Explain how biological factors may affect one cognitive process
The cognitive level of analysis deals with the structure and functions of the mind. Some researchers believe that biological factors may affect cognitive processes.
Kandel, one researcher, shows that learning means formation of a memory—that is, growing new connections or strengthening existing connections between neurons to form neural networks. Over time, researchers have used animals to study how areas of the brain are related to memory. Usually, animals learn to execute a particular task-for example, running through a maze-and, ultimately, a memory is formed. Researchers then cut away some parts of brain tissue in order to find out what areas of the brain are involved in such a task. Next, the animal has to run through the maze again. This procedure, which is called lesioning, is a number of times until the animal can no longer perform the task. Evidently, scientists cannot do this to humans so they turn to study people who already have existing brain damage.
