Neuroscience Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience and Mental Health

Many people are familiar with how external factors, such as environment and relationships, may affect a human behavior and cognitive functions. Have you ever wondered how internal factors, such as the brain and the nervous system, can also impact your mental health? 

The field of medicine known as neuroscience psychology is ever-changing and developing. Today, psychologists and medical researchers look at several components when evaluating what affects an individual mentally. While the body and mind were for years considered separate, scientists have come to understand that there are many ways that the structure and functions of the brain relate to specific ways our minds process information. Scientists in this field may take neuroscientific details to determine the biological roots of disorders like substance use or Alzheimer’s disease. 

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What is neuroscience psychology?

While psychology is the study of behavior and the mind, neuroscience psychology is a study that deals with how biological and chemical processes make the brain and nervous system function, and how brain structures and neural circuits impact a patient. Neuroscience psychology, often called cognitive neuroscience, shows that cognitive processes and other activity in the brain can be intertwined with our behavior and mental processes. 

Cognitive neuroscience is an interdisciplinary approachthat often utilizes neuroscientific and psychological methods and technology to study thoughts and behaviors. Practitioners use neuroimaging to view the brain as it functions, which may lead to a better understanding of the connections between clinical neuroscience and psychology. For example, lesions and other brain abnormalities are often used in research to understand the functions of a healthy versus unhealthy brain and its impact on behavior.

The human brain is a complex organ. As the brain develops, it becomes increasingly complex and controls memory and learning, the senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch), and emotions. Additionally, the brain controls other organs, muscles, and vessels. 

The brain contains billions of brain cells called neurons that communicate with one another to help the body function normally. Because the nervous system impacts a person's response to internal and external stimuli, any malfunction or abnormality within the system or neural development may harm a person's mental well-being.

A quick history of neuroscience and psychology 

Neuroscience has developed over a period of thousands of years, since Egyptians first recorded information about the brain around 1700 BCE. There have been three major debates over the years that have shaped the field, including: 

• Mind vs Brain. Are the mind and the brain separate entities?
• Localism vs Holism. Do neurons and brain areas have specific functions?
• Neural communication. Is the mind created by the brain? And can consciousness be reduced to neurons alone? 

The neuron doctrine and modern neuroscience

Modern neuroscience focuses on the neuron doctrine, established in the late 19th century. First proposed by Santiago Ramon y Cahal, it posits that individual neurons are the anatomical, physiological, genetic, and metabolic unit of the nervous system. How neural tissue communicates and interacts with other cells is what neuroscientists and cognitive neuroscience study today. 

How neurons communicate

Neurons communicate through electrical connections. Electrical impulses within the cell travel between cells using chemical messengers to cross gaps known as the synaptic cleft. These neural connections are complex, and are the basis for every action that our body makes. 

How the brain processes information 

Let’s take a closer look at the brain systems involved in processing sensory information and how that information is incorporated into experience. 

The nervous system, brain activity, and your body's responses

The central nervous system is one of two major subdivisions of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, which comprise the body's main control center. The central nervous system performs fundamental functions contributing to a person's life and behavior.

Sympathetic nervous system

When scientists study how bodily function interacts with the brain, it is called behavioral neuroscience. For example, one part of the nervous system, known as the sympathetic nervous system, is responsible for the body's fight or flight reaction in response to dangerous or stressful situations. It increases physical arousal levels, raising the heart and breathing rate, and prepares the body to run away from or confront dangerous or stressful situations. It may also activate during perceived danger, such as in the case of an anxiety disorder. 

Parasympathetic nervous system

The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body down again by activating a "rest and digest" response after a stressful event. It may allow the body to conserve energy, reduce physical arousal, and slow the heart and respiratory rates. These two systems maintain balance within the body.

From sensory input to decisions

Neural connections process information through bidirectional pathways in the human mind, in which sensory information is processed and interpreted, and then integrated with past experiences. Sensory input travels bottom-up from sensory receptors through the thalamus and cerebral cortex, while top-down connections take place simultaneously in order to allow for interpretation, memory, and attention to shape perception. 

Memory and learning basics

The prefrontal cortex of the brain plays a significant role in higher cognition, including planning, problem solving, decision-making, working memory, and inhibitory control. Learning is acquired through three key stages: 

• Encoding. The brain receives new information, and creates a specific pattern of neural activity. 
• Storage and consolidation. Information is processed by the hippocampus and stored in long-term memory. 
• Retrieval. Information is accessed later, reinforcing and solidifying the information in the brain. 

Motor and action systems

The brain systems that oversee motor skills include the primary motor cortex, the cerebellum, and the basal ganglia. The motor cortex is involved in planning and execution of movement, the basal ganglia is key in movement initiation, and the cerebellum is in charge of coordination and precision of movements. 

Why is neuroscience psychology helpful? Learning how the mind works

Helping psychologists understand the "how" through neuroscientific research is a significant contribution of neuroscience to psychology. Neuroscience has helped psychologists better understand the extent to which our brains are "plastic" at every level of growth. This "plasticity" refers to how much our environment and behaviors can affect the development of our brains.

