Lecture 3 - Information Processing

Question 1

three stages of information processing

Answer 1

They occur in series, one after another. One has to be done before the next one stage

1. Stimulus identification
2. Response selection
3. Response Programming

Question 2

define reaction time in relation to information processing

Answer 2

the time from stimulus presentation to response onset

• > the time it takes for the processes of stimulus identification, response selection, and response programming. Together, in sequence

Question 3

reaction time

Answer 3

the time from stimulus onset to response onset

• > used to measure the speed of information processing

Question 4

categories of stimulus

Answer 4

discrete and continuous

Question 5

discrete stimulus

Answer 5

single stimulus presented at a single instant. Presentation of a discrete single marks the start that reaction time begins

Question 6

timeline of discrete single stimulus

Answer 6

lead time is anticipation, waiting for star buzzer (trigger/stimulus)

RT - > reaction time

MT - > movement time

Question 7

continuous stimulus

Answer 7

single stimulus presented at a single instant that changes in time

• > the trigger is unknown, but time must be allowed for information processing which produces the response
• > i.e. penalty kick in soccer: soccer ball position changes through time

Question 8

stimulus identification

Answer 8

refers to the identification of a stimulus (information) in the surrounding

• > from stimulus identification, we assign the meaning of the stimulus

Question 9

types of stimulus identification

Answer 9

• > 5 senses

The main one’s we will deal with

See: visual information

Hear: auditory information

Touch: haptic information

Question 10

how is identification of a stimulus obtained

Answer 10

its obtained by extracting features (info) from the stimulus (i.e. position, velocity, shape, ect.)

Question 11

how is meaning assigned during stim. ident

Answer 11

the info from the stimulus is interpreted in context

Question 12

sensation vs perception

Answer 12

we all see the same visual info

• > sensation refers to the sensory information that we receive
• > what we see is what/how we interpret (perceive) the information

Question 13

sensation vs perception

Answer 13

we all see the same visual info

• > sensation refers to the sensory information that we receive
• > what we see is what/how we interpret (perceive) the information

Question 14

change blindness

Answer 14

refers to the observation that unexpected change(s) in information obtained from the surroundings sometimes goes unnoticed

• > the reasoning is that we take info from the surroundings to form a “gist” of the surroundings and sometimes miss the change in detail

Question 15

response selection

Answer 15

the movement response is selected on information contained in the stimulus

- > refers to the decision making stage

*oftentimes we will select a response from an array of possible responses

Question 16

what happens once a response to a stimulus has been selected (response programming stage)

Answer 16

a motor program is used to prepare and produce the action

Question 17

response programming

Answer 17

the motor program organizes the motor system (i.e. muscle) to produce the selected movement

• > the motor program is the neural commands required to contract the required muscles, in the required sequence, at the required time, with the required duration and amount of force