The emergence of cognitive neuroscience Cognitive neuroscience is

The emergence of cognitive neuroscience Cognitive neuroscience is an academic field concerned with the scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates of mental processes. • It addresses the questions of how psychological/cognitive functions are produced by neural circuits in the brain.

The emergence of cognitive neuroscience • In the last 20 years advances in brain imaging techniqes enabling scientists to describe the neurologial basis of mental processes • Enables scientists to establish the neurological basis of some mental disorders e. g OCD

Fmri Scans • Functional magnetic resonance imaging, or f. MRI, is a technique for measuring brain activity. • It works by detecting the changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity • f. MRI can be used to produce activation maps showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process.

Pet Scans • A brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test of the brain. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease or injury in the brain. A PET scan shows how the brain and its tissues are working.

The emergence of cognitive neuroscience

‘Brain fingerprinting’ • More recent methods such as computer generated models which are designed to ‘read’ the brain. • We could use this to apply to things such as brain waves of eyewitnesses to see if they are lying in court. • When the brain recognizes something familiar, the brain elicits a wavelike response known as a MERMER • Can be used to catch criminals or terrorists

‘Brain fingerprinting’ • The inventor said it has been effective in convicting criminals in court • Claiming that the test is 99. 99% infallible, Falwell's test convinced the court to free the convicted person. The real perpetrator pleaded guilty.

Why does CN play a huge role in understanding behaviour? • We can see which brain areas are active during different cognitive tasks • Provides scientific evidence to base inferences on • Can look at damaged areas of the brain and make inferences