Introduction

Question 1

Being nativist mean that —

Answer 1

• the mind has innate structures guiding information from the world, such as biases for attention and assumptions for words

Question 2

Fodor was a ____ and believed that ____

Answer 2

nativist, and an extreme one - believing that 1) the mind consists of modules - each independently processing input independently of each other, and sending it to a ‘central unit’ in the mind, 2) There is no information coming from the central unit, making top down processing impossible.

However, his theory is difficult to unite with empirical findings

Question 3

What is the difference between domain specific and domain general development

Answer 3

Briefly:

Domain general mean that the brain share the same system, way of doing things, across domains. For example,

Domain specific mean that the brain has different systems depending on what domain we’re talking about.

Add examples to this flashcard?

Question 4

What are representational adjunctions?

Question 5

What is meant with “domain”?

Answer 5

A cluster of different information dealing w the same thing

“(…) a domain is the set of representations sustaining a specific area of knowledge; language, number, physics and so forth” p. 6 KS

Question 6

What is Piagets theory of constructivism?

Answer 6

Development is driven forward by comparing old information with new information.

Information is stored in mental “schemas” (a “cognitive pattern”)

These schemas can either:
1. have information added to them (assimilation)
2. be changed, to make room for a whole new schema (accommodation)

When the information around us align with the schemas = equilibrium

When information around us does not align with the schemas = disequilibrium

Question 7

What is the difference between domain and module

Answer 7

A domain is a cluster of different information dealing w the same thing - a set of representations making up an area of knowledge

A module is a domain BUT also does information processing on the knowledge + is innate and “fixed” ie has specific neural architecture