Glossary • 409Transfer-appropriate processing When the type of task that occurs during encoding matches
the type of task that occurs during retrieval. This type of processing can result in enhanced
memory. (7)
Two-string problem A problem first described by Maier in which a person is given the task
of attaching two strings together that are too far apart to be reached at the same time. This
task was devised to illustrate the operation of f unctional fixedness. (12)
Typicality effect The ability to judge the truth or falsity of sentences involving high-prototypical
members of a category more rapidly than sentences involving low-prototypical members of a
category. See also Sentence verification technique. (9)Ultimatum game A game in which a proposer is given a sum of money and makes an offer to
a responder as to how this money should be split between them. The responder must choose
to accept the offer or reject it. This game has been used to study people’s decision-making
strategies. (13)
Unconscious inference, theory of Helmholtz’s idea that some of our perceptions are the result
of unconscious assumptions that we make about the environment. (3)
Unilateral neglect A problem caused by brain damage, usually to the right parietal lobes, in
which the patient ignores objects in the left half of his or her visual field. (10)
Units “Neuronlike processing units” in a connectionist network. See also Hidden units; Input
units; Output units. (9)
Utility Outcomes that achieve a person’s goals; in economic terms, the maximum monetary
payoff. (13)Validity Quality of a syllogism whose conclusion follows logically from its premises. (13)
Visual coding Coding in the mind in the form of a visual image. An example of visual cod-
ing would be remembering something by conjuring up an image of it in your mind. Also see
Semantic coding. (5)
Visual icon See Iconic memory. (5)
Visual imagery A type of mental imagery involving vision, in which an image is experienced in
the absence of a visual stimulus. (5, 10)
Visuospatial sketch pad The part of working memory that holds and processes visual and
spatial information. See also Central executive; Phonological loop; Working memory. (5)Wason four-card problem A conditional reasoning task developed by Wason that involves
four cards. Various versions of this problem have been used to study the mechanisms that
determine the outcomes of conditional reasoning tasks. (13)
Water-jug problem A problem, first described by Luchins, that illustrates how mental set can
influence the strategies that people use to solve a problem. (12)
Weapons focus The tendency for eyewitnesses to a crime to focus attention on a weapon,
which causes poorer memory for other things that are happening. (8)
Well-defined problem A problem that has a correct answer. There are usually procedures that,
when applied correctly, will lead to a solution. See also Ill-defined problem. (12)
Wernicke’s aphasia A condition, caused by damage to Wernicke’s area, that is characterized
by difficulty in understanding language, and fluent, grammatically correct, but incoherent
speech. (2)
Wernicke’s area Area in the temporal lobe associated with understanding language. Damage
to this area causes Wernicke’s aphasia. (2)
What pathway Neural pathway, extending from the occipital lobe to the temporal lobe,
that is associated with perceiving or recognizing objects. Corresponds to the perception
pathway. (3)
Where pathway Neural pathway, extending from the occipital lobe to the parietal lobe, that is
associated with neural processing that occurs when people locate objects in space. Roughly
corresponds to the action pathway. (3)
Whole report method Procedure used in Sperling’s experiment on the properties of the visual
icon, in which participants were instructed to report all of the stimuli they saw in a brief
presentation. See also Partial report method; Sensory memory. (5)
Word frequency The relative usage of words in a particular language. For example, in English,
home has higher word frequency than hike. (11)33559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 40933559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 409 13/04/10 5:47 PM13/04/10 5:47 PM
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