Cognitive neuroscience

Question 1

What are the main assumptions of cognitive neuroscience? (Pt.1)

Answer 1

• Attempts to explain behaviour by scientifically studying brain structures, mechanisms and processes that are responsible for thinking.
• Brings together the cognitive approach and the biological approach to offer a more holistic understanding of human behaviour.

Question 2

What are the main assumptions of cognitive neuroscience? (Pt.2)

Answer 2

• It addresses the question of how psychological/ cognitive functions are produced by neural circuits in the brain.
• Cognitive neuroscience studies ‘normal’ human cognitive abilities as well as the effects of damage and the changes in thought processes that result.

Question 3

The emergence of cognitive neuroscience (early examples)

Answer 3

• Early examples= Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area.
• Broca= speech production
• Wernicke= speech comprehension
• They found that left hemisphere of the brain is involved in the understanding and production of language.

Question 4

The emergence of cognitive neuroscience (paradigm shift)

Answer 4

• The discovery that specific areas of the brain could be linked to specific processes, triggered a paradigm shift.
• Holistic view of the brain to a shared belief that functions are localised.

Question 5

Techniques used by cognitive neuroscientists

Answer 5

• Combines experimental methods + advanced technology to study and map the brain.
• Cognitive neuroscientists explore how individual neurons operate and communicate to from complex cell assemblies that make up the human brain.

Question 6

Brain scanning techniques

Answer 6

• ERP’s (Event related potentials).
• PET scans, and fMRI’s.

Question 7

Computer generated models

Answer 7

• Focus of cognitive neuroscience has expanded to include the use of computer-generated models that are designed to read the brain.
• This has lead to the development of mind mapping techniques such as ‘brain fingerprinting’.
• Brain waves from EEG’s are used to determine whether specific info is stored in an individuals memory.

Question 8

Real life application of cognitive neuroscience

Answer 8

• The brain patterns of eye witnesses can determine whether or not they are lying in court.
• Use of scanning/ imaging techniques to locate different types of memory in different areas of the brain (leading to treatment for memory problems).
• Use of computer modelling to develop voice recognition programmes.