Cognitive Neuroscience

University of Michigan-Dearborn

5 Oct 202007:27

Summary

TLDRDr. Jung Shu Liu introduces cognitive neuroscience, a discipline bridging psychology and neurobiology, focusing on higher-order cognition and emotions at the brain region level. The course, Psych 400, with a prerequisite of introductory psychology, covers neural imaging methods like fMRI and EEG to study cognitive functions. It also explores topics like memory, attention, and language, preparing students for further studies or careers in academia and industry.

Takeaways

🎓 Jung Shu Liu is a psychology professor specializing in cognitive neuroscience at the Department of Behavioral Sciences.
📚 The course Psych 400: Cognitive Neuroscience has a prerequisite of introductory psychology and fulfills a major requirement for cognition concentration.
🧠 Cognitive neuroscience bridges the gap between psychology and neurobiology by focusing on higher-order cognitive functions like memory, attention, and language at the brain region level.
🔬 The course covers neural imaging methods such as fMRI, EEG, and MEG, which are used to visualize brain activity during cognitive tasks.
👨‍🔬 Research in cognitive neuroscience explores how different brain regions work together to support cognitive functions, using paradigms like face perception and memory encoding.
🏫 The course provides a foundation in neural anatomy, imaging methods, and cognitive functions, preparing students for further study or research in the field.
👩‍🔬 Students interested in cognitive neuroscience research can join the cognitive neuroscience lab at UM Dearborn, which is equipped with EEG and eye-tracking systems.
💡 Studying cognitive neuroscience can lead to a deeper understanding of the human mind, preparation for graduate studies, and skills in data analysis, programming, and imaging techniques.
🌟 The course is designed for undergraduates and is accessible for all students interested in the subject, regardless of their background.
❓ Professor Liu encourages students with questions about the course or research opportunities to reach out for further information.

Q & A

What is Jung Shu Liu's position at the university?
-Jung Shu Liu is a psychology professor at the department of behavioral sciences.
What is the course code for the cognitive neuroscience course taught by Professor Liu?
-The course code for the cognitive neuroscience course is Psych 400.
What is the prerequisite for Professor Liu's cognitive neuroscience course?
-The prerequisite for the cognitive neuroscience course is introductory psychology.
How does cognitive neuroscience bridge the gap between psychology and neurobiology?
-Cognitive neuroscience bridges the gap by focusing on higher-order cognition and emotions at the brain region level, rather than the cellular or subcellular levels.
What are some of the methods cognitive neuroscience relies on to study the brain?
-Cognitive neuroscience relies on neural imaging methods such as fMRI, avenir, EEG, and MEG, which provide insights into brain activity during cognitive processing.
What is an example of a simple task used in Professor Liu's research to study brain activity?
-An example of a simple task used in research is showing participants a face picture and observing the engagement of various brain regions.
What brain regions are typically engaged when participants look at a face picture in an fMRI study?
-Brain regions engaged include the occipital regions due to visual processing and the hippocampus due to memory formation.
How does cognitive neuroscience differ from other disciplines like biopsychology and behavioral neuroscience?
-While all these disciplines bridge biology and psychology, cognitive neuroscience specifically focuses on higher-level cognitive functions like memory, attention, and language, and often uses neural imaging methods.
What are some of the cognitive functions that will be studied in Professor Liu's course?
-The course will study cognitive functions such as sensation, attention, memory, emotion, and language.
What opportunities does Professor Liu offer for students interested in cognitive neuroscience research?
-Professor Liu offers opportunities for students to join her lab as research volunteers, independent study students, honor thesis students, or graduate students.
What are the potential benefits of studying cognitive neuroscience for students?
-Studying cognitive neuroscience can help students better understand the human mind and psychology, prepare for graduate studies, and acquire skills in data analysis, programming, and imaging techniques that can be useful for industrial jobs.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

Dr. Jung Shu Liu, a psychology professor at the Department of Behavioral Sciences, introduces cognitive neuroscience as a discipline that bridges psychology and neurobiology. The course, Psych 400, is designed for students with a background in introductory psychology and aims to fulfill the cognition concentration requirement for psychology majors. Cognitive neuroscience focuses on higher-order cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and language, studying how different brain regions interact to support these functions. Dr. Liu explains the importance of understanding the biological basis of psychological phenomena and how neural imaging techniques like fMRI, EEG, and MEG are used to visualize brain activity during cognitive tasks. She provides an example of how fMRI can be used to study brain activity when participants view facial images, highlighting the engagement of various brain regions in memory and perception.

05:02

📚 Course Structure and Opportunities in Cognitive Neuroscience

The course will cover basic neural anatomy, neural imaging methods, and cognitive functions such as sensation, attention, memory, emotion, and language. Students will learn about psychological phenomena, research paradigms, theories, and the cognitive neuroscience perspective on these topics. Dr. Liu will present studies to demonstrate how brain mechanisms are studied and which brain parts are crucial for specific cognitive functions. The course is suitable for undergraduates and offers opportunities for students to participate in cognitive neuroscience research at the university's lab, which is equipped with advanced EEG and eye-tracking systems. Studying cognitive neuroscience can enhance understanding of the human mind, prepare students for graduate studies, and equip them with valuable skills in data analysis, programming, and imaging techniques, which can be beneficial for both academic and industrial careers. Dr. Liu encourages students with questions about the course or research to contact her.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cognitive Neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that studies the neural mechanisms underlying higher-order cognition such as memory, attention, language, and emotion. It is central to the video's theme as it is the subject of the course being introduced. The professor explains that cognitive neuroscience bridges the gap between psychology and neurobiology by focusing on the brain region level rather than the cellular or subcellular levels. For instance, the professor mentions using neural imaging methods to study how different brain regions work together during cognitive processing.

