Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience: Critical Analysis Essay

Task 1

Your task is to provide a 1000-word critical analysis of the following research paper:

Foster, C. E., Owens, M., Kudinova, A. Y., & Gibb, B. E. (2021). Attentional biases to emotional faces among women with a history of single episode versus recurrent major depression. Cognition and Emotion, 35(1), 193-198.

The link to the article can be found in the resource area of the assessment section on Moodle.

Task 2

You are required to select ONE essay title from the following (1000 words):

A. Evaluate the extent to which emotions are innate and hardwired in the human brain. Refer to some of the evidence covered in the lecture. (Lecture: Introduction to the Neuroscience of Emotion)

B. Evaluate the relative contributions of classical and operant conditioning to animal and human learning. Include some real-life examples from the lecture. (Lecture: Learning and Conditioning)

C. Evaluate Lavie’s Load Theory of Selective Attention. Draw on some of the evidence covered in the lecture. (Lecture: Attention)

D. Evaluate some of the mechanisms of memory formation and modification through reconsolidation. Draw on some of the evidence covered in the lecture. (Lecture: Memory)

Expert Answers on Above Psychology Essay Questions

Critical analysis of Foster at al. (2021)

The main focus of the study is on analysing attentional biases towards emotional facial expressions in women. The focus of the study was on women with a history of single episode versus recurrent major depression. The findings of the study indicates that home women with recurrent depression reflect stronger attentional biases with respect to negative emotional faces as compared to those with a single episode. The analysis of the study indicates the key strength which is mainly a clear distinction made between a single and recurrent depression whereas the main limitation is the selection of a small sample that reduces generalisability.

Extent to which emotions are innate and hardwired

According to the neuroscientific evidence, emotions are considered as partly innate, and they clearly indicate facial expressions and hardwired brain structures. The findings in the existing literature suggest that the basic emotions are biologically rooted and evolutionarily adaptive. But the role of learning and culture is also significant in shaping the emotions. The ways in which emotions are expressed are highly influenced by experience, socialisation and context. However it is possible that the emotional responses can change over time as a result of neuroplasticity.

Contribution of classical and operant conditioning to animal and human learning

Classical conditioning is all about learning through association whereby a neutral stimulus is given first and this leads to a meaningful stimulus to produce a learned response. Operant conditioning on the other hand is learning through consequences. According to this theory, the behaviour can be influenced by reinforcement or punishment. When it comes to explaining the automatic and emotional responses, classical conditioning is highly effective whereas voluntary and goal directed behaviour are better explained by operant conditioning.

This model answer is reviewed by Sabrina Ferreira, a psychology expert from Middlesex University.
Disclaimer: This answer is a model for study and reference purposes only. Use it for your learning to do your assignment on your own. Please do not submit it as your own work.

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