why would anyone want to be a neuroscientist?. the scientific study of the nervous system and its...
TRANSCRIPT
The scientific study of the nervous system and its relationship to cognition and behaviour.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuro-pathologyNeuro-
pathology
Neuro-physiology
Neuro-physiology
Neuro-endocrinology
Neuro-endocrinology
Neuro-psycho-
pharmacology
Neuro-psycho-
pharmacology
NeuroanatomyNeuroanatomy
NeuroimageryNeuroimagery
MolecularneurobiologyMolecular
neurobiology
Neuro-psychology
Neuro-psychology
NeurosciencesNeurosciences
Nervous System
CentralPeripheral
+ Cranial nerves
Brain Somatic(intrinsic sensing)
Spinal CordAutonomic
(extrinsic sensing)
Associative Learning Mechanisms
• Classical Conditioning• Discovered by Ivan
Pavlov (1920s)• Passive learning
• Operant Conditioning• Discovered by B.F.
Skinner (1960s)• Active learning
How is the Brain studied?
• Case Studies• Gene Splicing• Imaging
– PET – EEG (electrical current detection)
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (causes
temporary disruption of a brain region)– MRI – fMRI – CAT
How is learning and memory enabled?
• Signal Transduction:– Inter-Neuron communication
occurs via Neurotransmitters at the synaptic gap
• Neural Plasticity:– Through experience, Neurons
can change the way they function
• Long Term Potentiation:– Cellular mechanism through
which associations can be detected and recorded in the brain
Attention Encoding
SensoryMemory
WorkingMemory LTM
SensoryInput
MaintenanceRehearsal
Indefiniteduration
Retrieval
Stage Theory of Memory
The Latest Breakthrough
• 07 May 2004, Science– Scientists Uncover
How Brain Retrieves and Stores Older Memories
The “Mozart Effect” and other tragedies in science reporting
• Mozart Effect:Actual Conclusion– “"there are correlational,
historical, and anecdotal relationships between music cognition and cognitions pertaining to abstract operations such as mathematical or spatial reasoning,"
Media’s Conclusion- “listening to Mozart can
make one smarter”
• Estrogen Aides Brain Activity, Tests Find– Brain in the News, April 16,
1999 (vol. 6, No.7)
• Deep in the story one finds this telling paragraph,"Because of the way the imaging test was designed, the women did not show any noticeable difference in their conscious ability to recall the words, only at the more subtle level of cellular function. The researchers believe, however, that the brain activity does reflect improved memory." !!!!
“If only we could scan the brains of science writers when they are writing this kind of nonsense and compare it to the brain scans of neuroscientists when they have to read it! Now that might make an
interesting story!”
• WOMEN USE MORE OF BRAIN WHEN LISTENING, STUDY SAYS (LA Times, November 29, 2000) – Study not published– Showed differing patterns
of brain images acquired from men and women listening to a reading of a John Grisham novel
• FADS:– Brain-Based
Learning• Distorted
neuroscience research to support a particular educational philosophy.