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PYC4813 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025 -
DUE 24 October 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
[Pick the date]
[Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of
the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of
the contents of the document.]
,Exam (elaborations)
PYC4813 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025 - DUE 24
October 2025
PYC4813 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025 - DUE 24
October 2025; 100% TRUSTED Complete, trusted solutions and explanations.
Ensure your success with us.
ASSIGNMENT 03 (PORTFOLIO) MODULE CODE: PYC4813 MODULE NAME:
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE ASSIGNMENT UNIQUE NUMBER: 851527 DUE
DATE: 24 OCTOBER 2025 Instructions: •
Font: size 12 • Font type: Times New Roman • Spacing: 1.5 • DO NOT use
generative artificial intelligence (AI) to answer the questions, as this
constitutes academic dishonesty and you will be referred for disciplinary
hearing • NB! There should be evidence that you consulted multiple sources
for this assignment and there should not be over-reliance on one source,
failure to do so you will be penalised • Please ensure that all your work is
properly referenced and DO NOT use other people's words as if they are
yours. Please follow the APA 7th edition referencing guidelines. • Your
paragraphs should not be aligned on the right, and the first line of each
paragraph must be indented on the left at 0.5 cm. Failure to do this, you will
be penalized. • Do not use/avoid unreliable sources such as Wikipedia •
Ensure that you do not cut and paste, instead use your own words or
paraphrase and do not substitute words with synonyms as this is still
considered plagiarism. • Your assignment should be submitted in PDF format
• Please name your file in the following format i.e., PYC4813 Assignment
3_Name & Surname_ Student numberMr Mazibuko is a 25-year-old male who
was brought to the local hospital by his aunt as both his parents are
deceased. The aunt reported that for the past year, he told her that he
believes people were out to get him, even though he has no enemies that
she knows of. Reportedly, he says that he also occasionally hears the voice
of God. When she enquired, he told his aunt that the voice told him that he is
special. Mr Mazibuko also believes that he has a special channel of
communicating with world leaders and he would use this channel to have
conversations with them regarding how to bring about world peace.
Additionally, he believes that he is in love with a local celebrity even though
the celebrity does not know him. He states that he would do anything to
protect the celebrity if anyone dared to say something bad about her.
Sometimes, he says that he feels like his brain is rotting. Since he started
having these beliefs, Mr Mazibuko’s personal hygiene has deteriorated
significantly, and he has started withdrawing. He lost his job and has found
interacting with people difficult. During the intake session, the aunt reported
,that at some point in his teenage years he briefly used cocaine, but he
quickly stopped without having to go to rehab and he no longer took any
substances. He has no history of brain damage, hearing, visual or nutritional
deficits. However, his uncle on his paternal side is reported to have been
admitted in hospital once as he had a strong belief that when he was
watching television the people on television were talking about him. The
aunt added that Mr Mazibuko was born prematurely at 7 months and, as a
result, his birth weight was low. The aunt added that Mr Mazibuko was born
in winter, and his mother was sickly during the pregnancy, as well as
experiencing significant complications during his delivery. Mr Mazibuko was
also referred for neuroimaging and the report indicated that he had low grey
matter volume in both the hippocampus and frontal cortex, as well as his
white matter volume being reduced, and his ventricles were distended.
However, among all these abnormalities, of significant concern was the
dysfunction of his prefrontal cortex. Following his reported concerns, Mr
Mazibuko was also referred for neuropsychological assessment. He was
administered the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition -South
African Version (WAIS-IVSA), the Tower of London, the Comprehensive Trail
Making Test, the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) and the Bender Visuo-
Motor Gestalt Test Second Edition (Bender-II). The results revealed the
following: difficulty sustaining focus, slowed mental tracking and shifting,
reaction time and task completion, difficulty holding and manipulating
information temporarily and poor reasoning, planning and conversational
flow. Mr Mazibuko also struggled with cognitive flexibility, decision-making
and problem-solving. Additionally, he displayed impairment in initiating
tasks, shifting strategies and inhibiting inappropriate responses. He further
struggled with encoding, storing, and retrieving verbal, visual information
and learned material. Question 1: Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations (10
marks) 1.1 Define the term cognitive neuroscience and explain how it applies
to the assessment of Mr Mazibuko. 1.2 Discuss why a biopsychosocial
approach is useful when working with a case like Mr Mazibuko’s.
1.1 Cognitive Neuroscience and Its Application to the Assessment of Mr
Mazibuko
Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific field that studies the relationship between the
brain’s structures and functions and the cognitive processes underlying human behavior. It
focuses on how neural mechanisms support abilities such as memory, attention, reasoning,
language, decision-making, and problem-solving (Gazzaniga et al., 2019). By combining
methods from neuroscience and psychology, cognitive neuroscience provides insight into how
brain activity gives rise to complex mental processes (Purves et al., 2018).
