Introduction

Question 1

Define Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 1

Cognitive Neuroscience is the study of neural mechanisms of mind and behaviour.

Question 2

Explain and differentiate correlational and experimental research design

Answer 2

Correlational research design analyzes relationships between variables.
Experimental research design manipulates a specific variable while controlling the other variables.
The difference between the two is that experimental research allows causal inferences.

Question 3

Explain between-groups and within-subject designs

Answer 3

Between-group design means that people are randomly assigned to a group. each group receives one experimental condition.
Within-subject design means that people receive all experimental conditions.

Question 4

Describe some of the tools used for cognitive neuroscientific research

Answer 4

Brain stimulation refers to the stimulation of certain parts of the brain in order to see how they function. An example is TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation).
Noninvasive brain recordings refer to recording the activity of the brain while performing certain tasks. An example is fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Question 5

Describe some of the important historical research findings in the field of cognitive neuroscience.

Answer 5

Broca’s aphasia is a syndrome studied by Paul Broca. It means that the patient can understand the spoken language, but cannot produce voluntary speech. Patients have lesions in the left frontal lobe.
Fluent aphasia is a syndrome studied by Wernicke. Patients can produce impaired voluntary speech, but cannot understand the spoken language. All patients presented lesions in the left posterior temporal lobe.

Question 6

What is Phrenology

Answer 6

an early attempt at mapping brain functions by Joseph Gall. Proposed that there are 35 brain regions and that they can be measured by the bumps on the head.