PSY2006: Report on Cognitive Processing, Working Memory, and Attention

This report, prepared for PSY2006, delves into the intricate relationship between the brain, body, and mind. It explores cognitive processing styles, differentiating between reflective and impulsive approaches, and examines the social cognitive theory's influence on personality and behavior. The report then investigates working memory, its biological and psychological significance, and its role in cognitive tasks, learning, and problem-solving. It contrasts working memory with short-term memory and highlights its importance in various aspects of life, from academic performance to professional productivity. The report also defines attention, emphasizing its impact on decision-making, learning, and overall cognitive function. It discusses the characteristics of attention and provides methods for improving focus and concentration, such as memorization, workouts, and meditation. The conclusion synthesizes the key findings, emphasizing the interconnectedness of attention, working memory, and cognitive styles in shaping human behavior and facilitating learning.

PSY2006 Brain, Body and
Mind

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Cognitive processing style that are key to how we perceive ourselves and navigate our world. 3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
What is working memory in biological and psychology and what are its importance................3
What is attention in biological and psychology...........................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The brain is considered as physical substance and mind is the conscious product of
neurons (Esterman and Rothlein, 2019). Brain is an important organ that integrates sensory
information and directs motor responses. This present study is going to show cognitive
processing style that shows ways as how people perceive themselves. Further, it will discuss
about working memory as how it helps people, students at all levels in learning new things and
increase their knowledge. It will also discuss about attention as how attention can help in
improving memory, learning new things and performing functions with effectiveness.
.
TASK 1
Cognitive processing style that are key to how we perceive ourselves and navigate our world
Cognitive style refers a preferred way in which people processes information. Different
people have different styles of processing information and it plays a vital role in influencing
attitudes and social interaction. It is the main key in influencing behaviour because it operates the
belief that the brain is an important aspect of behaving.
Reflectivity and impulsivity: It is a cognitive style that relates to personality of people.
According to this, people who are reflective are more likely to rush through assignments and
frequently missing the correct answers (Margunayasa and et.al., 2019). Whereas, impulsive
people and students do not consider alternative answers and things when they are being
presented some open ended questions. Reflective people are more likely to solve difficult
problems. It defines their personality to the great extent.
Social cognitive approach: This theory of personality focuses on cognition and learning in
order to show personality differences. As per this people can learn several things either by
observing others or by learning from their own experiences (Stefanone, Yue and Toh, 2019).
This cognitive theory influences individual experiences, actions of others and some
environmental factors that can affect personality and behaviour of people. It helps people in
understanding things and performing behaviour accordingly. This theory and cognitive styles
emphasises on observation, attitudes and emotional reaction.

TASK 2
What is working memory in biological and psychology and what are its importance
In regard to working memory it can be said that it refers small amount of information that
are being held in mind. This working memory is being used by people for executing cognitive
tasks. With long-term memory, people can save the vast amount of information that can help
them out in performing their functions. Some general and common example by which working
memory can be defined in better manner include: holding a person’s home address in mind while
listening to instructions about how to reach there (Cowan, 2017). Keeping information and
learning sequence of story of a movie and events while understanding the meaning of story.
For more understanding it in a detailed manner and knowing that how it affects human
behaviour in biology and psychology, it can be said that it is a cognitive system with a limited
capacity. This system with limited capacity help people in holding information. Some
information is being kept in mind temporary and some information are being kept permanently.
This working memory in biology and psychology allows for the manipulation of stored
information. There are some differences between short-term and working memory as short-term
memory only store information for short-run and after sometimes people forget all that
information.
As per the age, people’s brain work and as per this intensity of information can be kept in
mind. As kid can hold on to information long enough but to small extent. They can keep
information in their mind as per their requirement and interest. In another words it can be said
that working memory is a system in psychology in which people’s brain store and manage
information and it helps them out in learning, reasoning and comprehension. People’s brain can
store information related to numbers of items, words, events and others.
Types of system in working memory: It is believed that there are 2 types of systems for
dealing with visual as well as verbal information (Boire and et.al., 2020). Both visual and verbal
processing tasks can be processed by people at the same time. But performing same type of 2
tasks at the same time such as either 2 visual tasks or 2 verbal tasks become difficult because
information related to these can interfere with each other’s that can reduce performance.
Importance: There are several benefits and importance of working memory and one of
them is it helps all of is in recalling information while engaging actively in any event and
activity. There are several events and daily routine functions for which, people require working

