Introduction to Cognitive Science

1. Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of:
(A) The mind and intelligence
(B) Only artificial intelligence
(C) Biological evolution only
(D) Human anatomy only

2. Which of the following is not a discipline contributing to cognitive science?
(A) Psychology
(B) Computer Science
(C) Linguistics
(D) Geology

3. The computational theory of mind suggests that:
(A) The mind operates like an information-processing system
(B) The brain functions only chemically
(C) Thoughts are purely random
(D) Consciousness cannot be studied scientifically

4. Which scientist is considered a founder of cognitive psychology?
(A) Ulric Neisser
(B) Charles Darwin
(C) Ivan Pavlov
(D) Sigmund Freud

5. Cognitive science emerged as a distinct field in:
(A) 1950s–1970s
(B) 1920s–1930s
(C) 1980s–1990s
(D) 2000s

6. Which of the following methods is widely used in cognitive science?
(A) Brain imaging and computational modeling
(B) Astrology
(C) Palmistry
(D) Reflex conditioning only

7. The term “cognitive revolution” refers to:
(A) Shift from behaviorism to cognitive approaches in psychology
(B) Discovery of DNA
(C) Industrial revolution in science
(D) Rise of genetic engineering

8. Which of the following is an important area of cognitive science?
(A) Memory and learning
(B) Plate tectonics
(C) Mineralogy
(D) Organic farming

9. Artificial intelligence contributes to cognitive science by:
(A) Modeling human thought processes in machines
(B) Studying plant photosynthesis
(C) Exploring geological formations
(D) Explaining chemical bonds

10. Cognitive neuroscience links:
(A) Brain activity with mental processes
(B) Plant growth with soil
(C) Genes with evolution only
(D) Culture with history only

11. The Turing Test was designed to evaluate:
(A) Machine intelligence
(B) Memory capacity
(C) Human emotions
(D) Reflex speed

12. Linguistics contributes to cognitive science by studying:
(A) Structure and processing of language
(B) Physical body strength
(C) Geological sediments
(D) Organic compounds

13. A central metaphor in cognitive science is:
(A) Mind as a computer
(B) Mind as a planet
(C) Brain as a heart
(D) Consciousness as chemistry

14. Which brain imaging technique measures blood flow and oxygenation?
(A) fMRI
(B) EEG
(C) CT scan
(D) Ultrasound

15. The Stroop effect demonstrates:
(A) Interference in cognitive processing
(B) Muscle fatigue
(C) Reflexes
(D) Balance control

16. The interdisciplinary nature of cognitive science means it includes:
(A) Psychology, AI, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Anthropology
(B) Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy only
(C) Literature, Arts, Dance
(D) Agriculture, Botany, Zoology only

17. Which field focuses on designing machines that interact naturally with humans?
(A) Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
(B) Quantum physics
(C) Meteorology
(D) Biochemistry

18. Which philosopher proposed the idea of the “Chinese Room” argument against AI understanding?
(A) John Searle
(B) Alan Turing
(C) Rene Descartes
(D) David Hume

19. Cognitive architectures like ACT-R are designed to:
(A) Model human cognition computationally
(B) Build physical brain implants
(C) Sequence DNA
(D) Analyze climate patterns

20. Which cognitive process involves storing and retrieving information?
(A) Memory
(B) Vision
(C) Emotion
(D) Reflex

21. Marr’s levels of analysis include:
(A) Computational, Algorithmic, Implementational
(B) Physical, Chemical, Biological
(C) Mental, Emotional, Spiritual
(D) Structural, Functional, Geological

22. Cognitive linguistics views language as:
(A) An integral part of thought and cognition
(B) Independent of thought
(C) Only a cultural tool
(D) A random system of symbols

23. Connectionism in cognitive science models the brain as:
(A) A network of simple interconnected units
(B) A single central computer
(C) A hydraulic machine
(D) A clock

24. Which is an example of embodied cognition?
(A) Using physical movement to aid problem solving
(B) Purely abstract reasoning without action
(C) Reading without context
(D) Blind chemical reactions

25. Which of the following is a key question in cognitive science?
(A) How do humans learn and represent knowledge?
(B) What is the density of rocks?
(C) How do plants produce oxygen?
(D) What causes earthquakes?

