Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

What is Cognitive Neuroscience?

The interdisciplinary integration of neurology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and computer science to uncover the neural mechanisms of cognition.

Four Disciplines of Cognitive Neuroscience

Neurology, Neuroscience, Cognitive psychology, and Computer science/Artificial intelligence.

Behavioral Neurology

An approach emphasizing the link between specific brain regions and behaviors/cognitions, such as language and the left hemisphere.

Gold Standard in Brain Testing

Behavioral neurology remains the gold standard for testing which brain regions are critical for a function via task-based deficit analysis.

Levels of Neuroscience Study

Cellular, molecular, and systems levels, each studied in terms of anatomy, physiology, and chemistry.

Cognitive Psychology

The detailed analysis of how information is processed during complex tasks, which can be modeled without considering biological issues.

Baddeley & Hitch Model (1974)

A working memory model consisting of two storage buffers (phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad) and a central executive.

Central Executive in Baddeley & Hitch Model

Coordinates stores, provides attentional control, has no storage capacity, and interfaces with long-term memory.

Methods of Cognitive Neuroscience

Electrophysiology, neuroimaging (PET, fMRI), lesions (experimental, clinical, TMS), and computational models.

QDAFI Framework

A recitation method: Question, Do, Author's rationale, Findings, and Interpretation.

QDAFI Framework: Q (Question)

Identifies the main research question in 1-2 sentences, skipping citations and general importance.

QDAFI Framework: D (Do)

Details the core design, what was compared or manipulated, and what was measured.

QDAFI Framework: A (Author's Rationale)

Explains the logic connecting the method to the question and identifies expected results.

QDAFI Framework: F (Findings)

Presents core results and facts related to the research question without interpretation.

QDAFI Framework: I (Interpretation)

Evaluates authors' discussion, focusing on confounds, causal overclaims, and inadequate measurements.

Semendeferi et al. (2002) Research Question

Are human frontal cortices disproportionately large relative to brain size compared to great apes?

Semendeferi et al. (2002) Findings

Human relative frontal cortex volumes overlap substantially with great apes, unlike gibbons and monkeys.

Semendeferi et al. (2002) Interpretation

Human cognitive specialization depends on neural connectivity and regional reorganization, not overall relative size.