memory. Some examples of such events and activities include: entering PIN number at an ATM,
adding a tip to restaurant without any need of calculator, recalling food recipe and other training
materials at office. For performing functions at office, at home, we all require working memory.
It can also be said that working memory is not stored for later use as people can make use of
information relevant to any event and they can access as well as played back immediately.
Working memory is required by all age group of people and at all levels such as academic,
commercial and others (Florence, Maryjane and Stuart, 2019). For students it becomes important
to pass examination and for passing examination as well as getting higher marks they need to
keep information and learning materials store and working memory helps them out in doing so.
With better working memory, they make themselves able to give exams and getting higher marks
by writing down answers asked in exams and learned earlier. Several other requirement and
advantages of working memory at academic level for students include:
Recalling facts: Students need to recall facts during tests and class discussion and it can be
done with working memory.
Following instructions: Students need to recall spoken instructions from teachers in order
to perform all tasks that were asked of them.
Problem solving: It is one of the main advantage of working memory. For performing
tasks and functions in math, science, reading and other subjects, students require working
memory. Working memory helps students in solving math and science questions as with the help
of learned information in brain and with working memory they become able to analyse as which
equation need to be used.
 Working memory helps employees in performing their tasks and functions at workplace
and improve productivity (Unsworth and Robison, 2017).
 In regard to businesses and at commercial level, it is found that working memory helps
employees in performing tasks, allotted to them and making decision by analysing
problems.
What is attention in biological and psychology
In regard to attention it can be said that it refers an ability of processing specific information in
the environment in an active manner. In another words it can be said that attention refers
cognitive process in which people tend to concentrate selectively on a discrete stimulus while
ignoring other perceivable stimuli. It is also true that human brain can devote attention to only

limited number of stimuli. Psychology and an ability to understand human behaviour plays a
vital role in improving attention because it accesses mental focus and helps in avoiding
distractions (Romo and et.al., 2018).
Concentration of awareness on some phenomenon by excluding other stimuli can be known
as attention. Current state of awareness and focus also plays a vital role in lives of people. It is
stated that the front part of human brain is mainly responsible for higher cognitive functions. It6
helps people in filtering information and improve attention in which people needs to focus on
only important information.
There are several advantages if people become attentive and improve their attention and
focus skills.
 By becoming more attentive and having attention¸ people can make appropriate decision
by focusing on only that information that are important to them.
 Attention is important for students at academic level to the great extent because it allows
them to plan as well as monitor their actions and thoughts.
 Attention is known as the first step of learning as by becoming attentive and focusing on
information that are being taught to them, students can learn and increase knowledge. If
students do not focus and attend to lectures, then it is not possible for them to even
understand, learn and remember.
There are some characteristics of attention that can help people at all level in increasing their
knowledge and learn materials. Some characteristics are:
 Attention is selective.
 Attention is cognitive in nature. It has conative as well as affective aspects.
 It has narrow range.
 It increases clearness of the stimulus.
 There is requirement of motor adjustment (Lindsay and Miller, 2018).
 Personal attention leads to higher productivity and better functions at commercial level
that boost confidence of employees.
 Poor attention can lead to failure of projects and dissatisfaction among people.
Lack of attention is the reason of failure of students and lower marks at academic level.
So, from the above discussed effectiveness it can be said that attention is vital and must for
improving performance.

Ways of increasing attention: There are several effective ways by which people can make
themselves more attentive and can improve their skills of focus and concentration. It is stated
that memorizing can help people in increasing attention. The reason behind it is, memorizing
improves the function of memory related brain structure. It also increases neurological flexibility
that is vital for attention. Memory and attention cannot be performed and operated separately as
they both are associated with each other’s as per the psychology and brain’s functioning. It is
vital for learning new information as students and people can gain knowledge and learn new
when they focus and attentive on information and by keep memorizing they can have
information in their mind for the long run (Honcharuk, Riabokuchma and Kryński, 2020).
Workout and meditation are also some effective ways that can make people attentive and
increase this skill. The reason behind it is, meditation helps us out in forgetting all other things
except the one on which people try to focus on.
CONCLUSION
It has been summarized from the above study that attention and working memory plays a
vital role in increasing knowledge of people. Both these are associated with each other’s and
both makes people able to learn new things. Personality factors affect both attention and working
memory and their behavioural and personal factors can improve both of these. It has further
discussed importance of cognitive processing styles as it shows ways in which people perceive
and behave.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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Cowan, N., 2017. The many faces of working memory and short-term storage. Psychonomic
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Esterman, M. and Rothlein, D., 2019. Models of sustained attention. Current opinion in
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Florence, L., Maryjane, M. and Stuart, G.W., 2019. Working Memory, Language, Reading and
Behavior: The Importance of Laterality, Symbolism and Default Networks. Selected
Topics in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
Honcharuk, L., Riabokuchma, T. and Kryński, A., 2020. WAYS OF INCREASING
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Lindsay, G.W. and Miller, K.D., 2018. How biological attention mechanisms improve task
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Margunayasa, I.G. and et.al., 2019. The Effect of Guided Inquiry Learning and Cognitive Style
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behavioral): Prevalence and characteristics in a multicenter study in France. Journal of
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Stefanone, M.A., Yue, Z. and Toh, Z., 2019. A social cognitive approach to traditional media
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Unsworth, N. and Robison, M.K., 2017. The importance of arousal for variation in working
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