Our reality and our brains How human mind processes information STIMULI NON-EMPIRICAL Non-scientific CONTROL OF BEHAVIOUR BEHAVIOURIST PERSPECTIVE CONTROL OF BEHAVIOURSTIMULI DATA PROCESSING COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY CONTROL OF BEHAVIOURSTIMULI DATA PROCESSING The world of experience is produced by the man who experiences it. (Ulric G. Neisser, 1967) Manipulation of monocular depth cues Deregowski, J. B. (1972). Pictorial perception and culture. Scientific American, 227(5), 82-88. Western clutures vs. African tribes: Hudson’s test Selective attention – the “coctail party problem” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo Simons, D. J., & Chabris, C. F. (1999). Gorillas in our midst: Sustained inattentional blindness for dynamic events. Perception, 28(9), 1059-1074. INATTENTIONAL BLINDNESS Simons, D. J., & Chabris, C. F. (1999). Gorillas in our midst: Sustained inattentional blindness for dynamic events. Perception, 28(9), 1059-1074. INATTENTIONAL BLINDNESS Simons, D. J., & Chabris, C. F. (1999). Gorillas in our midst: Sustained inattentional blindness for dynamic events. Perception, 28(9), 1059-1074. INATTENTIONAL BLINDNESS – results: Easy White team Easy Black team HARD White team HARD Black team TRANSPARENT Umbrella 58 92 33 42 TRANSPARENT Gorilla 8 67 8 25 OPAQUE Umbrella 100 58 83 58 OPAQUE Gorilla 42 83 50 58 “Did you notice anything unusual?” (only54% DID notice) Simons, D. J., & Chabris, C. F. (1999). Gorillas in our midst: Sustained inattentional blindness for dynamic events. Perception, 28(9), 1059-1074. INATTENTIONAL (CHANGE) BLINDNESS  Occurs when attention is not drawn to the stimuli at the moment of change  Perceptual salience ( unusual occurrence of the element) reduces change blindness Do you remember that time when you…? Can you give details? Loftus, E. F., & Pickrell, J. E. (1995). The formation of false memories. Psychiatric Annals, 25(12), 720-725. Tell us whether you remember this and provide details. True events (3 × 24 = 72) False event (out of 24) “Remembered” events 49 (68%) Described by more words 6 (25%) Described by less words Loftus, E. F., & Pickrell, J. E. (1995). The formation of false memories. Psychiatric Annals, 25(12), 720-725. Elizabeth F. Loftus The way you ask questions matters… Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13(5), 585-589. Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13(5), 585-589. Estimated speed (mph) Cars smashed… 40.8 Cars collided… 39.3 Cars bumped… 38.1 Cars hit… 34.0 Cars contacted… 31.8 “Car speed…?” Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13(5), 585-589. Estimated speed (mph) Cars smashed… 40.8 Cars collided… 39.3 Cars bumped… 38.1 Cars hit… 34.0 Cars contacted… 31.8 “Car speed…?” Yes No Smashed 16 34 Hit 7 45 Control 6 44 One week later: “Any broken glass…?” Do I distinguish between what happened and what I imagined…? WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE? Anterograde amnesia Henry Molaison 1953 Not all memory is the same… Episodic memory Semantic memory Procedural memory The equilibrium or balance, so to speak, between his intellectual faculties and animal propensities, seems to have been destroyed. He is fitful, irreverent, indulging at times in the grossest profanity (which was not previously his custom), manifesting but little deference for his fellows, impatient of restraint or advice when it conflicts with his desires, at times pertinaciously obstinate, yet capricious and vacillating, devising many plans of future operations, which are no sooner arranged than they are abandoned in turn for others appearing more feasible. A child in his intellectual capacity and manifestations, he has the animal passions of a strong man. Previous to his injury, although untrained in the schools, he possessed a well-balanced mind, and was looked upon by those who knew him as a shrewd, smart business man, very energetic and persistent in executing all his plans of operation. In this regard his mind was radically changed, so decidedly that his friends and acquaintances said he was "no longer Gage.“ Harlow, 1868 Functional brain imaging revolution  Most of our brain is active all the time – very complex actions  More activity  this part is important for the task  What about less activity?  The brain isn’t parcelled out according to our psychological categories! Thank you!