cognitive neuroscience

• Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific study of the influence of brain structures on mental processes
• Cognitive neuroscience was coined by Miller and Gazzaniga in the 1970s
• Rapid advances in ways of studying the brain in the late 20th century has meant that neuroscientists are now able to study the living brain using technology such as PET scans and fMRI
• For example, Raine et al. (1994) found that damage to the prefrontal

  cortex can result in reduced self-control, poor emotional regulation, and poor decision making.
• One strength of cognitive neuroscience is that it has helped explain internal mental processes in the brain
• Evidence for strength

  • Scientists have employed laboratory studies in a rigorous and controlled way
  • For example, fMRI technology has allowed scientist to see the activation of the areas of the brain such as the hippocampus when performing memory tasks
• Explanation for strength

  • This shows that technology can help scientists to see how different regions of the brain contribute to memory processing and gain further insight into cognition
• Counterpoint for strength

  • However lab experiment have a lack of validity as stimuli are artificial which not always reflect every day experiences
  • This is seen in memory tests where they use artificial stimuli such as a word list which does not represent everyday experiences
• fMRI and PET scans allow researchers to study the brain in real time, providing direct evidence of brain-behaviour relationships
• PET scans can measure....

  • metabolic activity in specific areas such as the prefrontal cortex
  • when a person is engaged in tasks requiring decision making
• Strength of cognitive neuroscience

  • can be used to compare brain activity of people with disorders such as schizophrenia or depression with those without
  • researchers can then identify neurobiological differences that might underlie these conditions
  • leads to better treatment and interventions
• Weakness of cognitive neuroscience

  • simplifies human behaviour too much
  • ignores emotions and motivations
  • e.g. memory can be affected by emotional factors (anxiety on EWT)
• Weakness of cognitive neuroscience

  • approach is based on machine reductionism
  • complex human cognitive process is being compared to workings of a machine