Cognitive Neuroscience

• What is cognitive neuroscience?

  The scientific study of the influence of brain structure on mental processes
• What did Paul Broca identify?

  damage to the frontal lobe could permanently impair speech production (which came to be known as Broca's area)
• What has happened within the last 20 years?


  advances in brain imaging techniques such as fMRI and PET scans, scientists have been able to systematically observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes
• How long have cognitive neuroscientists been focused on brain mapping?

  the 1860s
• What are the strengths of cognitive neuroscientists?

  Has real world application e.g., medicine, eyewitness testimony

  
  

  Uses objective scientific methods e.g., MRI scans which increases reliability
• What are the weaknesses of cognitive neuroscientists?

  Technology such as MRI scans aren't 100% reliable due to user error in calibration, noise interference and temperature

  
  

  Machine reductionist: humans are complex and unpredictable cannot be likened to an inanimate object (computer)