PSYB57H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Computer Data Storage, Cognitive Model, Psychophysics
Document Summary
3 stages of cognition: late 1950s - early 60s. Propelled by methods of traditional psychophysics and experimental psychology. Psychophysics : scientific investigation of the relationship b/w sensation and stimulus: mid 1970s. Marked arrival of cognitive science: mid 1980s. Idea: world contains info that"s available for humans to process. Cognitive psych sees humans as active selectors of info from the environment. Only some info selected to be processed and responded to. Bits (aka binary digits): amount of info provided by a given event. Ex: every time we count our change we rely on our knowledge of how to add and subtract. Info reduces uncertainty in the mind of the receiver. Amount of info provided by given message is proportional to the probability that the particular message will occur. The less likely the event is, the more info it conveys. Amount of time it takes for info to flow through the ns.
