LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE

Scope of Cognitive Psychology

Perception, Memory, Problem-solving, Language

Wilhelm Wundt

The father of psychology, introduced introspection in the late 1800s

Introspection

Examination of one’s own conscious thoughts and feelings

William James

Expanded psychology’s scope through functionalism, focusing on how mental processes help people adapt to their environment. Instead of just describing thoughts, he asked why we think and behave the way we do.

Cognitive Revolution

Was a major shift in psychology during the 1950s-1960s, moving away from behaviorism’s focus on observable actions toward studying mental processes such as thinking, memory, perception, and problem-solving.

Ulric Neisser (1967)

The Architect of Cognitive Psychology, who coined the term Cognitive Psychology (1967). Wrote Cognitive Psychology (1967), the first textbook that formally defined the field. He synthesized research on perception, memory, and thinking into a unified framework.

George A. Miller

The Limits of Memory: His famous paper, “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two” (1956), revealed that short-term memory can hold about seven items at once. He also helped found the Center for Cognitive Studies at Harvard.

Noam Chomsky

The Language Challenger. His critique of B.F. Skinner’s Verbal Behavior (1959) argued that language cannot be explained by reinforcement alone. He proposed that humans have an innate language acquisition device — a mental structure enabling grammar and syntax learning.

Behavioral Neuroscience

• Scope: Examines the biological bases of behavior, including brain structures, neurotransmitters, and nervous system functioning.

• Goals: To link brain activity with observable behavior and mental processes.

• History: Grew alongside advances in neurobiology and brain imaging technologies.

1970s

EEG and PET scans introduced

EEG (Electroencephalography)

Allowed researchers to record electrical activity in the brain in real time.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

Enabled visualization of metabolic activity in different brain regions.

1990s

fMRI revolutionized real-time brain imaging.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Offered high-resolution, real-time imaging of blood flow changes in the brain, linked to neural activity.

2000s–Present:

Discoveries in neuroplasticity and brain-computer interfaces.

Neuroplasticity

Discoveries showed the brain can reorganize itself after injury, learning, or experience.

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

Technology now allows direct communication between the brain and external devices