26. Cognitive development in children was studied extensively by:
(A) Jean Piaget
(B) Charles Darwin
(C) Albert Einstein
(D) Francis Crick

27. Problem solving in cognitive science refers to:
(A) Processes used to find solutions to complex tasks
(B) Geological mapping
(C) Genetic sequencing only
(D) Random guessing

28. Which area of AI is closest to cognitive science?
(A) Machine learning and natural language processing
(B) Computer graphics only
(C) Hardware design only
(D) Satellite navigation

29. The symbol-grounding problem refers to:
(A) How abstract symbols gain meaning in cognition
(B) How neurons fire
(C) How muscles move
(D) How rocks form

30. Metacognition refers to:
(A) Thinking about one’s own thinking
(B) Automatic reflexes
(C) Emotional regulation
(D) Language syntax

31. Cognitive science is different from behaviorism because it:
(A) Focuses on internal mental processes
(B) Ignores thoughts and only studies behavior
(C) Studies animals only
(D) Considers unconscious drives only

32. Which cognitive bias involves favoring information that supports one’s beliefs?
(A) Confirmation bias
(B) Anchoring bias
(C) Availability heuristic
(D) Recency bias

33. Attention in cognitive science refers to:
(A) Selective focus on specific stimuli
(B) Storing memories only
(C) Emotional processing
(D) Reflex actions

34. Which is a computational model used in cognitive science?
(A) Neural networks
(B) Volcanic models
(C) Chemical titration curves
(D) Planetary models

35. Which of the following is not a research method in cognitive science?
(A) Brain imaging
(B) Computer simulations
(C) Introspection
(D) Plate tectonics analysis

36. The “black box” approach in behaviorism meant:
(A) Ignoring internal mental states
(B) Studying neurons directly
(C) Focusing on conscious awareness
(D) Mapping genetic codes

37. Human working memory is limited to about:
(A) 7 ± 2 items
(B) 20 items
(C) Unlimited capacity
(D) 1 item only

38. The study of artificial neural networks in AI is inspired by:
(A) Biological neurons and their connections
(B) Electrical grids
(C) Internet routers
(D) Planetary motion

39. Which is an example of a cognitive heuristic?
(A) Using mental shortcuts for quick decision-making
(B) Running experiments
(C) Logical deduction only
(D) Memorizing rules

40. Which area of philosophy contributes most directly to cognitive science?
(A) Philosophy of mind
(B) Aesthetics
(C) Political philosophy
(D) Metaphysics only

41. The mind-body problem deals with:
(A) Relationship between mental and physical states
(B) Structure of atoms
(C) Animal classification
(D) Chemical bonding

42. The main focus of cognitive anthropology is:
(A) How culture shapes human cognition
(B) Soil analysis
(C) Animal breeding
(D) Plant growth

43. Decision-making under uncertainty is studied in:
(A) Cognitive psychology and behavioral economics
(B) Classical mechanics
(C) Organic chemistry
(D) Crystallography

44. Language acquisition in children is explained by:
(A) Innate structures (Chomsky’s theory) and learning mechanisms
(B) Random guessing
(C) Genetic mutations
(D) Evolutionary drift

45. The “binding problem” in cognitive science concerns:
(A) How the brain integrates information from different senses
(B) How proteins fold
(C) How genes replicate
(D) How muscles contract

46. Which cognitive science theory emphasizes distributed processing?
(A) Connectionism
(B) Symbolic AI
(C) Behaviorism
(D) Psychoanalysis

47. The concept of “cognitive load” relates to:
(A) Limits of working memory during learning
(B) Muscle fatigue
(C) Emotional stress
(D) DNA replication

48. Mental representations in cognitive science refer to:
(A) Internal symbols and models used for thinking
(B) Photographs
(C) Physical drawings only
(D) Random thoughts

49. The study of visual perception in cognitive science explores:
(A) How the brain interprets sensory input from the eyes
(B) How light travels in vacuum
(C) How cameras capture images only
(D) How rocks reflect light

50. Cognitive science ultimately aims to:
(A) Understand the nature of intelligence, mind, and learning
(B) Study only chemical reactions
(C) Map physical geography
(D) Design industrial machines only