Define cognition; differentiate between experiential processing and reflective processing; identify the three basic units of thought; and discuss the properties of mental images, how they are used, how they are formed, and the rare form of imagery known as synaesthesia

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer includes that at its most basic, cognition (thinking) refers to processing a mental representation (mental expression) of a problem or situation. Experiential processing is thought that is passive, effortless, and automatic, while reflective processing is thought that is active, effortful, and controlled. Animals can engage in simple forms of experiential processing, such as associative learning. In contrast, human cognition can take many forms, from experiential daydreaming to more reflective problem solving, reasoning, or planning. The three basic units of thought are images, concepts, and language. Images are picture-like mental representations, while concepts are ideas that represent categories of objects or events. Language consists of words or symbols, and rules for combining them. Almost everyone has visual and auditory images. More than half of individuals have imagery for movement, touch, taste, smell, and pain. Thus, mental images are sometimes more than just "pictures.". Some people even have a rare form of imagery called synaesthesia. For these individuals, images cross normal sensory barriers, such as spiced chicken tasting "pointy" or seeing pain as the color orange. Most people use images to make a decision or solve a problem, to change their feelings or moods, to improve a skill or prepare for some action, and to aid memory, such as the use of mnemonics. To give more original answers, a person might assemble or invent new images. Mental images are not flat, like photographs; and they can be mentally rotated. Mental rotation is partly based on imagined movements. Regarding how mental images of formed, information from the eyes normally activates the brain's primary visual area when we see something, thus, creating an icon, or image. Other brain areas then help us recognize the image by relating it to stored knowledge. When you think using mental images, the system works in reverse. Brain areas in which memories are stored send signals back to the visual cortex, where once again an image is created. For example, if you visualize a friend's face right now, the area of your brain that specializes in perceiving faces will become more active.