7🍋Cognitive Neuroscience-Approaches PAPER2

Question 1

Cognitive Neuroscience Assumptions

Answer 1

1. Biological processes and aspects underline cognition
2. Research focused on neutral connections in brain which are involved in mental processes and explores how cognitive activities affected or controlled by neutral circuits in brain
3. Cognitive neuroscience is a branch of both biology and cognitive psychology, therefore absorbs many assumptions from both approaches
4. Mind and subsequent behaviours should be investigated through experimental procedures such as functional neuroimaging, electrophysiology, cognitive genomics and behavioural genetics
5. Studies of patients with cognitive deficits due to brain lesions constitute an important aspect of cognitive neuroscience. Damage in brains with lesions provide comparison with healthy and fully functioning brains. These damages change neutral circuits in brain and cause it to malfunction during basic cognitive processes, such as memory or learning. With the damage, we can compare how healthy neutral circuits are functioning and possibly draw conclusions about basis of affected cognitive processes.

Question 2

Key features and focus Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 2

-oversold with cognitive and biological psychology
-focuses on neural substrates if mental processes and behavioural manifestations
-mental/cognitive process can include:
Memory
Perception
Attention

Question 3

Method of study Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 3

-systematically observe and describe neurological basis of mental processes
-use of brain scanning techniques such as PET or MRI scans means it is now possible to see function of brain while different behaviours are being performed

Question 4

areas of study (human cognition)

Answer 4

neural processes underlying memory, attention, perception and awareness

Question 5

areas of study (social cognition)

Answer 5

brain regions involved when we interact with others

Question 6

areas of study (cognitive impairments)

Answer 6

how impairments in these regions may characterise different psychological conditions

Question 7

Application of Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 7

-scientific study of brain/neurological structures, mechanisms, processes, chemistry
-use of scanning techniques to study mental processes easing patients with depression or OCD or in children with autism or dyslexia
-use scanning techniques to locate different types of memory in different areas of brain leading to treatment for memory problems
-use of computational modelling to test theories or hypotheses about mental processes such as attention, memory, problem solving
-use of eye tracking to study visual word processing and reading

Question 8

Strength Cognitive Neuroscience (scientific)

Answer 8

-provides scientific and objective way to study brain and behaviour
-eg. brain scanning techniques fMRI allow researchers see which part brain active when person performing specific tasks such as remembering words
-this means has strong scientific basis, allowing researchers link mental processes to brain structures in say that can be replicated and tested, gives clearer picture how brain works and contributes to fields like medicine, help diagnose and treat brain disorders
-therefore, cn contributes significantly to understanding of biological mechanisms behind behaviour, adding credibility to psychological theories

Question 9

Strength Cognitive Neuroscience (ability to explore)

Answer 9

-ability to explore wide range of areas related to human behaviour and brain function
-eg. researchers can study memory, attention, decision making, even mental health conditions like depression or anxiety using brain imaging
-this means CN offers broad range applications, allowing better understand various mental processes and brains role in normal functioning and disorders, practical benefits such as improving treatments for psychological conditions of enhancing learning methods
-therefore, CN is valuable because applies to many aspects of human life from education to mental health care, making highly relacje and useful in everyday contexts

Question 10

Weakness Cognitive Neuroscience (reductionist)

Answer 10

-can be overly reductionist
-for instance, just like cognitive and biological, cognitive neuroscience tends to ignore factors like emotions and personal motivations that also influence behaviour
-by focusing mainly on brain activity and chemical processes, cognitive neuroscience might reduce complex human behaviours to simple explanations, this means it overlooks unique personal aspects of human experience such as how emotions like love or fear shape our decisions
-as result, approach may fail to capture full, holistic picture of what makes us human, losing emotional and motivational aspects that drive behaviour

Question 11

Weakness Cognitive Neuroscience (technology)

Answer 11

-technology used to study brain can be limited
-for instance, fMRI scans show which areas of brain active, but do not explain why those areas active or how different brain regions work together in real time
-as result, approach may provide limited understanding hiw brain truly operates, requiring further research and more advanced techniques to fully uncover mysteries of mind