Cognitive Architecture Vocabulary

the cognitive process of selectively focusing on relevant information

“Divided attention degrades performance on complex tasks.”

Origin: Latin attendere (to stretch toward)

the system for temporarily holding and manipulating information

“Working memory limits how many items we can juggle simultaneously.”

Origin: Psychological term coined by Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

accessing stored information from memory

“Retrieval cues help us access memories that seem forgotten.”

Origin: Old French retrouver (to find again)

grouping individual pieces of information into larger units

“Experts chunk chess positions into meaningful patterns.”

Origin: English chunk + -ing; term from George Miller

exposure to one stimulus influencing response to a subsequent stimulus

“Seeing 'doctor' primes faster recognition of 'nurse'.”

Origin: Latin primus (first); to prepare or make ready

activation of one concept triggering related concepts in a network

“Spreading activation explains why one memory leads to another.”

Origin: Psychological model from Collins and Loftus (1975)

identifying regularities or structures in sensory input

“Pattern recognition allows us to read despite varied handwriting.”

Origin: English compound from cognitive psychology

a mental framework for organizing and interpreting information

“Our restaurant schema includes expectations of menus and servers.”

Origin: Greek skhema (form, figure)

the total amount of mental effort being used in working memory

“High cognitive load impairs learning and decision-making.”

Origin: Psychological term from John Sweller

performing tasks without conscious attention due to practice

“Reading becomes automatic, freeing attention for comprehension.”

Origin: Greek automatos (self-moving) + -icity

suppressing irrelevant information or prepotent responses

“Cognitive inhibition prevents us from blurting out inappropriate thoughts.”

Origin: Latin inhibere (to hold back)

thinking about one's own thinking; awareness of cognitive processes

“Metacognition helps learners identify gaps in understanding.”

Origin: Greek meta- (beyond) + Latin cognitio (knowledge)