25^th Cognitive Neuroscience Congress November 12-13, 2018 Dubai, UAE

Behavioral psychology is a systematic approach in understanding the behavior of humans and other animals. This sates that all the behaviors are either responses or reflexes to the respective stimuli in the environment, or are the result of individual’s history, especially including reinforcement and punishment. This whole together with the individual’s current state and controlling stimuli decides one’s behavior. The researchers and scientists who study behavioral psychologies are striving to understand why we behave the way we do now. Also scientists are concerned with discovering patterns in the action and behaviors of human and animals with the hope that behavioral psychology can help us to predict how individual will behave to a particular situation.

Computational neuroscience is the study of brain function by the application of computational tools, mathematical approaches and theories in terms of information processing of the structures that make up the nervous system. This not only includes neurology but covers several things in one umbrella like: it incorporates diverse approaches from electrical engineering, computational engineering, and computer science and physics in order to understand how human’s nervous system processes information. Computational neuroscience focuses on describing fully functional and realistic neurons and neural system. Computational neuroscience also possesses potential in aiming towards questions with a wide spectrum. How Axons develop? How dendrites form? How do synapses form? How cognition phenomenon takes place? How sensory motors act?

Cognitive genomics is the sub branch of genomics related to the cognitive function of brain in which the genes and other non-coding sequences related to the health and neural activity is studied. This makes a relative bridge in between the cognition action study and genetic study to find the mutualistic relationship in between the both. Cognitive genomic study can undoubtedly drive us to our future evolution as a species. Although both cognition (can also be called as brain action) and genetics are full of complications and the brain, genetics and human experience will result in putting forward more complicate aspects than it may now seem. Scientists and researcher’s study towards cognitive genomics will surely help us to reach genetic brain optimization and overcome genetic brain disorders.

Central Nervous System (CNS) is the part of nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system is so named because it consolidates the information that it receives from the respective source, bring together and influence the activity of all parts the body of all multicellular animals except sponges. Cells like neuroglial cells are found in large amount in interneuronal space of the central nervous system. The CNS is protected much well than any other organ in the body. The main line of defense of CNS is the bone of the skull and spinal column that creates physical barrier to injury. Also it has a shock absorbing fluid filled space below the bones that is called syrinx. Unfortunately this protection leads to severe complications if any injury occurs to CNS then the soft tissue of brain and spinal cord swells that causes pressure because of the restricted space. Also it is very complicate to deal with diseases and disorders related to the central nervous system.

Neurogenetics is the study of role of genetics in the function and development of the nervous system. This draws aspects from both neuroscience and genetics but particularly it focusses on how the genetic code carried by an organism express its characteristics in terms of neurology. This is very helpful in finding the genetic base of several neural disorders. The genetic behind complex neurological disorders are the source of ongoing research, but the genetic basis of simple diseases and neurological disorders has been accurately pinpointed. One of the most important factors that drag researchers for the study continuation in neurogenetics is greater knowledge of gene loci that represents linkage of genetics to neurological disorders.

Cognitive development includes study in neuroscience and psychology which is concerned with child’s development in terms of perceptual skill, conceptual resources and several other aspects of developed adult brain. From the point of view with respect to the adult, cognitive development can also be called as intellectual development. Earlier it was believed that infants are remained without cognition until they learned language, but soon after cognitive development study it was proved that infants are aware about the surroundings and explore since birth. Cognition development depends on cognition which itself is an action of learning. Cognition phenomenon varies person by person because of factors like: how person receives, thinks process and gains understanding of world by their own interaction towards it.

Neuroimaging is a technique which is used to image the structure and function of the central nervous system. Furthermore it can also be used to study the pharmacology of the nervous system. Neuroradiologists deals with the diagnosis of gross intracranial disease, structure of nervous system and injury. This provides a similar way to reach to working of human central nervous system. Functional imaging which is one of the type of neuroimaging, used to diagnose metabolic disease, injury and intracranial disease.  All the research in this emerging field is ultimately directed towards the empirical benefits for patients and society in general. It is also very preferable to be used in study of neurodegenerative diseases, stroke and chronic pain.

