Cognitive Science

Overview

• Cognitive Science Defined• The Brain• Assumptions of Cognitive Science• Cognitive Information Processing• Cognitive Science and Instructional Design

Cognitive Science

As the science of the mind, cognitive science is concerned with human cognition, i.e., mental phenomena such as perceiving, thinking, remembering, language comprehension, learning, and emotion.

Definition

Cognitive Science

Cognitive Science emerged at the intersection of

•Cognitive psychology•Linguistics•Philosophy•Computer science •Artificial intelligence•Neuroscience•Anthropology

Contributing Fields

Scenario

Cognitive Science

Introduction

Learning Process

Sensory and Working Memory

Information (visual, verbal, …)

Long-term Memory

Cognitive Theories

Learning Theories

Learner Characteristics

Cognitive Science

Overview

• Cognitive Science Defined• The Brain• Assumptions of Cognitive Science• Cognitive Information Processing• Cognitive Science and Instructional Design

Scenario

Cognitive Science

The Human Brain

Macromolecular level: Anatomy Microscopic Level: Neurons and Glia Cellular Level: Brain cells

Cognitive Science

Brain AnatomyFrontallobe

Temporallobe

Parietal lobe

Occipitallobe

CerebellumCerebral Cortex

Cognitive Science

• Frontal Lobe: motor activity, including speech, integrates personality with emotion and transforms thought into action

• Parietal lobe: sensory information from opposite site of body, integration of vision and sound

• Temporal lobe: hearing, involved in learning, memory, emotion

• Occipital lobe: visual perception• Cerebellum: Balance, posture, movement

Brain Anatomy

Cognitive Science

Broca’sarea

Motor cortex Somatosensory cortex

Sensory associativecortex

PrimaryAuditory cortex

Wernicke’sarea

Visual associativecortex

Visualcortex

Lateral Brain

Cognitive ScienceMotor cortex

Primary motor cortex (M1) Posterior parietal cortex

Premotor cortex(PMA)

Supplementarymotor cortex(SMA)

Principal Motor Domains

Cognitive ScienceMotor cortex Primary motor cortex (M1)

Foot

Hip

Trunk

Arm

Hand

Face

Tongue

Larynx

Motor Homunculus

Scenario

Cognitive Science

The Human Brain

Macromolecular level: Anatomy Microscopic Level: Neurons and Glia Cellular Level: Brain cells

Cognitive Science

• Neuron: cellular unit of the central and peripheral nervous systems

• Glia: “glue” binds neurons together

• Neurons communicate by means of neurotransmitters acting across synapses

• 50-100 billion neurons in brain• 1 Million billion connections between neurons• 2.5 Million neurons generated per minute during prenatal life

Microscopic Level

Cognitive ScienceMotor cortex

CELL BODY

AXON

Myelin sheath

Schwann cellNode of Ranvier

Synaptic terminals

Dendrites NucleusSynapses

Neuron

Cognitive ScienceMotor cortex

Impulse

Presynaptic neuron

Vesicle

Transmitters

Synaptic cleft

Receptors

Postsynapticneuron

Postsynaptic activity

Scenario

Cognitive Science

The Human Brain

Macromolecular level: Anatomy Microscopic Level: Neurons and Glia Cellular Level: Brain cells

Cognitive Science

• Based on genetic code in DNA• Approx. three Billion DNA bases• Difference to chimpanzees: 1%• Specialization of brain cell: Information transfer

Brain cells

Cognitive Science

Overview

• Cognitive Science Defined• The Brain• Assumptions of Cognitive Science• Cognitive Information Processing• Cognitive Science and Instructional Design

Cognitive Science

Scientific assumption• Mind as natural phenomenon• Governed by physical processes• Observable

Assumptions

Cognitive Science

• Cognition as a form of computation, Mind is information processing system

•Formal information processes–can be studied as patterns and the manipulation of patterns (independent of particular instance)•Mental representations–Separation of symbols from their meaning•Separating formal processes from their physical basis•Cognitive Science is basic science

Assumptions

Scenario

Cognitive Science

Discussion

What are the limits of the Computer Metaphor for human information processing?

How can information be separated from its meaning and then processed? Can you provide examples for this method?

Cognitive Science

Overview

• Cognitive Science Defined• The Brain• Assumptions of Cognitive Science• Cognitive Information Processing• Cognitive Science and Instructional Design

Cognitive Science

Cognitive Information Processing

Scenario

Cognitive Science

Discussion

Cognitive information processing:

-Can information processing be separated -from the biological or neurological,

-from the sociological or cultural?

Cognitive Science

Overview

• Cognitive Science Defined• The Brain• Assumptions of Cognitive Science• Cognitive Information Processing• Cognitive Science and Instructional Design

Scenario

Cognitive Science

Discussion

Cognitive Science and Instructional Design:

Where is the connection?

Cognitive Science

Connection between Cognitive Science and ID

• Instructional Design and Cognitive Science are systems theories

• Cognitive Science dominant theoretical influence on instructional design practice

•Analysis•Design•Development•Delivery/Implementation•Evaluation

Cognitive Science & ID