Cognitive Neuroscience PDF

Cognitive Neuroscience - The study of how cognition is realized in the brain, focusing on neural processes underlying thoughts, memory, attention, and perception. Regions of the Brain: (Forebrain) - Located at the top/front - Responsible for sensory processing, thinking, language, and motor fun...

Cognitive Neuroscience - The study of how cognition is realized in the brain, focusing on neural processes underlying thoughts, memory, attention, and perception. Regions of the Brain: (Forebrain) - Located at the top/front - Responsible for sensory processing, thinking, language, and motor functions. Diencephalon - Includes thalamus and hypothalamus Telencephalon - Contains the cerebral cortex and limbic system. Limbic System - Emotion, motivation, memory, and learning. Amygdala - Handles emotions like anger and fear Hippocampus - Essential for memory formation and spatial memory. Hypothalamus - Regulates behaviors like feeding, mating, and stress responses. Thalamus - Relay station for sensory information (Midbrain) - Located within the brainstem - Controls eye movements and processes auditory and visual information Reticular Activating System - Controls consciousness, attention, and cardiorespiratory function (Hindbrain) - Located at the back/base - Coordinates vital functions like breathing and motor activity Cerebellum - Controls balance, coordination, and muscle tone. Pons - Involved in sleep and arousal Medulla Oblongata - Manages cardiorespiratory function and reflex actions Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex Frontal Lobe - Associated with motor processing, problem-solving, planning, and judgment Parietal Lobe - Processes sensory input like touch, pain, and spatial relationships Temporal Lobe - Responsible for auditory processing and language comprehension Occipital Lobe - Processes visual information Neuron Structure Neuron - Basic unit of the nervous system, transmitting signals via electrical and chemical processes Cell Body (Soma) - Contains the nucleus and provides nourishment. Dendrites - Branch-like extensions that receive incoming signals. Axon - Long fiber transmitting signals to other neurons or muscles. Myelin Sheath - Insulating layer that speeds up signal transmission. Synaptic Terminals (Buttons) - Contain neurotransmitters for communication. Nerve Impulse Transmission Resting Potential - The neuron’s stable, negative charge (-70mV) at rest Graded Potential - Initial, localized electrical signals generated by stimulation Action Potential - An all-or-nothing response transmitting the nerve impulse (Communication Between Neurons) - Occurs at the synapse, where neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft to bind with receptors on the next neuron. Neurotransmitters - Chemical messengers transmitting signals between neurons Types and Neurotransmitters: Dopamine - Involved in reward, motivation, and motor control. Serotonin - Regulates mood, appetite, and sleep. Acetylcholine - Critical for muscle action, memory, and learning. Norepinephrine - Enhances alertness and focus. GABA - Inhibitory neurotransmitter reducing neural excitability. Glutamate - Excitatory neurotransmitter critical for learning and memory. Parietal-Frontal Integration Theory (P-FIT) - Highlights interconnected regions, including the prefrontal cortex and parietal lobes, in determining intelligence.