Information Processing: The Role of Computation in Cognitive Psychology

Psy315 - Class 2

(This page last updated 25 August, 2005.)

Different Levels of Describing Computers

• Goals and purposes.
• Programs and algorithms (software)
  • This is the level we will focus on.
• Electronic circuits (hardware)

Representation

Everything in a computer's memory is represented as numbers.

These numbers can be used to represent a variety of other things.

• letters
• words
• symbols
• sentences
• sounds
• pictures

Processes

Computers can manipulate the data in memory with a set of simple processes.

• Calculation
  • Add, subtract, multiply, divide
• Compare two values
  • Is A equal to B?
  • Is A greater than B?
• Perform different actions depending on a comparison.
  • The basis for decision making.

These simple operations can be combined in sequence to produce complex procedures and programs.

One advantage of computer programs is that everything is specified precisely. There is no ambiguity about what is to be done.

 

The Power of Computation

Computers can be used to simulate almost anything that behaves according to regular rules.

• Computational models in engineering
• Computational models of weather
• Computational models of single neurons

If we can use computers to simulate all these physical mechanisms, can we use them to simulate the mind and the brain?

Cognitive Psychology is based on the assumption that we can.

 

Different Levels of Describing Minds and Brains

• Goals and purposes.
• Programs and algorithms
  • This is the level we will focus on.
• Connections and circuits (neurons)

Cognitive Psychologists use the basic concepts of Computer Science to describe the operation of the mind.

• Mental representations.
• Manipulation of symbols.
• Decisions based on comparisons of represented values.
• Complex procedures made of sequences of simple operations.

Next class: Neuroscience

Psych 315: Cognitive Psychology Kyle Cave Psychology Dept. U. Mass.