(1310) Ch1 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience (4th Edition)

Cognitive neuroscience

The field linking the mind (cognition and psychological processes) and the brain (biological components).

Wilder Penfield

A neurosurgeon known for mapping the brain and understanding brain functions through electrical stimulation during epilepsy surgeries.

Epilepsy

A neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Functional specialization

The concept that different parts of the brain are specialized to perform specific cognitive tasks.

Phrenology

A debunked theory that claimed the shape and bumps of the skull could determine personality traits and mental abilities.

Neuropsychology

The study of the relationship between brain function and behavior, often involving patients with brain injuries.

Cognitive neuropsychology

A branch of psychology that studies the organization of cognitive functions in the brain using patients with specific deficits.

fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Dualism

The philosophical idea that the mind and body are distinct and separate entities.

Reductionism

The approach that aims to explain complex cognitive phenomena by reducing them to their biological underpinnings.

The connectome

A comprehensive map of neural connections in the brain, likened to the human genome.

Electrical stimulation

A technique used to activate specific areas of the brain to study its functions and responses.

Temporal resolution

The precision of timing in measurements of brain activity, important in determining how quickly processes occur.

Spatial resolution

The level of detail in brain imaging data, indicating how well different brain areas can be distinguished from one another.

Cognitive processes

Mental activities typically involving perception, attention, memory, reasoning, and language.

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

A non-invasive method used to stimulate small regions of the brain through electromagnetic induction.

Event-related potentials (ERPs)

Measurements of brain response that are the direct result of a specific sensory, cognitive, or motor event.

Behavioral data

Information collected from observation of actions or responses in experiments, used to infer cognitive processes.

Cognitive models

Theoretical representations of mental processes that help explain how the mind operates.

Neural processing speed

The rate at which neurons transmit information and respond to stimuli in the brain.