Approaches (AS): Cognitive Neuroscience

Question 1

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 1

The scientific study of the influence of brain structure on mental processes

Question 2

What did Paul Broca identify?

Answer 2

damage to the frontal lobe could permanently impair speech production (which came to be known as Broca’s area)

Question 3

What has happened within the last 20 years?

Answer 3

advances in brain imaging techniques such as fMRI and PET scans, scientists have been able to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes

Question 4

How long have cognitive neuroscientists been focused on brain mapping?

Answer 4

the 1860s

Question 5

What are the strengths of cognitive neuroscientists?

Answer 5

Has real world application e.g., medicine, eyewitness testimony

Uses objective scientific methods e.g., MRI scans which increases reliability

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of cognitive neuroscientists?

Answer 6

Technology such as MRI scans aren’t 100% reliable due to user error in calibration, noise interference and temperature

Machine reductionist: humans are complex and unpredictable cannot be likened to an inanimate object (computer)