Beginning Concepts in Cognitive Science

Question 1

Define cognition

Answer 1

mental processes that relates to; acquisition, storage, manipulation, retrieval of information, information
guides behaviour

Question 2

How does cognition help us?

Answer 2

interpret the world, use of senses to navigate

perceive, react, process, understand, store, retrieve info - make decisions and respond to stimuli

Question 3

What is the role of cognition?

Answer 3

controls our thoughts, behaviours by neurotransmitter systems

Question 4

What brain chemicals are involved in cognitive processes?

Answer 4

dopamine = pleasure, satisfaction, motivation 
Noradrenaline = fight/flight, muscle and heart 
Serotonin = regulate mood
Acetylcholine = parasympathetic NS, contracts muscles, blood vessels, bodily secretion, slows HR
Glutamate = signals between nerve cells, learning/memory 
GABA = neurotransmitter in the brain, protects and calms

Question 5

How cognition affects us?

Answer 5

cognition changing/adaption to new info, regulates behaviour
genetic + environmental
eg: FAS

Question 6

Why is cognition important?

Answer 6

important for healthy development
deficits occur in neuropsychological disorders = biggest global health challenges/conditions associated with cognitive problems

Question 7

Examples of cognitive impairment

Answer 7

dementia, critical brain injury/trauma, associated with obesity (impulse behaviour)

Question 8

Form of cognitive measurements

Answer 8

cognitive assessments - measurement of abilities (memory, inhibition, etc)
computerised cognitive assessments - CANTAB

Question 9

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Answer 9

modify cognitive, emotional, behaviour processes

understanding thought styles and processes to explain feelings

Question 10

The thought-emotion cycle (CBT)

Answer 10

explore meanings given to situations, emotions, biology - negative automatic thoughts (NAT)
how thoughts appraise impact of events

Question 11

New behavioural directions in CBT

Answer 11

model of behavioural + cognitive approach
developments in theory and knowledge = elaboration of interventions (activation), behavioural perspectives on mindfulness

Question 12

Foundation behaviour therapy theory

Answer 12

1. classical conditioning tradition - Pavlov - antecedents
2. reinforcement tradition - Skinner - consequences
   ABC = antecedent-behaviour-consequences approach (functional analysis), functional of behaviour in its context

Question 13

The operation of the ABC process

Answer 13

therapists - identifying triggers and consequences to encourage/discourage continuance

Question 14

Identifying and working with antecedents (ABC)

Answer 14

recognition - questions
establishes types of triggers, factors that cause stress, interpersonal buttons

HOW modifiable they are

antecedents can be concrete external events

Question 15

Identifying and modifying problematic behaviours (ABC)

Answer 15

more detail of behaviours as antecedents clarified

therapists - clear view on how behaviours can be modified by finding out more information on clients behaviours

Question 16

Identifying and modifying consequences (ABC)

Answer 16

behaviours rewards/reinforced = repeated // punished = less likely
focus for change - whether changing consequences can alter situation

Question 17

Behaviour change as a ‘percentage game’ (ABC)

Answer 17

‘percentage game’ = more you test someone the more likely they are to make mitakes

AIM - forward momentum in behaviour change, reach ‘critical mass’ leading to momentum

Question 18

Behavioural activation: an intervention of choice when working with clients suffering depression

Answer 18

behavioural withdrawal = depression
behavioural activation develops skills in connecting with supportive environments
Since 18thC

Question 19

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

Answer 19

‘third wave’ therapies = changing r/ships to thoughts and experiences through acceptance, compassion, mindfulness
history in spiritual traditions

Question 20

Developing mindfulness and CBT for depression

Answer 20

depression = chronic, persistent, high relapse, episodes leading to depression

MBCT (Segal, Williams, Teasdale) prevent people from relapse = DECENTRING - ability to step back from experience and thought

Question 21

Decentring and depression

Answer 21

experiences of depression can lead to further episodes
preventing relapse - disengage from toxic modes
decentring - change content of thinking + r/ship to thoughts/experience

Question 22

Indigenous knowledge

Answer 22

understanding of interconnectedness between mind, bodies, world
‘going slow’ concept, stay in the moment

Question 23

Neuro-decolonisation

Answer 23

brain science - how brain functions in a colonial situation, how mind/brain activities can change neural networks to enable overcoming effects of colonisation

Question 24

What neuroscience research says

Answer 24

brains have capacity to change throughout our lives based on experiences
how brain changes depends on how we train the mind to engage

Question 25

Define neuroplasticity

Answer 25

brains capacity to change to accommodate wishes/experiences plasticity paradox (Doidge) - brain keeping bad habits and disorders

Question 26

Note on negativity | Neuro-decolonisation

Answer 26

decolonise harmful emotions, thoughts, behaviours - acknowledge imbalance + courage to confront brain wired for negativity - views more likely shaped by pessimism

Question 27

Neuro-decolonisation defined

Answer 27

= understanding how the mind and brain function and are shaped by the stresses of colonialism stressors - racism, hate crimes, loss of land, mmortality, poverty etc systematic use of exercises to transform, delete ineffective brain networks, encourage growth of new ones

Question 28

The neurobiology of mindfulness (and decolonisation)

Answer 28

neural systems used to achieve meditative states and determine effects of practice on structures/function brain/processes changed by mindfulness

Question 29

Neuroplasticity

Answer 29

= brains ability to change according to experiences neuro = brains nerve cells plasticity = change shape/function/neural networks to accommodate experience

Question 30

The brain’s state and trait effects

Answer 30

state effects = changes that occur during active meditate trait effects = changes overtime because of continuous meditation, permanent/long-lasting optimistic traist in left side of prefrontal cortex (neurodecolonisation)

Question 31

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex and Executive Brain Function

Answer 31

mindfulness meditation activates DLPFC, associated with decision making/attention front part of the brain - working memory, cog flexibility EBF = intelligence, judgement, behaviour

Question 32

Cognitive flexibility

Answer 32

= capacity to move from one task to another without difficulty executive brain region - put off distractions/need for instant gratification colonialism = instant gratification eg obesity

Question 33

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Answer 33

attention, motivation, motor control, error detection, anticipation of tasks important in neuro-decolonisation mindfulness = activation in cingulate cortex

Question 34

Temporal Parietal Junction

Answer 34

activated during meditation perceive emotional/mental state of others and respond (EI) EI helps to understand levels of colonisation + neuro-colonisation activities that activate this part

Question 35

Amygdala

Answer 35

limbic system - processing fear/aggression and flight/fight role in binge drinking, psych disorders (anxiety, OCD, PTSD) meditation quiets activity of amygdala

Question 36

Insula

Answer 36

social emotions - lust, disgust, pride, guilt, empathy | 'gut' feelings - awareness of internal body states

Question 37

Orbital Frontal Cortex

Answer 37

front of the brain - internal reality check, how we come across to others neuro-decolonisation - understand our own OFC to recognise how it operates in our own world 'colonial brain disorder'

Question 38

An Indigenous people’s neuro-decolonisation policy

Answer 38

oppressive colonialism - signal to brain of how we should respond unhealthy brain = response of fear, frustration, anger, negativity

Question 39

Importance of neuro-decolonisation on the brain

Answer 39

how human brain function in colonial setting + use of mind/brain activities can change neural networks = enable and overcome effects of colonialism