According to a cognitive psychology named Ulric Neisser in 1967.Hedescribes“cognitive process as the psychological processes involved in acquiring of knowledge and its understanding,
Also, cognition can be describe as the involvement in gaining knowledge and comprehension. Cognitive processes are ‘brain-based skills’ we need to carry out any task from a minimal unit to the difficult task. Theyhave more to do with the mechanisms of oursurrounding, rather than with any actual things such as listening to the ringtone(perception),decision making(which talks about motor skill; whether or not issue), social skill, language skill e.t.c. In understanding more detail about cognitive processes we need to outline some objective of learning such as ‘attention, sensation, and perception’Igundunese Alex (2016) personal communication. Attention requires to observed pattern carefully that is, absorb such information into the memory in a process called ‘storage’. The memory then reread the sentences, then the brain organise those information for future collection or retriever. 'jean piaget” (1936)based his believed that all knowledge is built like you would build anything, pieces by pieces. Thepieces used by piaget(1936) were refers to as ‘schemata’ which he theorized ‘that children learn by encountering new information and either finding an existing schema into which they can incorporate new information or constructing a new schema’.Akinsola, E.F (2012). This is because the cognitive approach is a scientific one. Forinstances, participant will take part in memory test strictly controlled condition (Carl Rogers,1959) .they also used behaviourist approach to study external observable(stimulus and response) behaviour which can be objectively measured. JohnB.Watson (1940s and 1950s) .they believe that internal behaviourcannot be studied because we cannot see what happen in an individual's inner mind.Therefore,psychologist concludes that a meditational process occurs between stimulus (input) and response (output). developments in cognitive science and analogies are often made between how a computer works and how we process. Based on this systematic agreement cognitive psychology is interested in how the brain inputs, stores and outputs informationThe cognitive approach does not always recognize in determining behaviour (McLeod,2015).
Some major approaches to understand cognitive processes have been explained by our lecturer IgunduneseAlex (26th January, 2016) which isfour (4) types namely:
(1).Experimental cognitive psychology-This explain carrying out experiments in a laboratory settings. ‘Experimental psychologist observed and measured an individual's response time, eye tracking and psychophysical responses’.Further more experimental cognitive psychology as aims to know the various methods by which human cognition can be carried out in the laboratory setting. One of the unique characteristics of this approach is that the results gotten from this research can be studied and analysed. Cognitive Psychologist also belief that top-down and bottom –up processes in the examineof cognitive approach.
Strengths of Experimental cognitive psychology:
(1) The experiments are standardized for easy access to test for reliability.
(2) It useful contribution has help people to improve their cognitive processes such as memory and language.
(3) It major impact is of “developmental, social and clinical psychology”.
(4) It is the pioneer of all other approaches of cognitive process.
Shortcomings of Experimental cognitive psychology:
1. Cognitive psychologist relates to the validity of measuring cognitive process.
2. It’s admitted a complex form and also takes various steps in achieving.
3. It is hard to test “empirically” and also theories are sometimes ambiguous.
4. It uses prevailing theoretical guideline
Computational cognitive psychology– As the name implies the computational cognitive psychology as an approach makes use of computers in its assessment. This approach compares robotics and human intelligence while trying to find out the similarities and differences of the two devices.These occur when psychologist uses arithmetic approach to develop “computation model” to enhance individual's ability knowledge as well as work from artificial intelligence. These models are based on symbolic.Palmer and kimchi (1986) argued that we should be able to decompose a theory successively through a number of levels starting with descriptive statement until we reach a written program.
Strength of computational cognitive psychology.
1. The widespread of cognitive framework have been developed.
2. The theoretical hypothesis is explained in proper in depth.
3. They make use of observation in cognitive neuroscience
4. The idea spread out knowledge is based by empirical fact.
Shortcoming
1. Many models do not suggest new expectations.
2. They tend to dispense with emotional factors.
3. They tend to be totally reduction in drive factors.
4. They claim neural acceptable of these model are not validated.
“Cognitive Neuropsychology”- the terms cognitive neuropsychology is associated with the pattern of cognitive performance that is intact and impaired. Neuropsychologist study brain-damaged patients about human cognition.aphilosopher named“jerry fodor”who has been particularly influential in cognitive neuro psychology’. This enables him to describe, analyse and to predict how the structure and function of the brain relates to specific psychological processes.Michie,Bates,and Budd(1998) further emphasize on how to carefully study the cognitive effects of brain injury with a view to conclude models of cognitive functioning.The rebirth of neuropsychology was marked by the publish of two seminar collaborations papers from Marshall &Newcomber (1966) on reading and Warrington &Shallice (1969) on memory. Interestingly, it took than one decade for neuropsychology to be fully re-established and gain favour from the public again.
