neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience has developed many approaches to the study of learning that might be useful to functionally oriented researchers, including those from a relational frame theory (RFT) perspective. We focus here on two examples. First, cognitive neuroscience often distinguishes between habit and goal-directed reinforcement learning, in which only the latter is sensitive to proximal changes in behavior-environment contingencies. This distinction is relevant to RFT’s original concerns about how rule-based processes can sometimes render an individual’s behavior maladaptive to changing circumstances. Second, the discovery of neurophysiological structures associated with fear extinction and generalization can potentially yield new insights for derived relational responding research. In particular, we review how such work not only informs new ways of modifying the functions transformed in derived relational responding, but also new ways of measuring derived relational responding itself. Overall, therefore, existing conceptual and methodological advances in the cognitive neuroscience literature addressing learning appear to generate functionally interesting predictions related to RFT that might not have surfaced from a traditional functional analysis of behavior.

To find the full text version of this article and others (as well as download a full text .pdf.), ACBS members can visit the ScienceDirect homepage here.

Early childhood is marked by substantial development in the self-regulatory skills supporting school readiness and socioemotional competence. Evidence from developmental social cognitive neuroscience suggests that these skills develop as a function of changes in a dynamic interaction between more top-down (controlled) regulatory processes and more bottom-up (automatic) influences on behavior. Mindfulness training—using age-appropriate activities to exercise children's reflection on their moment-to-moment experiences—may support the development of self-regulation by targeting top-down processes while lessening bottom-up influences (such as anxiety, stress, curiosity) to create conditions conducive to reflection, both during problem solving and in more playful, exploratory ways.

The subject matter of neuroscience research is complex, and synthesizing the wealth of data from this

research to better understand mental processes is challenging. A useful strategy, therefore, may be to

explicitly distinguish between the causal effects of the environment on behaviour (i.e., functional

analyses) and the mental processes that mediate these effects (i.e., cognitive analyses). In this article

we describe how the Functional-Cognitive (F-C) framework can accelerate cognitive neuroscience

and also advance a functional treatment of brain activity. We first highlight that cognitive neuroscience

can particularly benefit from the F-C approach by providing an alternative to the problematic practice

of reducing cognitive constructs to behavioural and/or neural proxies. Next, we outline how functional

(behaviour-environment) relations can serve as a bridge between the cognitive and neural processes

by restoring mental constructs to their original role as heuristic tools. Finally, we give some examples

of how both cognitive neuroscience and traditional functional approaches can mutually benefit from

the F-C framework. 

Little daily hassles can add up to big, big stress.



Whether you’re stuck in traffic, hauling your kids out the front door in the morning, dealing with a demanding boss, or worrying about money, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Stress is a normal part of daily life; but over time, chronic stress can take its toll on both your mental and physical health, leading to everything from anxiety and depression to weight gain and disease. So how can you move past the little hassles that get in the way of fully enjoying life?



In This Moment will show you how to find a sense of calm and serenity using a breakthrough, evidence-based program grounded in mindfulness and neuroscience. Imagine feeling stressed, and being able to work through it by paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, moment by moment, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. It’s not as difficult as it sounds!  

Click to view this book on Amazon.com.