Cognitive Science and its Significance

Cognitive science studies human cognition by looking at how our brain works, and cognitive theories are replacing traditional psychology. It studies attention, memory, perception, learning and development, among others.

Its findings have led to "cognitive" learning, automated much "intelligent" work and helped design human interfaces that enhance productivity. It is also helping better recovery from brain damage and the marketing of products more effectively.

This modern science discards both the introspective approach of early philosophers and the stimulus-response behaviorist approach of later psychologists. Instead, the new science approaches mental operations from different perspectives such as:

  • Psychology: Mental representations such as logic, rules, concepts, images and analogies undergo computational processes such as deduction, search, matching and retrieval
  • Artificial Intelligence: AI seeks to implement human intelligence in machines, by attempting to create computational models for deduction, concept development, imagery and problem solving
  • Linguistics: Language use involves some complex processing and recognition, including our ability to distinguish between subtle shades of meaning even when words are the same and such things as syntax and semantics
  • Neuroscience: Mental operations are reflected in physical neuron firings in the brain. Neuroscientists have identified different regions of the brain responsible for specific functions such as image formation and interpretation of words, for example
  • Anthropology: Cultural and social settings affect the way we think
  • Philosophy: Cognitive theories and hypotheses lead to new ideas about mind and body, and change perspectives about normative issues such as ethics

Cognitive Science Resources
Neuroscience studies the functions of the brain from a biological viewpoint
Image credit National Institute of Ageing

Cognitive Science Applications

Some examples of cognitive science applications already in the market are:

  • Cognitive Tutor: Carnegie Learning offers a Cognitive Tutor that senses how a student is thinking and steers the person towards the right approach to learning
  • Intelligent Robots: Robots with increasing intelligence are appearing in the market. Presently robots are mostly employed in process control and assembly line operations in factories, and they are ideal for repetitive operations and for working in hazardous areas
  • Human Interface Design: User Interface Design can significantly improve the productivity of computer users and cognitive science findings can help with the design
  • Expert Systems: Expert Systems can almost transfer the specialized knowledge of experts into computer programs so that the expertise can be used more widely and quickly. Medical diagnostics systems are already in the market
  • Speech Synthesis: Speech Recognition and Synthesis can lead to computers which can accept oral instructions, and talk to us

Future Applications

The applications listed earlier are all far from perfect. All of these will be substantially improved as understanding and technology improves. The following are some additional applications which are likely to appear in the market.

  • Virtual Reality: Virtual scenarios are computer simulations of corresponding real scenarios. These can be used for training and entertainment
  • Enabling the Handicapped: Deaf and blind persons might be able to function like normal persons as they are enabled to receive and process sensory information they cannot do now
  • Treatment of Brain Damage: As cognitive science understands how the different regions of the brain function, it can lead to treatment of stroke and other brain damage victims to return to normal functioning