Final answer:
The interdisciplinary study that pairs brain activity with our mental processes is called cognitive neuroscience. It's distinct from other psychological approaches and integrates insights from biology and technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive Neuroscience: Linking Brain Activity to Mental Processes
The interdisciplinary study of how brain activity is associated with mental processes is known as cognitive neuroscience. This field integrates knowledge and techniques from various disciplines like psychology, biology, physics, and computer science to understand the biological underpinnings of cognitive processes. Historically, the cognitive revolution of the 1950s helped recenter the focus of psychology on mental processes, where the emergence of neuroscience greatly contributed. Cognitive neuroscience looks at aspects such as sensory and motor systems, sleep, and the biological correlates of psychological disorders.
The final answer to the student's question is cognitive neuroscience, which falls under the domain of psychological study that connects the workings of the brain with how we think, feel, and behave. This field is distinct from other psychological approaches like the social-cultural perspective, psychodynamic perspective, or the industrial-organizational psychology, as it deals specifically with the neurobiological mechanisms of cognition.
The field studying the link between brain activity and mental processes is cognitive neuroscience. It's an interdisciplinary field that includes various methods and theoretical approaches to understand how our cognitive life is rooted in the brain's structure and activity.