AO1

• Cognitive neuroscience investigates the relationships between cognition and mental processes, with brain chemistry and brain structure.
• Cognitive neuroscience emerged in the 1860s, when Broca discovered that damage to an area in the frontal lobe can permanently affect speech
• Advancements in technology led to the development of brain imaging techniques such as fMRI and PET scans, which allows scientists to observe and describe the neurological basis of mental processes. Tulving studied brain scans from 6 volunteers and found that different areas of the brain were active when using episodic and semantic memories. Braver said that the central executive is near the prefrontal cortex.
• Advancements in technology allowed development of computer-generated models which read the brain and lead to mind-mapping techniques such as brain fingerprinting. This has real world application as it can be used in healthcare to determine the surgical approach for tumours, guide surgeons during surgery and diagnose and treat brain injuries, such as Parkinsons. It can also be used to understand some mental disorders by linking the parahippocampal gyrus and OCD.