Introduction
Cognitive levels are categorized into taxonomies based on the degree of generalization and class inclusion components or factors. The degree of generalization implies that the description of an object gets generalized as it moves up the taxonomy and gets more specific down the taxonomy. Class inclusion depicts the idea that an individual object is included in units of items in classifications up the taxonomy (Banich & Compton, 2018). The larger and more general categories are further sub-divided into smaller, more specific categories, thus the formation of category levels.
The degree of generalization and class inclusion is exhibited in the three significant levels of categorization, namely, the basic level, the superordinate level, and the subordinate level. The topmost classification in taxonomy is the superordinate category level. This category exhibits the most significant degree of generalization and the lowest degree of specificity. It does not provide detailed properties or configuration of entities therein. The basic level category, also known as the generic level, possesses the most basic cognitive properties. This level offers differentiation in perception between different entities. In this level, the conceptual information of a category is most relevant compared to the other levels. Entities under this level are presented with the most common and reliable idealization. This feature makes it the most privileged level among the three.
Subordinate category level exhibits a low degree of both class inclusion and generalization. It provides clarity in identification and offers a detailed descriptive and individuating features with a high degree of specificity.
Classic example
The concept “vehicle” is a much-generalized category and does not point to any entity or class of entity. It only points towards a configuration that is used for transportation. This description could accommodate trains, planes, tanks, and boats. The term “car” is a more specific concept, providing a more detailed description of entities. It does not, however, give a detailed description of its constituents. Individual entities under this class, such as the Jeep, Limo, Van, Minibus, and sports car, are more specific and provide a detailed description.
These cognitive levels of object identification are fundamental in the process of perception. As a critical stage of perception, object selection attempts to explain the difference in priority between stimuli in the environment. There are no unique stimuli as the brain unconsciously differentiates what is essential from what is less critical. This stimuli prioritization is influenced by emotion, motivation, perceptual expectancy, among other factors.
Cognitive Mapping
A cognitive map is a mental depiction or representation that enables an individual to obtain, synthesize, keep, remember, and decode data concerning relative attributes and locations of entities in their usual or imaginary spatial environment. In simple terms, a cognitive map is a mental image of the layout or configuration of one’s current or past environment. Numerous studies conducted in the past with the aim of obtaining information to establish why and how animals find their way around and back home are the source of this theory (Banich & Compton, 2018). It has been established that animals unconsciously identify landmarks and physical features of their surroundings that help determine the location and direction of objects and places. This phenomenon enables activities such as finding your way around the city, giving direction to someone, and drawing maps or objects.
In order to draw the map that the professor describes, one has first to create a mental image of the city, containing details of the location and direction of features such as roads and buildings. This process involves acquiring the image during description, coding it, and storing it. Upon the instruction to draw the map, the stored information (cognitive map) is retrieved from memory and decoded onto a piece of paper or board. To draw the dinner chair, one will draw a representation of the chair from memory. This requires a concise manipulation and imposition of the spatial frames of reference for the drawing space and item (dinner chair).
Individuals with damage to the dorsal processing stream responsible for location decoding can describe the size, location, orientation, and shape of the object. They, however, experience great difficulty in controlling object-directed grasping movements. The dorsal stream is responsible for action control (spatial information) as opposed to the ventral stream, which is concerned with object identification. Therefore, an individual with this defect will have difficulty drawing elements and features of the map and dinner chair in their respective location and proportions.
Psychology of Recognition and Knowledge Representation
Vision performs numerous functions, including object grasping, obstacle avoidance segmentation, object tracking, and object recognition. Object recognition refers to the ability to allocate names to visual objects ranging from broad labels (categorization) to specific labels (identification). The ventral visual stream is responsible for the decoding of visual information. It is a brain area tasked with object recognition and can easily recognize objects with different properties and categorize them. Cons and rods are fundamental elements of vision, tasked with the obligation of perceiving light, color, and detail. The optic nerve and the retina analyze and process visual data actively and are therefore considered an extension of the brain (Banich & Compton, 2018). The visual cortex comprises of neurons responsible for translating visual data from the optic nerve into a recognizable image.
Following the process explained above, when I pick an object in class, say a pen, my brain automatically perceives the physical properties of the pen in terms of color, shape, and texture. The brain applies semantic attributes to the pen, which comprise of the definition of the object (pen), its functions, and its relationship with other relevant objects (pencil, paper, and book). This explains the process that occurs in the brain to recognize a visual object.
To recognize an object from memory or imagination, the brain includes in the semantic attributes of the pen the previous encounters from memory to identify the object. The recognition process facilitates the description of the pen by employing the attributes of the pen. When describing the pen, I focus on features such as its shape, color, function, and texture. In order for this process to be successful, I must possess an applicable knowledge of the pen. My brain relates the pen to my knowledge of its attributes to enable me to define the pen.
The Relationship between Hippocampus Brain Regions and Navigation
The human brain is an exemplary organ with extraordinary capabilities that include analysis, creation, information processing, and reasoning. It also possesses an innate perspective of direction that enables animals and humans to find their way around their habitats and surrounding environment. This intellectual property of the brain is referred to as spatial orientation and is mainly applicable in navigation. Spatial orientation enables animals to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and mapping their movement from one point to another. Research studies carried out in the past have obtained interesting results concerning the ability of animals to find their way around familiar, and unfamiliar environments (Banich & Compton, 2018). For example, one can easily navigate, and precisely locate the direction of their fridge downstairs even in total darkness. The hippocampus is the area of specialization in the brain that is responsible for navigation.
Cab drivers are known to navigate and find their direction easily, even in crowded and confusing routes in big cities. It is clear that these drivers have a good sense of direction. This is due to the repetitive nature in which they navigate these streets daily. Their hippocampus region has gradually adapted therefore improving their navigation skills. According to researchers, most of these drivers were initially not good at navigation but with time and practice their skill, and navigation techniques have improved greatly. This theory, therefore, proves that the hippocampus has properties that enable it to grow and advance in its adaptation.
Children have also proven this theory in their growth as most of them experience difficulties locating and finding their way back home in their first few years, but after some time, they can navigate even complex map setups and puzzles. The hippocampus therefore grows and develops due to consistency in practice. The only reason the skillful drivers can navigate complex routes is because they have gradually improved their skills. Anybody can easily navigate the streets of big cities with enough practice and adaptation.
References
Banich, M. T., & Compton, R. J. (2018). Cognitive neuroscience. Cambridge University Press.