This approach is directly relevant to Mr Mazibuko’s case. The results from his
neuroimaging assessment revealed reduced grey matter in the hippocampus and frontal cortex,
distended ventricles, and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. These abnormalities can significantly
affect higher-order cognitive functions such as planning, decision-making, reasoning, and
, emotional regulation. His neuropsychological assessment results also showed difficulties with
attention, processing speed, working memory, problem-solving, and executive functioning.
These findings align with the known roles of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in these
cognitive domains.
Understanding the neural basis of his symptoms through cognitive neuroscience allows
clinicians to link his clinical presentation with specific brain mechanisms. For example, his poor
planning and reasoning can be associated with prefrontal cortex dysfunction, while memory
impairments may relate to hippocampal abnormalities. This information is critical for accurate
diagnosis, formulation, and the development of targeted interventions aimed at supporting
cognitive functioning.
1.2 The Usefulness of a Biopsychosocial Approach in Mr Mazibuko’s Case
The biopsychosocial approach is a comprehensive model that considers the interaction of
biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health and illness (Bolton &
Gillett, 2019). This model is widely used in mental health care because it provides a holistic view
of a person’s functioning rather than focusing on biological or psychological aspects alone.
From a biological perspective, Mr Mazibuko’s history shows several risk factors. He was
born prematurely with low birth weight, and his mother experienced complications during
pregnancy. His neuroimaging results indicated structural brain abnormalities, and there is a
family history of psychotic-like symptoms. These biological vulnerabilities increase the
likelihood of developing psychotic disorders.
From a psychological perspective, he presents with delusional beliefs, auditory
hallucinations, impaired reasoning, poor cognitive flexibility, and attention difficulties. These
symptoms reflect disturbances in his thought processes, perception, and cognitive control, all of
which affect daily functioning.
From a social perspective, Mr Mazibuko lost both parents, is unemployed, and has
withdrawn from social interaction. The absence of a stable support system, along with social
isolation, may exacerbate his psychological distress and reduce his ability to cope with
symptoms.
By integrating these three dimensions, the biopsychosocial approach enables mental health
practitioners to create a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. Interventions may
include medical treatment to address biological factors, psychotherapy to support psychological
well-being, and social support programs to improve his social functioning and quality of life.
This holistic perspective is particularly useful in complex cases such as Mr Mazibuko’s because
it acknowledges the multiple factors contributing to his condition.
PYC4813 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025 -
DUE 24 October 2025
NO PLAGIARISM
[Pick the date]
[Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of
the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of
the contents of the document.]
,Exam (elaborations)
PYC4813 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025 - DUE 24
October 2025
PYC4813 Assignment 3 PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2025 - DUE 24
October 2025; 100% TRUSTED Complete, trusted solutions and explanations.
Ensure your success with us.
ASSIGNMENT 03 (PORTFOLIO) MODULE CODE: PYC4813 MODULE NAME:
COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE ASSIGNMENT UNIQUE NUMBER: 851527 DUE
DATE: 24 OCTOBER 2025 Instructions: •
Font: size 12 • Font type: Times New Roman • Spacing: 1.5 • DO NOT use
generative artificial intelligence (AI) to answer the questions, as this
constitutes academic dishonesty and you will be referred for disciplinary
hearing • NB! There should be evidence that you consulted multiple sources
for this assignment and there should not be over-reliance on one source,
failure to do so you will be penalised • Please ensure that all your work is
properly referenced and DO NOT use other people's words as if they are
yours. Please follow the APA 7th edition referencing guidelines. • Your
paragraphs should not be aligned on the right, and the first line of each
paragraph must be indented on the left at 0.5 cm. Failure to do this, you will
be penalized. • Do not use/avoid unreliable sources such as Wikipedia •
Ensure that you do not cut and paste, instead use your own words or
paraphrase and do not substitute words with synonyms as this is still
considered plagiarism. • Your assignment should be submitted in PDF format
• Please name your file in the following format i.e., PYC4813 Assignment
3_Name & Surname_ Student numberMr Mazibuko is a 25-year-old male who
was brought to the local hospital by his aunt as both his parents are
deceased. The aunt reported that for the past year, he told her that he
believes people were out to get him, even though he has no enemies that
she knows of. Reportedly, he says that he also occasionally hears the voice
of God. When she enquired, he told his aunt that the voice told him that he is
special. Mr Mazibuko also believes that he has a special channel of
communicating with world leaders and he would use this channel to have
conversations with them regarding how to bring about world peace.
Additionally, he believes that he is in love with a local celebrity even though
the celebrity does not know him. He states that he would do anything to
protect the celebrity if anyone dared to say something bad about her.
