<p>I would recommend something like the Invisible Gorilla! This is a classic demonstration from Simons &amp; Chabris (1999) that demonstrates the selectivity of attention. Demonstrating "cognition" is a bit broad, but this is a famous example of the ways in which cognitive processes select, omit, and process information.</p>

<p>Video of the illusion (with instructions) here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo&amp;feature=youtu.be</a></p>

<p>NPR story discussing the experiment/illusion in simple terms: <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126977945" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126977945</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-02T16:57:36.493Z
2018-04-02T16:57:36.493Z
qjacob
<p>I'm new to this site so I may mess up here and there with the question process.</p>

<p>I need to come up with an interactive exercise for a class to demonstrate cognition. The problem is, I find cognition to be very complex and I have trouble thinking of one.</p>

<p>Some ideas I currently have in mind are:</p>

<p>1) Telling the class some false facts or showing them some fake news and having them debate which is real.</p>

<p>2) Something along the lines of a slot machine where extravagant sounds and lights play when you win something, however, nothing happens when you lose. Showing how we are more likely to remember the extravagant sounds/lights.</p>

<p>3) Asking the class to describe to me an object. Then ask the class to describe the same object to me without the use of certain words and concepts. </p>

<p>I am very clueless on this matter (cognition) so any help would be appreciated. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-02T18:10:24.890Z
Those are a ton of different aspects of cognition. You definitely want to narrow it down.
Seanny123
<cognitive-psychology><cognitive-neuroscience><cognitive-modeling><bias><metacognition>
What is a effective and interactive exercise to demonstrate cognition to a class
Rocketlad
# What is a effective and interactive exercise to demonstrate cognition to a class

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-02)

I'm new to this site so I may mess up here and there with the question process.

I need to come up with an interactive exercise for a class to demonstrate cognition. The problem is, I find cognition to be very complex and I have trouble thinking of one.

Some ideas I currently have in mind are:

1) Telling the class some false facts or showing them some fake news and having them debate which is real.

2) Something along the lines of a slot machine where extravagant sounds and lights play when you win something, however, nothing happens when you lose. Showing how we are more likely to remember the extravagant sounds/lights.

3) Asking the class to describe to me an object. Then ask the class to describe the same object to me without the use of certain words and concepts.

I am very clueless on this matter (cognition) so any help would be appreciated.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, cognitive-neuroscience, cognitive-modeling, bias, metacognition

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Those are a ton of different aspects of cognition. You definitely want to narrow it down.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-04-02. Score: 3

I would recommend something like the Invisible Gorilla! This is a classic demonstration from Simons & Chabris (1999) that demonstrates the selectivity of attention. Demonstrating "cognition" is a bit broad, but this is a famous example of the ways in which cognitive processes select, omit, and process information.

Video of the illusion (with instructions) here: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo&feature=youtu.be>

NPR story discussing the experiment/illusion in simple terms: <https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126977945>


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