Self-Awareness & Metacognition

Self-Awareness & MetacognitionMarch 16, 2010Psychology 4851Outlinehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvaD-29pQBYIntroductionHistory & DefinitionsSelf-recognitionAssociative processes?MetacognitionAssociative processes, modeling and Behavioral Economics2HistoryRene DescartesCogito ergo sumI think, therefore I amDualismCartesian theatreA place in your head where you are watching things happen

31. Self-awarenessHumans are aware of ourselves as animate beingsControl of own behaviourMental representation of ourselvesAre animals self-aware?Mirror tasks4

2. MetacognitionThinking about thinkingPrimary vs secondary representationsAssessing internal states is not enoughKnowing that you are hungry isnt metacognition

52. MetacognitionAssessing knowledge statesSome people know a lot about baseball, some dont know muchDo you know how much you know?e.g. I really have to study for this midterm tomorrow, I dont know anything!

Know a lotKnow a littleJohn is a moderate fan of baseball6Morgans canonDo not interpret as higher cognitive process if lower process will sufficeDifficult to show secondary representations (especially without language)Can self-awareness and metacognition be explained through reinforcement history and/or associative learning?7Self-Awareness & Self-Recognition8Gallups Mirror testA test of self-recognition, self-consciousnessStages:Time to adjust/experience mirrorTranquilize animal and paint 2 dots (visible and control-hidden)See if animal notices dot, compare to control dot

Animals tested: chimps, dolphins, elephants, magpies, cats?9But... It can be trained?Epstein, Lanza & Skinner (1981)Trained pigeons to peck at blue dotExperience with mirror (see blue dot in mirror, peck at origin)Blue dot on pigeon, under bibPeck at bib

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10Shaping of Self-Observation?SkinnerKinds of questions we ask children reinforces self-observatione.g., are you hungry? what are you doing?Accurate response likely results in some form of desired outcome (i.e., reinforcement of behaviour)1111Metacognition12Uncertainty monitoringDo animals know when they dont know?Dolpins, pigeons, rats, non-human primatesTesting procedureSome trials include the option to decline If animals know they dont know, should decline to answer13Uncertainty MonitoringStudy phase:Short or Long toneChoice phase:1/3 Forced Test2/3 Choice0.330.66Test phase:6 pellets if correct0 pellets if incorrect3 pellets14Uncertainty MonitoringIf animals have metacognition:Increase use of decline option as task difficulty increasesRed-green not much use of declineLight green-dark green more use of declineAccuracy is higher on chosen tests than forced testsYou choose to take the test when you know the answerAccuracy difference increases with task difficulty

Can associative processes explain higher accuracy on Chosen tests?

15Quantitative ModellingSmith, Beran, Couchman, & Coutinho, 2008Reinforcement of decline options creates a low frequency tendency to declineCompetes with generalization gradients for each stimulus16Quantitative ModellingSubjective level of stimulusResponse StrengthHighLowShortLongDecline Threshold17Quantitative ModellingReinforcement to decline option creates a constant response-strength tendencyCompetes with response-strength of stimuliWinner-take-all mechanismSince it is based on subjective view of stimuli, also accounts for difference between Chosen-Forced accuracy18Simulation DataShows associative processes can explain metacognition

Morgans canon?

19Behavioural Economic ModelJozefowiez, Staddon & Cerutti, 2009Similar to quantitative model, but measuresProbability of payoffRisk levels (is animal risk-prone or risk-averse?)20Behavioural Economic ModelSubjective level of stimulusPayoff1.00ShortLongShort responseLong responseProbability of payoff at subjective equality is diminished21Behavioural Economic ModelSubjective level of stimulusPayoff1.00ShortLongShort responseLong responseCorrect 50% of time, average reward = 3 pelletsDecline reward = 3 pelletsRisk Neutral22Behavioural Economic ModelSubjective level of stimulusPayoff1.00ShortLongShort responseLong responseRisk AverseWould rather guarantee payoff of 3 than risk no reward23Behavioural Economic ModelMore on this next week...When might an animal want to guarantee some kind of payoff?When might they be willing to risk it for the larger payoff?

Model accounts for changing needs, and metacognitionStill doesnt assume metacognition

24Awareness & Consciousnesshttp://www.zefrank.com/theshow/archives/2007/01/010807.htmlIs self-awareness/metacognition/consciousness necessary?Why learn to be self-aware? Evolutionary advantages?

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