COGSCI 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Fusiform Face Area, Marginal Distribution
Document Summary
Testing understanding of core theoretical ideas and key empirical results. Function - a mapping from input to output (face recognition - pixels to identity) Localized - the function is only computed in specific locations in the brain, not in any other locations (fusiform face area) Specialized - the function is localized, and the region only does that function. Something can be localized and still have other functions occur there. Specialization = this location only does one function. Selectively engaged - when a neural region is specialized for a function. Innate - property isn"t learned; it emerges under all normal developmental environment. All chicks grow feathers in normal environments. All chicks also know that light comes from above. Adaptive - an aspect of cognition increases the fitness of the organism. Spandrel - a necessary byproduct of some other aspect of the organism that has been selected for because it is adaptive. Literally - space in between arch and roof.
