What is Cognitive Neuroscience?
Science policy was not our primary, let alone exclusive, topic of common concern. Soon the new cognitive neuroscience of vision became our favorite topic of discussion. In fact, in order to understand how a cognitive neuroscientist and a philosopher of mind could come to write a book on vision together, it is important to say what cognitive neuroscience is. Cognitive neuroscience is the biological roots of the current cognitive sciences. Cognitive neuroscience, however, is only one component of the neurosciences. The goal of the neurosciences is to understand what is arguably the most complex physical object presently known in the universe: the human brain. A human brain contains in the order of one hundred billions neurons, which are involved in roughly one million billions synaptic connections. At the most elementary biological levels of organization of brain functions, molecular neurobiology tries to understand the chemical composition of neurons and the molecular structure of neuro
Cognitive neuroscience is an interdisciplinary study of human cognition. Researchers within the discipline look at the psychological, computational, and biological mechanisms which have an impact on human thought, or cognition. Numerous branches of science including cognitive psychology, neuroscience, psychobiology, psychophysics, and neurobiology are integrated into the study of cognitive neuroscience, which aims to understand how humans think and behave, and why. In addition to incorporating research from numerous disciplines, cognitive neuroscience also uses a great deal of technology to study human cognition. Advanced brain imaging systems are used to gain a deeper knowledge of the division of labor within the brain, for example. The study of genetics also plays an important role, as scientists attempt to understand potential genetic links to behavior and through processes. In addition, scientists carry out controlled studies inside and outside of the lab to learn more about how pe
Cognitive neuroscience is the study of how cognitive or thought processes take place in the human brain. Cognitive processes are defined as the specific psychological steps that are required to perform a particular task. An understanding of cognitive neuroscience is essential to develop and test cognitive and neurobiological models of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
