what is information processing?
signals or information available in the environment are taken in by humans and “processed” for the purposes of perception, decision making, and action.
what is the ecological approach to conceptualizing information processing?
- research focused on how motor systems interact most effectively with the environment to perform goal-oriented behavior
- perception of affordance requires experience
– affordance: action possibilities provided to individual by environment
what is the cognitive approach to conceptualizing information processing?
- traditional “black box” model
- not directly observable
- infer from behavior under experimental conditions
what are the three stages of information processing?
- stimulus identification stage
- response selection stage
- response programming stage
what do the three stages of IP together create?
reaction time
where does sensory information come from in the stimulus identification stage?
neural encoding of sensory info comes from:
- visual, auditory, proprioception, touch, and vestibular sensory systems
- results in knowing what happened in the environment
what are the two substages of the stimulus identification stage?
stimulus detection and pattern recognition
what is stimulus detection in the stimulus identification stage ?
environmental signal stimulates neurological impulses and memory is contacted to associate with past
what is pattern recognition in the stimulus identification stage?
- decipher pattern from stimuli in both static and dynamic conditions
- may be genetic or learned
what is the response selection stage?
determine what action to take in response to the stimulus
what is the response programming stage?
- translate the abstract idea of motion into action
- involves retrieval of motor program, preparation, and initiation
in general, how do we study IP?
reaction time vs movement time
how do reaction time experiments work?
- reaction time (RT) = interval between stimulus presentation and initiation of the response
- manipulate single variable while other conditions are held constant
- measure changes in reaction time
what are the variables that influence stimulus identification?
- stimulus clarity (clear signals dec. RT)
- intensity (intense signal dec. RT)
- modality (slower to respond to visual stimuli vs auditory or tactile; quicker when stimuli simultaneously presented in more than one modality)
- complexity (complex patterns may only be recognized with experience
what are the variables that influence response selection?
- # of stimulus response (SR) choices (hicks law –> the more choices you have, the longer it takes to decide which one)
- practice (with extensive practice can overcome hicks law)
- stimulus response compatibility
- predictability (if you anticipate what stimulus is coming, you can decide on the response before the signal is given)
what is the variable that influences response programming?
increased complexity of response to program = increased reaction time
what makes a movement more complex?
- increased number of movement parts
- movement accuracy (ex. smaller target)
- movement duration
what are some other factors that impact information processing?
anticipation, automaticity, arousal
what are some general aspects of anticipation?
- research on reaction time to try to prevent anticipation
- many stonily in everyday situations are predictable –> expert vs novice
what are the three types of anticipation?
- receptor anticipation: detect upcoming event based on sensory info
- effector anticipation: estimate the time your own movement will take
- perceptual anticipation: can’t directly perceive, but predict from experience
what is spatial anticipation?
- anticipation of the type of stimulus present and what subsequent response would be required
- may allow some response processing before stimulus has arrived –> reduced RT
what is temporal anticipation?
- anticipation of when the stimulus will arrive can lead to large decrease in RT
- foreperiods: POT prior to stimulus onset
– constant vs variable duration foreperiods
what is the impact of anticipation on information processing?
- cost benefit analysis
– benefit: correctly anticipating can reduce reaction time
– cost: incorrectly anticipating can increase reaction time, increased errors - task dependent
what is serial (sequential) processing?
- single channel
- one process completed before next starts
