🚀 go-pugleaf

I'm currently taking a course in Cognitive Science and have also taken 
courses in Cog Psychology and Cog Neuropsychology.  It seems to me that
there is no difference in the aims of the three fields - they all attempt
to discover and model cognitive processes.  BUT there is a difference in
the methodology used.

Cog Psych tries to model brain behaviour based on data from experiments,
mainly on students (!), who are considered "normal" subjects (students?
normal?).  For example, the time taken for subjects to read briefly 
presented words or name upside-down objects is measured and used to
model cognitive processes.

Cog Neuropsych also tries to model cognitive processes but based on data
from subjects who have suffered brain damage to some degree  e.g. from
head injury or some types of brain surgery.  Such subjects may have
deficiencies in certain cognitive processes.  By studying these 
deficiencies, Cog Neuropsych evidence can be used to infer processes in
"normal" subjects.  (By normal, I mean subjects who do not appear to have
cognitive processes differing from the norm).

Cog Sci again tries to model cognitive processes but it yet another way.  
It draws on aspects of Philosophy, Linguistics, Psychology, and Computer
Science (in particular AI) to produce computer simulations of cognitive
processes.  (AI does not necessarily model human cognitive processes,
instead it tries to produce intellegent systems - I think there is a
difference!!!).

I think all three fields have an important role in the study of
cognition.  Cognitive Science can simulate the findings of Cog Psych
and Cog Neuropsych, and may stimulate experimental research in new 
directions as a result of interesting emergent properties.  In addition,
a computer simulation can be damaged in a far more ethical and reliable
way then a rat or a human.  This means that the effects of brain damage
can be simulated and related to the Cog Neuropsych literature.

To finally finish, I think that Cog Sci, Cog Psych and Cog Neuropsych
can all add to the study of Cognition - they just have different 
emphases on research.


Looking forward to comments/queries/criticisms.

                                     Kelly.