COGSCI 180 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH 100% VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS | NEW UPDATE 2026/2027 | GRADED A+ |
GUARANTEED PASS.
What are the two approaches to discovering the truth about the self?
Eastern contemplative traditions and Western science
What does epistemology mean?
The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity,
and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion.
What is a similarity between scientific and contemplative approaches?
Both are empirically-based and not based on blind adherence to belief or
what authorities say. Scientific: perception/logical
Contemplative: techniques to clear mind
How do scientific and contemplative approaches differ in their perspective?
Science operates from a 3rd person perspective, while contemplation
operates from a 1st person perspective.
What is the introspection objection?
A criticism of the contemplative approach that it is highly subjective and
unreliable, similar to introspection.
How do contemplative traditions address the introspection objection? By
emphasizing that contemplation requires extensive training of the mind to
become stable and clear using specific techniques, unlike introspection.
,How does reproducibility factor into the contemplative approach? There
is interindividual consensus among trained contemplatives with regard
to conclusions, and the results can be reproduced by a particular
investigator at different points in time, as well as by other investigators.
What is a koan in Zen practice?
A riddle that a student has to solve to test their progress in Zen practice.
What is the purpose of koans in Zen practice?
To help the student ground their thinking in reality, break free of the
conceptual mind, and induce an experience of kensho (sudden insight or
awakening).
Can conclusions drawn by contemplatives be verified by a third party?
Only if the person has had training in contemplative practices.
How is consensus regarding experts similar in contemplative traditions and
science?
People within both contemplative traditions and the scientific community
generally agree on who the experts are.
What did EEG studies by Richard Davidson find about meditation practice?
Meditation practice is associated with increased left prefrontal activity,
which is known to be associated with optimism and feelings of happiness
and well-being.
What is the main argument against contemplatives deceiving themselves?
It is unlikely that numerous sharp-minded people who have refined their
,introspective faculties would delude themselves in exactly the same way
across various times in history and locations.
How is progress in contemplative training monitored?
Through structured dialogues between the student and an expert (teacher)
who asks appropriate questions and allows the subject to describe their
experience in detail.
What is the significance of finding long-term meditators with exceptional
neurological and psychological traits?
It supports the claim that the contemplative approach works because it
results in a clear and stable mind, leading to enhanced attention, empathy,
and optimism.
Paul Ekman found enhanced ability to identify microexpressions in
meditators. How did he test it?
By showing a series of faces displaying various expressions in very quick
succession.
What were the results of Ekman's test on experienced Western meditators?
They achieved results far better than 5000 participants previously tested
including police, lawyers, psychiatrists, and secret service agents.
What is the attentional blink paradigm used to measure in the Slagter et al.
(2007) study?.
Nonjudgmental awareness
What did the retreatants in the Slagter et al. study show compared to
controls?
, A marked decrease in attentional blink and a 33% greater detection of
second targets.
How does understanding co-dependent arising help in reducing suffering?
By reducing compulsive attraction and repulsion that leads to afflictive
emotions and problematic actions.
Why do Buddhist contemplatives believe that ordinary perception and
reasoning are insufficient for understanding the self?
Because they involve the judgingcategorizing, conceptual mind, which
prevents us from seeing the self clearly.
How can real understanding of the self be attained according to Buddhist
contemplatives?
By stabilizing and clarifying the mindbypassing the usual mind distortions
that prevent us from contacting reality directly.
Is there an objective reality independent of our perceptions? No, our
perceptions depend on our particular sensory and neural apparatus, and
we perceive only a narrow spectrum of the world's physical and chemical
properties.
What is the scientific view of the "relativity" of truth?
Our perceptions and knowledge are limited by our cognitive abilities which
constrain what and how we perceive, imagine, and reason. How does the
contemplative view perceive ordinary perception and reasoning?
They reveal only relative truths as they are largely constructed from mental
factors that skew our perceptions.
SOLUTIONS | NEW UPDATE 2026/2027 | GRADED A+ |
GUARANTEED PASS.
What are the two approaches to discovering the truth about the self?
Eastern contemplative traditions and Western science
What does epistemology mean?
The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity,
and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion.
What is a similarity between scientific and contemplative approaches?
Both are empirically-based and not based on blind adherence to belief or
what authorities say. Scientific: perception/logical
Contemplative: techniques to clear mind
How do scientific and contemplative approaches differ in their perspective?
Science operates from a 3rd person perspective, while contemplation
operates from a 1st person perspective.
What is the introspection objection?
A criticism of the contemplative approach that it is highly subjective and
unreliable, similar to introspection.
How do contemplative traditions address the introspection objection? By
emphasizing that contemplation requires extensive training of the mind to
become stable and clear using specific techniques, unlike introspection.
,How does reproducibility factor into the contemplative approach? There
is interindividual consensus among trained contemplatives with regard
to conclusions, and the results can be reproduced by a particular
investigator at different points in time, as well as by other investigators.
What is a koan in Zen practice?
A riddle that a student has to solve to test their progress in Zen practice.
What is the purpose of koans in Zen practice?
To help the student ground their thinking in reality, break free of the
conceptual mind, and induce an experience of kensho (sudden insight or
awakening).
Can conclusions drawn by contemplatives be verified by a third party?
Only if the person has had training in contemplative practices.
How is consensus regarding experts similar in contemplative traditions and
science?
People within both contemplative traditions and the scientific community
generally agree on who the experts are.
What did EEG studies by Richard Davidson find about meditation practice?
Meditation practice is associated with increased left prefrontal activity,
which is known to be associated with optimism and feelings of happiness
and well-being.
What is the main argument against contemplatives deceiving themselves?
It is unlikely that numerous sharp-minded people who have refined their
,introspective faculties would delude themselves in exactly the same way
across various times in history and locations.
How is progress in contemplative training monitored?
Through structured dialogues between the student and an expert (teacher)
who asks appropriate questions and allows the subject to describe their
experience in detail.
What is the significance of finding long-term meditators with exceptional
neurological and psychological traits?
It supports the claim that the contemplative approach works because it
results in a clear and stable mind, leading to enhanced attention, empathy,
and optimism.
Paul Ekman found enhanced ability to identify microexpressions in
meditators. How did he test it?
By showing a series of faces displaying various expressions in very quick
succession.
What were the results of Ekman's test on experienced Western meditators?
They achieved results far better than 5000 participants previously tested
including police, lawyers, psychiatrists, and secret service agents.
What is the attentional blink paradigm used to measure in the Slagter et al.
(2007) study?.
Nonjudgmental awareness
What did the retreatants in the Slagter et al. study show compared to
controls?
, A marked decrease in attentional blink and a 33% greater detection of
second targets.
How does understanding co-dependent arising help in reducing suffering?
By reducing compulsive attraction and repulsion that leads to afflictive
emotions and problematic actions.
Why do Buddhist contemplatives believe that ordinary perception and
reasoning are insufficient for understanding the self?
Because they involve the judgingcategorizing, conceptual mind, which
prevents us from seeing the self clearly.
How can real understanding of the self be attained according to Buddhist
contemplatives?
By stabilizing and clarifying the mindbypassing the usual mind distortions
that prevent us from contacting reality directly.
Is there an objective reality independent of our perceptions? No, our
perceptions depend on our particular sensory and neural apparatus, and
we perceive only a narrow spectrum of the world's physical and chemical
properties.
What is the scientific view of the "relativity" of truth?
Our perceptions and knowledge are limited by our cognitive abilities which
constrain what and how we perceive, imagine, and reason. How does the
contemplative view perceive ordinary perception and reasoning?
They reveal only relative truths as they are largely constructed from mental
factors that skew our perceptions.