Strength of cognitive Neuropsychology
1. The span has been linkeach other’s.
2. There is exists among various major processing measurement.
3. Findings have shown that by coincidence involvement in cognition i.e. in language.
4. It reshaped memory analysis.
Shortcoming of cognitive Neuropsychology
1. There is inadequate prove on the whole cognitive functions.
2. It is difficult to explain from patient contrary to brain damage, age etc.
3. It reduces the relevant of cognitive processes.
4. They may develop another symptoms not found in an active persons
‘Cognitive neuroscience’- it is otherwise known as “functional neuroimaging”. This is a‘scientific’ method used to carry out neural mechanism underlying cognition.’Neuroscience is the scientific study of the structure and function of the nervous system and biological processes’. Relating both the way human thinks and the way our behaviour response to certain characteristics we perceive from our environment with the interpretation of sensory neurons.Kosslyn and Thompson (2003) in a meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies that visual imaging is generally associated with activation in the primary visual cortex. These results strongly aimed at similar processes are used in imagery and perception. In discussing more detail about cognitive Neuroscience we will examine some areas of the ‘brain’ which are:‘Cerebral cortex’ –is divided into four main lobes. The four lobes are into the each brain hemisphere:‘n studying how human thinks, there are some measure in which to be taken and these also describe how the brain passes information and how the structure of the brain’s function. These techniques are;
• P.E.T (positron Emission Tomography) = this indicate the detection of positrons, which are the atomic particles emitted from some radioactive substance. As Anderson (1996) PET hasreasonable spatial resolution, is an active area within brain located at about 5-10millimeters.it further scans the amount of activity in section of the brain over a period of 30-60seconds. PET cannot retrieve the rapid changes in the functioning of the brain activity associated with the most cognitive processes”.
M.E.G (Magneto-Encephalography) = this approach means that the magnetic field generated by electrical brain activity.it provides minimal or little information at the millisecond level about the time course of cognitive processes. Nevertheless, magnetic fields are little biased by sandwiched tissue, which is an advantage over the electrical activity levied from ‘Electroencephalogram’ (EEG). The EEG is a tools used to explain electrical potential of the brain over a series of electrodes placed of the scalp. Cooke et el. (2007) carry out his studies that people sometimes find it uncomfortable to involve in the process of M.E.G studies. he further explain only 35% of his participant only experiences it as a ‘bit upsetting’
C.A.T Scan (computerized Axial Tomography): A CAT scan is indeed a complex x-ray of the brain.it gives us a “3D picture” of the brain which is great for detect tumours, but it does NOT show brain activity or function.
M.R.I(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) : This explain the most comprehensive picture of the brain.it offer magnetic fields to belittle electrons of their orbit and capture a picture by seeing them runs back to their orbit.it only gives us an idea of structure and not function.
Single- unit recording:a publisher named Hubel and Wiesel (1962, 1979) in their study of Neurophysiology. Single unit recording- itis an approach used to study brain function, and to examine the activity of a single neurons. However, “the single-unit recording is more fine-grain than other technique”.
Strength of cognitive Neuroscience
1. Analysis of hidden tentative dispatch
2. To authorise evaluation of cohesive brain processing, ‘as well as specialisation’.
Shortcomings
1. It provides essentially equivalence data.
2. Restriction on the tasks that can be used in brain scanners.
However, the basic of the each technique mention above differ in the precision with the significant of each brain areas respond to any of the task .Thus, the methods are separated in the ability to give vital information about it, when the brain activate, its only indicate and give signal about activity of a single neurons.
Conclusion:Nevertheless, the study of the four approaches to understanding cognitive processes is gradually combined with knowledge from behaviour and brain activity being combined.it further explain that if two different approaches aimed at neither positive or negative meaning, it an indication that future hypothesis and research needed to be stated what the problem should be or will be.
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