Cognitive Neuroscience

 

Cognitive Neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience is a subfield of neuroscience that studies the biological processes that underlie human cognition, especially in regards to the relation between brain structures, activity, and cognitive functions. The purpose is to determine how the brain functions and achieves performance. Cognitive neuroscience is considered as a branch of both psychology and neuroscience, because it combines the biological sciences with the behavioral sciences, such as psychiatry and psychology. Technologies that measure brain activity, like functional neuroimaging, can provide insight into behavioral observations when behavioral data is insufficient. Decision-making is an example of a biological process that influences cognition.

What is Cognitive Neuroscience?

The term itself refers to a subfield of neuroscience that studies the biological processes that underlie human cognition. This field studies the neural connections within the human brain. It helps in determining how the brain achieves the functions it performs. Cognitive neuroscience is considered a cross-disciplinary field because it combines the biological sciences with the behavioral sciences. Neuroscience research technology, like neuroimaging, can provide insight into specific areas of behavior when behavioral data is insufficient.

Cognitive Neuroscience Example

Examining cognitive neuroscience experiments is helpful to understand this subfield at work. A recent award-winning experiment explored the role of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of satisfaction, brain function, and decision making. Humans need to be able to make decisions that benefit them to survive. When we make a decision that results in a reward, the activity level of dopamine neurons increases — and eventually this response happens even in anticipation of a reward.

This biological process is why we seek greater and greater rewards, such as promotions or degrees, as a higher number of rewards are linked with a higher chance of survival. Decision-making is an example of a biological process that influences cognitive processes.