University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
PSY 150 | Introduction to Psychology
Academic year:

2023
Views:

180

Pages:

2
Author:

JJIssac

CURRENT ISSUES IN COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY  Plasticity and compensation in neural networks can mask specific deficits.  Hard to generalize from lesions in specific individuals to normal function. Cognitive Neuroscience Overview Cognitive neuroscience combines research techniques from cognitive psychology and neuroscience to study the biological underpinnings of cognition and mental processes. Key aspects include:    Identifying brain regions and networks involved in cognitive functions like attention, memory, language, decision-making through techniques like fMRI. This reveals the neural basis of cognition. Exploring social cognition and social neuroscience - how biological systems enable complex social behaviors like understanding others' intentions and emotions. Integrating data across levels from genes to cellular processes to overall cognition to understand links between brain and behavior. Brain Lesions Studying impacts of localized brain lesions can reveal how cognitive abilities are organized in the brain. However, limitations include:  Lesions often damage multiple regions, making localization difficult. Neuroimaging Techniques Techniques like PET, fMRI and EEG provide less invasive ways to study cognition in the brain.  PET shows brain activity via blood flow and glucose metabolism. Radioactive tracers are used.  fMRI detects oxygenation changes tied to neural activation. Better spatial and temporal resolution than PET.  EEG records electrical brain potentials using scalp electrodes. Precise temporal resolution to study rapid cognition. Multimodal imaging combining fMRI, EEG, PET etc. provides complementary spatiotemporal perspectives on brain function. Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence research explores cognition by modeling intelligent behaviors in computers and robots. Approaches include:  Pure AI - Accomplish tasks as efficiently as possible using algorithms different from human cognition.  Computer simulation - Model limitations and errors of human cognition.  Parallel distributed processing Neural network modeling based on interconnections between neuron-like units. AI provides computational frameworks for understanding perception, reasoning, learning and other aspects of intelligence. Cognitive Science Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field encompassing cognitive psychology, neuroscience, AI, philosophy, linguistics and other areas to comprehensively study mind and thinking. Core themes include:  Understanding cognition requires examining internal mental representations and information processing.  Cognition emerges interactions between body and environment.  An integrative, multidimensional framework combining concepts from different disciplines is needed to explain the complexities of intelligent thought and behavior. from brain,