The Mind-Brain Problem
The mind-brain problem is a concept that refers to psychologists’ consideration or evaluation of how the brain and the non-physical mind may control or affect behavior. This is an important concept in the field of psychology alongside understanding how the brain develops and changes, and factors contributing to the changes. The field of cognitive neuroscience plays a critical role in understanding the mind-brain problem as well as brain development and change since it’s a discipline that assesses the brain through imaging techniques. According to Sternberg & Sternberg (2016), cognitive neuroscience is a discipline that links the brain and other aspects of the nervous system to cognitive processing and eventually to human behavior.
Given the role of cognitive neuroscience in understanding brain development and change, current research in this field of study can be applied to understand various problems or issues in psychology. Such research can be applied to help understand different problems in psychology through providing a biological mechanism for explaining behavior. Research in cognitive neuroscience provides significant insights regarding cognitive development and mechanisms underlying behavioral observations. The biological mechanism established in these studies helps to understand issues in psychology such as the mind-brain problem as well as questions relating to brain development and change.
An important aspect of cognitive neuroscience is brain imaging, which involves the use of different imaging techniques to study the human brain (Sternberg & Sternberg, 2016). Modern imaging techniques have helped enhanced understanding of the brain and resolve issues in the field of psychology through providing insights regarding human mental functioning as it is taking place. In this case, modern imaging methods have provided a framework for functional or active assessment of the brain rather than studying brains after the death of an individual.
Reference
Sternberg, R.J. & Sternberg, K. (2016). Cognitive psychology (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.
