PHD Forensic
Psychology, Walden University COURSE
FPSY-8521: Police Psychology Professor
June 11, 2026
, Role of Cognition in Law Enforcement Decision Making
• Executive Function: Planning, impulse control, and working memory are all regulated by the
prefrontal cortex.
• The Yerkes-Dodson Law illustrates the connection between stress and performance in the
Inverted-U Model.
• Optimal Arousal: Reaction times, focus, and attention are all enhanced with moderate stress.
• Over-Arousal: Prolonged stress impairs working memory and tunnel vision by impairing
cognitive functioning.