Cognitive neuroscience - AO1

Question 1

What is cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 1

The scientific study of the biological brain structures that underpins internal mental processes

Question 2

What are the origins of cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 2

It lies in the mid 19th century with the discovery of Broca’s area (part of the frontal lobe) which is linked to speech production

• This was discovered through post mortem

Question 3

What has confirmed previous post-mortem research?

Answer 3

New technologies, e.g fMRI and PET scans, allow researchers to explain the neurological basis of mental processes

Question 4

What does explanded focus of cognitive nueroscience include?

Answer 4

The use of computer generated models which are designed to read and respond to brainwaves, mapping individual “brain fingerprints”
It also has applications to lie detection

Question 5

Who coined the term cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 5

Michael Gazzaniga and George Miller in 1976

Question 6

What is research on cognitive neuroscience that Tulving et al. did?

Answer 6

Tulving et al (1999)
PET scans showed different types of LTM may be located on opposite sides of the pre-frontal cortex
LH = semantic RH = episodic

H = hemisphere

Question 7

What is research on cognitive neuroscience that Braver et al. (1997) did?

Answer 7

fMRIs showed the central executive involved in pre-frontal cortex activation

Question 8

What is research into cognitive neuroscience that Raine et al. (1997) did?

Answer 8

Highlighted the lack of pre-fontal cortex acitivity in impulsive murderes via PET scans