Glossary / Lexicon

Parallel transmission refers to the notion that different phonemes of the same syllable are encoded into the speech signal simultaneously.

In psychology, the term "parallel transmission" refers to the simultaneous processing of multiple pieces of information through different neural pathways. This approach assumes that the brain can process information more efficiently by dividing it into smaller components and processing each component in parallel.

One example of parallel transmission in psychology is the simultaneous processing of visual and auditory information. Researchers have found that the brain can process visual and auditory information simultaneously, allowing us to see and hear things at the same time. This parallel processing is essential for everyday activities such as watching TV or listening to music, where we need to process both visual and auditory information to fully experience the content.

Another example of parallel transmission is the simultaneous processing of emotional and cognitive information. Researchers have found that the brain can process emotional and cognitive information in parallel, allowing us to make decisions based on both our emotional and rational responses. This parallel processing is essential for social interaction, where we need to process both emotional and cognitive information to understand other people's behavior and respond appropriately.

Parallel transmission is often contrasted with serial transmission, which refers to the processing of information one piece at a time, through a single neural pathway. Serial transmission is often slower than parallel transmission because it requires each piece of information to be processed sequentially, rather than in parallel. However, serial transmission can be useful for tasks that require a step-by-step approach, such as learning a complex new skill.

There are several other related concepts in psychology that are similar to parallel transmission, including:

1. Distributed processing: This approach assumes that information is processed by multiple regions of the brain simultaneously, rather than by a single region. Distributed processing is similar to parallel transmission because it assumes that the brain can process multiple pieces of information in parallel.

2. Connectionism: This approach assumes that the brain processes information through a network of interconnected neurons, rather than through a single pathway. Connectionism is similar to parallel transmission because it assumes that information can be processed simultaneously through multiple neural pathways.

3. Multitasking: This refers to the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Multitasking is similar to parallel transmission because it involves the processing of multiple streams of information at the same time.

Overall, parallel transmission is an important concept in psychology because it helps us to understand how the brain processes information. By dividing information into smaller components and processing each component in parallel, the brain can process information more efficiently and effectively. This approach has important implications for understanding a wide range of psychological phenomena, from perception and attention to emotion and cognition.