Other applications for neuroscience involve detecting mental health problems before symptoms have surfaced. Modern neuroscience research suggests that neuroscientists may be able to identify different neural activity patterns in young children, which can show up in their behavior later in life. Cognitive issues such as learning disorders may be addressed before symptoms appear. Because of this, these scientists understand how psychological processes relate to the brain's structures and systems and the inseparable connections between the brain's functions and a person's cognitive functioning.

Brain imaging and what it can and cannot tell us

Brain imaging techniques have advanced greatly over the last few decades. Brain imaging allows experts to non-invasively observe the structure and workings of the brain, and they can then use this information to study certain neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s disease. 

Common brain imaging techniques used in research

Some of the most common forms of brain imaging include PET scans, CT scans, MRI, and fMRI. 

A PET scan analyzes cellular function and metabolism through use of a minor amount of radioactive tracer. It can be used to identify heart disease, cancer, or brain abnormalities. 

CT scans use X-rays to find acute bleeding, strokes, or skull fractures, and are generally used in emergency medical settings. 

MRI uses powerful magnets to create detailed images of the structure of the brain, and can be used to identify inflammation, tumors, and damage to the neural tissue. 

Functional, or fMRI, measures activity in the brain and shows which areas are being used during different tasks. 

Modern brain imaging techniques can offer valuable insight on a number of things, including disease progression, the structural health of the brain, damage detection, chemical composition, and functional activity. 

Limits of brain imaging results

One of the main limitations in the scientific discipline of neuroscience and neuropsychology is the need for integration of the massive amounts of data collected. Brain imaging now being a common form of research, more experts are needed to offer objective interpretation and to refine experimental paradigms to put this data to use in a large scale way. 

Understanding cognitive processes: What is neuropsychology?

Neuroscience psychology is an interdisciplinary field of psychology that provides a neural basis for behavior and integrates several areas, including psychology, biology, chemistry, and physics. Neuroscience psychology is a psychological theory that may add knowledge about human thoughts, emotions, and behavior by studying the nervous system. This area is the primary expertise for those working in the neuropsychology field, but what is neuropsychology?

Typical pathways and programs of neuroscience psychology

Both neuropsychologists and neuroscientists focus their research on understanding brain disorders, injuries, and deficits, along with how the physiological properties of the brain impact them. 

There are many other disciplines or branches of neuroscience, including: 

• Computational neuroscience – uses mathematical models to predict brain function and its impact on the body. 
• Cellular neuroscience – studies neurons at a cellular level, analyzing the biological processes of nerve cells in the brain. 
• Social neuroscience –studies the neural systems involved with how the brain makes social choices and mediates social behavior.
• Molecular neuroscience – studies how molecular biology impacts biological processes in the human body. 
• Systems neuroscience – looks at how the neural network and nervous system as a whole impact a person and their psychological functioning.

Careers and training

Neuroscience is a rapidly expanding discipline. Experts are needed not only for interpreting and cataloguing current neuroscience research, but also conducting new research in different domains using newer techniques like computer science. The one major aim of neuroscience psychology is to understand how the brain enables the mind. Graduate students of a department of psychology in their university may pursue basic neuroscience as a pathway to research by specializing in one of the disciplines mentioned above, by working in a clinical practice, or by working their way up in academia as an assistant professor to an associate professor or full professor. 

The role of neuroscience psychology in your life and mental health

Mental and physical well-being are often directly tied to one another and overall quality of life. Experiencing feelings of imbalance or an inability to understand one's emotions and how they may or may not be related to a physical condition can feel overwhelming. Chronic stress can impede personal growth and human development. Different domains of neuroscience research explore the brain systems of the human mind, and offer new insights and treatments that may be more targeted and effective for certain mental and behavioral challenges.

If you are experiencing any unusual or disruptive physical or emotional symptoms, consider seeking support from a professional. While some issues may be related to a minor illness or temporary life circumstances, others may require a more in-depth look at symptoms and treatments. Clinical psychology can offer evidence-based mental health support for chronic stress and other issues that may be holding you back.

Talk with your doctor about these symptoms if you are experiencing physical symptoms that stem from emotional causes. There are several options for seeking mental health care outside a primary medical doctor's office. Some people choose group therapy, while others prefer individual counseling. Additionally, while some individuals can travel to appointments and don't mind doing so, others may prefer to engage the services of a counselor or therapist through an online resource.

Online counseling to understand your mind 

A growing body of research points to online therapy as a valuable way of addressing various symptoms arising from different neurological conditions. In a scientific study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, the effects of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on depression in those living with chronic neurological conditions (CNCs) were examined. 

The study found that cognitive-behavioral interventions effectively treated symptoms associated with CNC-related depression. This research is in addition to a growing body of evidence showing that cognitive-behavioral therapy helps manage several mental health issues. Also, internet-based platforms can be more convenient and flexible in providing this type of care, with fewer barriers to receiving treatment, such as time or cost. 

Online counseling platforms, such as BetterHelp, offer a team of licensed, experienced, and professional counselors who may work with individuals to get to the root of any emotional or psychological issue.