are connected to age. The research in this paper connects with the course content, where we learned about the various subjects emerging from cognition. It was discovered that psychological researchers are still studying the connection between age and cognitive functions (Gajewski et al., 2022). There are several instances where older adults have been found to have better cognitive functions, and also, there are instances where older people have been found with weaker cognitive functions. What is made clear is that cognitive functions decline after some time (Taylor, 2021). Lifestyle and biological factors like illnesses can affect it.

Attention, Consciousness, and Perception

Anderson, B. A., & Peterson, S. A. (2022). Concreteness and levels of processing: a test of the dual-coding hypothesis using dynamic visual noise. Memory (Hove, England), 30(10), 1405–1420. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2022.2120622

This research is a review of the researchers’ literature to understand the connection between attention and consciousness. While undertaking the research, these researchers touched on the various cognitive theories used to explain these areas of study. Some of the theories that were handled were integrated information theory, attended intermediate-level representations theory, and higher-order thought theory (Anderson & Peterson, 2022). These connect with the work we have handled in class because these form the most basic and common theories that were handled in the course in class. The same paper also connects with some of the ideas encountered in the learning process, such as how this paper generally deals with various ideas discussed in class regarding attention and consciousness as a part of cognitive psychology.

Biological Basis of Cognition

Tanaka, H., Gourley, D. D., Dekhtyar, M., & Haley, A. P. (2020). Cognition, Brain Structure, and Brain Function in Individuals with Obesity and Related Disorders. Current obesity reports, 9(4), 544–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-020-00412-y

When examining the history of cognition, scientists at some point did not hold to the idea that cognition is connected with human biology. In other words, human biology was separated from the study of cognition. However, over the years, it has been made evident that cognition and human biology are connected (Tanaka et al., 2020). Therefore, in this research paper that seeks to find the connection between obesity and cognition, there is a strong connection between this area of research to the ideas gathered in the course. Also, the research connects to the class content because it continues the area of research, which is the examination of how human biology, especially in the brain, connects with how people think, their perception, and general cognition.

References

Gajewski, P. D., Getzmann, S., Bröde, P., Burke, M., Cadenas, C., Capellino, S., Claus, M., Genç, E., Golka, K., Hengstler, J. G., Kleinsorge, T., Marchan, R., Nitsche, M. A., Reinders, J., van Thriel, C., Watzl, C., & Wascher, E. (2022). Impact of Biological and Lifestyle Factors on Cognitive Aging and Work Ability in the Dortmund Vital Study: Protocol of an Interdisciplinary, Cross-sectional, and Longitudinal Study. JMIR research protocols, 11(3), e32352. https://doi.org/10.2196/32352

Tanaka, H., Gourley, D. D., Dekhtyar, M., & Haley, A. P. (2020). Cognition, Brain Structure, and Brain Function in Individuals with Obesity and Related Disorders. Current obesity reports, 9(4), 544–549. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-020-00412-y

Taylor, S., Workman, L. (2021). Cognitive Psychology: The Basics. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.

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Question

Current research in Cognitive Psychology I
For the past 5 weeks, we have covered a variety of topics that are central to understanding cognitive psychology. To gain a better understanding of these topics in cognitive psychology it is important to review current research.

For this assignment, you will provide a detailed description of each topic.

Current research in Cognitive Psychology

Topics

Major theories of cognition
Historical and contemporary context of cognition
Biological basis of cognition
Attention, consciousness, and perception
Differential impact of cognition on the individual based on past experience, current demands, culture, and environmental conditions
Article review:

Choose 3 from the list above and find a scholarly journal article for each.
Find current (not more than 5 years old) scholarly research articles from the South University Library databases only.
Remember the articles have to be related to psychology.
Provide an in-depth analysis for each article, integrating information from your course and text readings.