Mirror neurons are that class of neuron which only fires when an animal or human acts and when they observes the same action performed by another. It is named so because the neuron “mirrors” the behavior of the other. Such neurons are primarily observed in primate species, though they are also found in humans but birds have been found possessing imitative behaviors and neurological evidences also suggests the presence of some form of mirroring system. Some researchers in neuroscience consider that this mirror system provides the physiological mechanism for the coupling of action. Also mirror neurons may be important for understanding the actions and thoughts of other people for learning new and unique skills by imitation.

Any disorder related to nervous system comes under the category of neurological disorders. Although both brain and spinal cord are surrounded by tough membranes, by bones of skull and spinal vertebrae and also isolated by the blood-brain barrier. Involvement for neurological disorders includes preventative measure such as lifestyle changes, physiotherapy, operations, medication and neurorehabilitation. Neurological problem’s specific causes vary but genetic disorders, infections, congenital abnormalities and brain injury including malnutrition, spinal cord or nerve injury. Millions of people are affected by neurological disorders; more than 6 million people die each year because of stroke, over 80% of these deaths takes place in developed and developing countries.

Loss of intellectual functions such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning occurs in cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive function is also known as brain fog. The people suffering from the same loses concentration power and face trouble with verbal recall. According Marshall Pathogenesis, microbes are the causative agents for cognitive dysfunction. Moreover diseases like Alzheimer’s disease are the severe forms of cognitive dysfunction. For elderly cancer patients cognitive dysfunction has many applications. A patient suffering from this needs special hospitality and special care planning than that of normal patients. Not all patients suffering from cognitive dysfunction in depression, and not all people with depression suffers from cognitive function.

Geriatric neurology is the branch of medicine, deals with the study of neurologic disorders occurring in elderly. Geriatrics is concerned with treating and diagnosing illness that occurs in adults, usually over the age of 60. Accurate diagnosis of neurological disorders in older adults can be difficult because the signs of disease may mimic normal signs of aging. Patients frequently have more than a neurologic disease which makes it more difficult to find the best treatment in that case. Aging also brings slight memory loss which is normal until and unless it intervenes daily activities. Memory loss range from treatable conditions such as depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, to more severe dementia and sleep disorders.  

Cognitive neural network is complex network architecture with group of several neurons underling cognition. This also involves study of thought pattern recognition, information processing, data collection and feedback mechanism. This study is used to explain the artificial intelligence hypothesis which is an electronic mimic along with computational tool application of the human neural network system (Central Nervous System). The original goal of the Artificial Neural Network was to come up with the solution of a problem in the way human brain would. The main component of this system is central executive, is a supervising system which regulates the other components of working memory.

Electrophysiology is the field of study that deals with the electrical properties and activities of biological cells and tissues. It helps in studying the generation of the electrical signals and their effect on the body.  EPS is the test that is carried to understand the nature of abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias. The other aspects of electrophysiology are implanting cardiac devices to regulate the heartbeat. Also electrical signal in the retina is a pre-installed property of nervous system which remains electrically active at all times and the standard of activity alters with excitation. Ophthalmologist drops light on retina to excite the retina, number of responses can be stimulated from different layers of retina with then are recorded and observed.

Cognitive health refers to the health of the brain and its function wholly and solely. This deal with several types of functions such as; memory, judgment, intuition. In short if cognitive disorders are there, it can take many forms. One of the common cognitive health related problem is decrease in mental function, dementia, which generally develops in later phase of life. Cognitive health decline naturally occurs while aging but it is age independent and can be found in any age group. Even, other health problems that are not age related also fall under the umbrella of cognitive issues. Like; depression is not necessarily age- related, same with brain injury or vitamin B12 deficiency.

As such there are no proper cures for neurocognitive disorder or the disease that cause it. Though several drugs like antidepressants, antipsychotics and others that treat memory loss and other behavioral symptoms, may help to treat the disease. But these are not proper solutions, instead they just suppresses the symptoms and their effects. Newly developed mental exercise such as “computerized brain training programs” can help to maintain target specific regions of the brain. Diseases like amnesia if caused by underlying cause like; infections, the cause may be diagnosed but not amnesia. Majorly diseases related to cognition if are mild can be diagnosed by several approaches instead of medication only.