💡Neural Imaging

Neural imaging refers to the use of various techniques to visualize and measure the brain's activity. In the context of the video, the professor discusses how neural imaging methods like fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), EEG (electroencephalography), and MEG (magnetoencephalography) are used to study cognitive processes. These methods allow researchers to see which brain regions are engaged during specific cognitive tasks and at what time points, providing insights into the neural basis of cognition.

💡Psychology Major

A psychology major typically involves the study of human behavior, cognition, and emotion. In the script, the professor mentions that the course fulfills a requirement for a psychology major with a cognition concentration, indicating that the course is part of a broader academic program that prepares students for careers or further study in psychology.

💡Cognitive Function

Cognitive function refers to the mental processes by which an organism perceives, processes, stores, and retrieves information. The professor outlines that the course will cover various cognitive functions such as sensation, attention, memory, emotion, and language. These functions are the core topics of cognitive neuroscience and are explored through both psychological and neurobiological perspectives in the course.

💡Neurobiology

Neurobiology is the study of how neurons and neural circuits process information at the cellular and subcellular level. The professor contrasts neurobiology with cognitive neuroscience, highlighting that while neurobiology focuses on the cellular mechanisms, cognitive neuroscience is concerned with the brain regions and their interactions in support of cognitive functions.

💡Introductory Psychology

Introductory psychology is a foundational course that provides an overview of the various subfields within psychology. The professor states that the only prerequisite for the cognitive neuroscience course is introductory psychology, suggesting that students should have a basic understanding of psychological concepts before delving into the neural mechanisms underlying cognition.

💡Cognition Concentration

A cognition concentration within a psychology major emphasizes the study of cognitive processes such as perception, memory, thinking, and language. The professor mentions that the course fulfills the cognition concentration requirement, indicating that it is designed for students who wish to specialize in understanding the cognitive aspects of human behavior.

💡EEG (Electroencephalography)

EEG is a method of measuring electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. The professor explains that EEG has excellent temporal resolution, which allows researchers to pinpoint the exact time points when specific cognitive processes occur. This method is used in the cognitive neuroscience lab mentioned in the script to study brain activity during various tasks.

💡fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

fMRI is a neuroimaging technique that measures the blood oxygen level in different brain regions, which is indicative of neural activity. The professor uses the example of fMRI to illustrate how cognitive neuroscience can study the brain regions engaged during a simple task like looking at a face picture, highlighting the method's utility in understanding cognitive processes.

💡Behavioral Neuroscience

Behavioral neuroscience is a discipline that studies the neural basis of behavior. The professor mentions behavioral neuroscience as one of the disciplines that bridge the gap between basic biology and psychology, similar to cognitive neuroscience but with a different focus. This field is concerned with how the brain and nervous system influence behavior.

💡Cognitive Neuroscience Lab

The cognitive neuroscience lab at the university is a facility where students can engage in research using advanced equipment like EEG and eye-tracking systems. The professor invites students to join the lab as volunteers or for independent study, indicating that the course not only provides theoretical knowledge but also practical research experience.

Highlights

Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience as a discipline bridging psychology and neurobiology.

Course Psych 400 with a prerequisite of introductory psychology.

Cognitive Neuroscience fulfills the psychology major cognition concentration requirement.

Definition of Cognitive Neuroscience and its focus on higher-order cognition and emotions.

Importance of understanding the nervous system for psychology.

Role of neurobiology in studying neuron function at cellular and subcellular levels.

Cognitive Neuroscience's focus on brain region level rather than cellular levels.

Study of brain regions working together to support cognitive functions.

Comparison of Cognitive Neuroscience with other disciplines like biopsychology and behavioral neuroscience.

Cognitive Neuroscience's reliance on neural imaging methods like fMRI and avenir.

Explanation of neural imaging and its ability to capture blood oxygen levels in the brain.

Use of neural imaging to study cognitive processing in real-time.

Example of using fMRI to study brain activity during face perception.

Discussion on the brain regions engaged during face perception and memory formation.

Cognitive Neuroscience's exploration of face processing, expression, and recognition.

Introduction to EEG as a method for measuring brain activity with high temporal resolution.

Overview of the course content covering neural anatomy, imaging methods, and cognitive functions.

Opportunity for students to join the Cognitive Neuroscience lab for research.

Benefits of studying Cognitive Neuroscience for understanding the human mind and preparing for graduate studies.

Practical applications of Cognitive Neuroscience skills in data analysis, programming, and imaging techniques for industrial jobs.

Invitation for questions and contact regarding the Cognitive Neuroscience course and research.