26 Questions
What does cognitive neuroscience study?
Physiological basis of cognition
What approach does cognitive neuroscience take in studying the mind?
Levels-of-analysis approach
According to Ramon y Cajal's research, what theory was abandoned in favor of the neuron doctrine?
The neural network theory
What is the main function of individual cells called neurons, as per the neuron doctrine?
Transmitting signals in the nervous system
What did Edgar Adrian determine about action potentials as they travel down an axon?
They remain the same size
How does increasing stimulus intensity affect the rate of nerve firing, according to Edgar Adrian's findings?
It increases the rate of nerve firing
According to the principle of neural representation, how is a person's experience based?
Representation in the person's nervous system
In accordance with the principle of neural representation, what is the primary determinant of a person's experience?
Representations in the nervous system
In the context of neural representation, what does population coding refer to?
Encoding of information by a population of neurons
How does sparse coding contribute to neural representation?
Encodes information using a small number of active neurons
In the context of neural representation, what does the existence of a separate primary receiving area for each sense support?
The principle of neural representation
What evidence supports the idea of localization of function in perception?
The existence of a separate primary receiving area for each sense
What is the primary method used to measure brain activation during cognitive functioning?
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
What is the main purpose of creating a brain map based on the response to movies in brain-imaging experiments?
To indicate the kinds of stimuli that activate different areas of the brain
How does distributed processing relate to the perception of seeing a face, remembering, and producing language?
It involves the involvement of multiple brain regions for each function
What principle is illustrated by the multidimensional nature of experiences like seeing a face, remembering, and producing language?
The principle of distributed processing
What is one of the primary characteristics of neural networks?
They are functionally and structurally related
In the context of neural representation, what does sparse coding contribute to?
Efficient representation of sensory information
What method has been used to measure structural connectivity in the brain?
Track-weighted imaging
In the context of neural representation, what does sparse coding contribute to?
Efficient representation of sensory information
What is one of the primary methods for measuring functional connectivity?
Resting-level fMRI
How can functional connectivity be measured besides resting-level fMRI?
Task-related fMRI
Which method is NOT a primary method for measuring functional connectivity?
Increasing stimulus intensity
What evidence supports the idea of localization of function in perception?
Action potentials traveling down an axon
What is the primary distinguishing feature of the default mode network compared to other networks?
It increases in activity when the brain is at rest
How does the activity of the default mode network differ from other networks when a person is engaged in a cognitive task?
It decreases in activity
Study Notes
Cognitive Neuroscience
- Studies the neural mechanisms underlying human cognition and behavior
Research Approach
- Takes a multidisciplinary approach, combining biology, psychology, computer science, and engineering to understand the mind
History of Neuroscience
- Ramon y Cajal's research led to the abandonment of the "reticular theory" in favor of the neuron doctrine
- The neuron doctrine states that individual cells called neurons are the functional units of the brain
Neuron Function
- Neurons receive, integrate, and transmit information
Action Potentials
- Edgar Adrian discovered that action potentials decrease in amplitude as they travel down an axon
- Increasing stimulus intensity increases the rate of nerve firing
Neural Representation
- A person's experience is based on the pattern of neural activity across the brain (principle of neural representation)
- The primary determinant of a person's experience is the pattern of neural activity
- Population coding refers to the idea that a group of neurons represents a particular aspect of an experience
- Sparse coding contributes to efficient representation and flexible perception
Brain Organization
- The existence of separate primary receiving areas for each sense supports localization of function in perception
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the primary method used to measure brain activation during cognitive functioning
- Brain mapping is used to create a detailed map of brain areas involved in cognitive tasks
Distributed Processing
- Distributed processing is involved in perceiving a face, remembering, and producing language
- This is illustrated by the multidimensional nature of these experiences
- Neural networks exhibit distributed processing, which enables efficient and flexible information processing
Neural Networks
- One of the primary characteristics of neural networks is their ability to learn and adapt
Sparse Coding
- Sparse coding contributes to efficient representation and flexible perception in neural representation
Measuring Brain Connectivity
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is used to measure structural connectivity in the brain
- Functional connectivity can be measured using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG)
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electrocorticography (ECoG) can also be used to measure functional connectivity
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is not a primary method for measuring functional connectivity
Default Mode Network
- The default mode network is characterized by high activity during rest and low activity during cognitive tasks
- This network is distinct from other networks due to its unique activity pattern
Test your understanding of the levels-of-analysis approach in cognitive neuroscience, which involves studying the physiological basis of cognition at both behavioral and physiological levels.
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