Chapter One

Question 1

Cognition collectlively refers to…

Answer 1

a variety of higher mental processes such as thinking, perceiving, imaging, speaking, acting, and planning

Question 2

Cognitive neuroscience:

Answer 2

science that aims to explain cognitive processes in terms of brain-based mechanisms

Question 3

Mind-body problem:

Answer 3

problem of how a physical substance (the brain) can give rise to our sensations, thoughts, and emotions (our mind)

Question 4

Dualism:

Answer 4

belief that mind and brain are made up of different kinds of substances

Question 5

Descartes and his belief in dualism were…

Where did the two components interact?

Answer 5

the mind was non-physical and immortal

the brain was physical and mortal

pineal gland

Question 6

Why would there be little hope for advances in neurocognitive science if dualism were true?

Answer 6

sciences cannot tap into the non-physical domain

Question 7

Dual-aspect theory:

Answer 7

belief that mind and brain are two levels of description of the same thing

ex: electron is described as both a wave and as a particle

Question 8

Reductionism:

Answer 8

belief that mind-based concepts (emotions, memories, attention) will eventually be replaced by neuroscientific concepts (neuronal firings, patterns, NT release)

Question 9

Why could you debate that the dual-aspect theory is more favorable?

Answer 9

emotion would still feel like emotion no matter the fully understanding of scientific components

Question 10

Phrenology:

Answer 10

failed idea that individual difference in cognition can be mapped onto differences in skull shape

Question 11

Functional specialization:

Answer 11

different regions of the brain are specialized for different functions

Question 12

Broca documented cases which acquired brain damage and impaired the ability to […] but other aspects of […] intact.

What did Broca’s findings suggest?

Answer 12

speak; cognition

suggests that language could be localized to a particular brain region

Question 13

Cognitive neuropsychology:

Answer 13

study of brain-damaged patients to inform theories of normal cognition

Question 14

Information processing:

What stages did this consist of?

Answer 14

an approach in which behavior is described in terms of a sequence of cognitive stages (no brain reference)

1. input
2. perception
3. attention
4. short term memory
5. output or long-term memory

Question 15

Modularity:

What are the kinds of modularity?

Answer 15

the notion that certain cognitive processes (or regions of the brain) are restricted in the type of information they process

1. domain specificity
2. domain-independent

Question 16

-Modularity-

Modules are held to demonstrate […].

Central systems are held to be […].

Answer 16

domain specificity

domain-independent

Question 17

Domain specificity:

Answer 17

the idea that a cognitive process (or brain region) is dedicated solely to one particular type of information (colors, faces, words)

Question 18

Domain-independent:

Answer 18

type of information processed is non-specific (candidates would be memory, attention, executive functions)

Question 19

Interactivity:

Answer 19

later stages of processing can begin before earlier stages are complete

Question 20

Top-down processing:

Answer 20

the influence of later stages on the processing of earlier ones (memory influences on perception)

Question 21

Bottom-up processing:

Answer 21

the passage of information from simpler (edges) to more complex (objects)

Question 22

Parallel processing:

Answer 22

different information is processed at the sam time

Question 23

Neural network models:

Answer 23

computational model in which information processing occurs using many interconnected nodes

Question 24

Nodes:

Answer 24

the basic units of neural network MODELS that are activated in response to activity in other parts of the network

Question 25

Direct electrical stimulation is no longer used as a research tool, although it has some therapeutic applications such as in…

Answer 25

Parkinson’s

Question 26

Modern-day electrical stimulation types (2):

Answer 26

1. transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
2. transcranial electrical stimulation (tES)

Question 27

Modern-day recording devices for electrical and magnetic properties of neurons themselves:

Answer 27

1. Electrophysiological (EEG/ERP and single cell)
2. magnetophysiological methods (MEG)

Question 28

Modern-day recording devices for physiological changes associated with blood supply to the brain:

Answer 28

1. functional imaging methods (PET, fMRI, fNIRS)

Question 29

Which methods of cognitive neuroscience have better spatial and temporal resolution?

Answer 29

Single-cell recordings and multicell recordings

Question 30

Temporal resolution:

Which methods have millisecond resolution?

What temporal resolution does fMRI have? What does this mean?

Answer 30

accuracy with which one can measure WHEN an event (physiological change) occurs

EEG, MEG, TMS, single-cell recordings

several seconds; slower hemodynamic response

Question 31

Spatial resolution:

What methods have spatial resolutions at the millimeter level? Level of the neuron?

What are the downfalls to spatial resolution precision?

Answer 31

the accuracy with which one can measure WHERE an event (physiological change) is occurring

mm: lesions and functional imaging methods
neuron: single-cell recordings

invasive methods are usually the most precise

Question 32

What are the number of things that one could measure in a standard forced-choice reaction-time task?

Answer 32

1. reaction time
2. error rates
3. sweating (skin conductance response)
4. muscle contraction (electromyograph)
5. scalp electrical recordings (EEG) or hemodynamic changes in the brain (fMRI)