emergence of cognitive neuroscience

Question 1

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 1

Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of how brain structures affect mental processes.
Essentially investigating a biological bias for mental processes.

Question 2

evolution of research

Answer 2

In the past post-mortems were used, nowadays brain scans are used which can show faulty or unusual biology. Cognitive neuroscientists then try to investigate and understand how this links to mental processes, cognitions and ultimately behaviour.

Question 3

frontal lobe damage

Answer 3

Cognitive neuroscience has a long history. In the 1860s, Paul Broca identified an area of the frontal lobe which when damaged affected ability to speak, using a post mortem.

Question 4

brain imaging techniques

Answer 4

More recently, brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans allow us to identify activity in specific areas of the brain responsible for specific behaviours and thoughts while the patient is still alive.
Has helped to build a more detailed picture of the brain and to advance our understanding of the different kinds of brain structures that are involved in mental processes. For example, Burnett et al found that when people feel guilty, several brain regions are active including the media prefrontal cortex, an area associated with social emotions.

Question 5

uses and applications

Answer 5

There are several uses or applications of cognitive neuroscience. For example, scanning techniques allow us to detect that different areas of the brain are active during different types of memory tasks, supporting the multi store model. This can help lead to treatment for memory problems.
Furthermore, scanning techniques allow the study of mental processing in atypical patients, those with dementia , depression and OCD which could lead to effective treatment.
We can study typical processes such as ageing leading to increased understanding and can also develop computer models allowing the testing of hypotheses about mental processes such as attention, memory and problem solving.

Question 6

advancements in cognitive neuroscience

Answer 6

Advances in cognitive neuroscience mean that we can now see which areas of the brain are involved in specific cognitive functions. These techniques allow us to accurately map the function of the brain.