Cognition
9 questions tagged Cognition — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
What is working memory?
Working memory is the mental system that temporarily holds and manipulates information for tasks like reasoning, reading, and problem-solving. It is limited in capacity and duration.
What is executive function?
Executive function is a set of mental skills that help people plan, focus, remember instructions, and switch between tasks. It is essential for goal-directed behavior.
When was the Stroop effect first described in modern psychological research?
The classic Stroop effect was published in 1935 by John Ridley Stroop.
How does the brain decide what to pay attention to?
The brain filters information by combining goals, emotions, and sensory input. Networks in the frontal and parietal lobes help prioritize what seems most important right now.
How does the brain keep time?
The brain uses networks in the cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia to estimate time intervals. There is no single internal clock; timing is distributed across several systems.
Why do we get mental blanks in the middle of a test or speech?
Stress can disrupt the prefrontal cortex, which helps hold and retrieve information. Arousal can temporarily block access to words or facts you actually know.
Why do some people hear an inner voice while others think more in images or feelings?
People use different styles of mental representation, and inner speech is just one of them. The brain can think in words, images, spatial maps, or emotional impressions.
Which psychological effect is most associated with the placebo effect?
The placebo effect is most associated with improvement caused by expectation rather than an active treatment ingredient. It shows that belief can influence symptoms and perception.
Whose research first demonstrated the ‘serial position effect’ in memory?
Hermann Ebbinghaus’s. His experiments showed that people remember the first and last items in a list best.