Sometimes, he says that he feels like his brain is rotting. Since he started
having these beliefs, Mr Mazibuko’s personal hygiene has deteriorated
significantly, and he has started withdrawing. He lost his job and has found
interacting with people difficult. During the intake session, the aunt reported
,that at some point in his teenage years he briefly used cocaine, but he
quickly stopped without having to go to rehab and he no longer took any
substances. He has no history of brain damage, hearing, visual or nutritional
deficits. However, his uncle on his paternal side is reported to have been
admitted in hospital once as he had a strong belief that when he was
watching television the people on television were talking about him. The
aunt added that Mr Mazibuko was born prematurely at 7 months and, as a
result, his birth weight was low. The aunt added that Mr Mazibuko was born
in winter, and his mother was sickly during the pregnancy, as well as
experiencing significant complications during his delivery. Mr Mazibuko was
also referred for neuroimaging and the report indicated that he had low grey
matter volume in both the hippocampus and frontal cortex, as well as his
white matter volume being reduced, and his ventricles were distended.
However, among all these abnormalities, of significant concern was the
dysfunction of his prefrontal cortex. Following his reported concerns, Mr
Mazibuko was also referred for neuropsychological assessment. He was
administered the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale Fourth Edition -South
African Version (WAIS-IVSA), the Tower of London, the Comprehensive Trail
Making Test, the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) and the Bender Visuo-
Motor Gestalt Test Second Edition (Bender-II). The results revealed the
following: difficulty sustaining focus, slowed mental tracking and shifting,
reaction time and task completion, difficulty holding and manipulating
information temporarily and poor reasoning, planning and conversational
flow. Mr Mazibuko also struggled with cognitive flexibility, decision-making
and problem-solving. Additionally, he displayed impairment in initiating
tasks, shifting strategies and inhibiting inappropriate responses. He further
struggled with encoding, storing, and retrieving verbal, visual information
and learned material. Question 1: Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations (10
marks) 1.1 Define the term cognitive neuroscience and explain how it applies
to the assessment of Mr Mazibuko. 1.2 Discuss why a biopsychosocial
approach is useful when working with a case like Mr Mazibuko’s.
1.1 Cognitive Neuroscience and Its Application to the Assessment of Mr
Mazibuko
Cognitive neuroscience is the scientific field that studies the relationship between the
brain’s structures and functions and the cognitive processes underlying human behavior. It
focuses on how neural mechanisms support abilities such as memory, attention, reasoning,
language, decision-making, and problem-solving (Gazzaniga et al., 2019). By combining
methods from neuroscience and psychology, cognitive neuroscience provides insight into how
brain activity gives rise to complex mental processes (Purves et al., 2018).
This approach is directly relevant to Mr Mazibuko’s case. The results from his
neuroimaging assessment revealed reduced grey matter in the hippocampus and frontal cortex,
distended ventricles, and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. These abnormalities can significantly
affect higher-order cognitive functions such as planning, decision-making, reasoning, and
, emotional regulation. His neuropsychological assessment results also showed difficulties with
attention, processing speed, working memory, problem-solving, and executive functioning.
These findings align with the known roles of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in these
cognitive domains.
Understanding the neural basis of his symptoms through cognitive neuroscience allows
clinicians to link his clinical presentation with specific brain mechanisms. For example, his poor
planning and reasoning can be associated with prefrontal cortex dysfunction, while memory
impairments may relate to hippocampal abnormalities. This information is critical for accurate
diagnosis, formulation, and the development of targeted interventions aimed at supporting
cognitive functioning.
1.2 The Usefulness of a Biopsychosocial Approach in Mr Mazibuko’s Case
The biopsychosocial approach is a comprehensive model that considers the interaction of
biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health and illness (Bolton &
Gillett, 2019). This model is widely used in mental health care because it provides a holistic view
of a person’s functioning rather than focusing on biological or psychological aspects alone.
From a biological perspective, Mr Mazibuko’s history shows several risk factors. He was
born prematurely with low birth weight, and his mother experienced complications during
pregnancy. His neuroimaging results indicated structural brain abnormalities, and there is a
family history of psychotic-like symptoms. These biological vulnerabilities increase the
likelihood of developing psychotic disorders.
From a psychological perspective, he presents with delusional beliefs, auditory
hallucinations, impaired reasoning, poor cognitive flexibility, and attention difficulties. These
symptoms reflect disturbances in his thought processes, perception, and cognitive control, all of
which affect daily functioning.
From a social perspective, Mr Mazibuko lost both parents, is unemployed, and has
withdrawn from social interaction. The absence of a stable support system, along with social
isolation, may exacerbate his psychological distress and reduce his ability to cope with
symptoms.
By integrating these three dimensions, the biopsychosocial approach enables mental health
practitioners to create a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan. Interventions may
include medical treatment to address biological factors, psychotherapy to support psychological
well-being, and social support programs to improve his social functioning and quality of life.
This holistic perspective is particularly useful in complex cases such as Mr Mazibuko’s because
it acknowledges the multiple factors contributing to his condition.
