Final answer:
A cognitive neuroscientist would be most interested in studying signs of consciousness in people with major cerebral cortex damage because they specialize in the brain-behavior relationship. They investigate how brain injuries influence mental processes, an area where historic post-mortem studies have limitations in understanding dynamic brain functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychological researcher most interested in the research question, "Do people who lost most of their cerebral cortex in an accident still exhibit signs of consciousness?" would be a cognitive neuroscientist.
Cognitive neuroscientists focus on the brain-behavior relationship and are particularly fascinated by how brain damage, such as the loss of the cerebral cortex, influences mental processes and consciousness.
This stems from a foundational understanding that cognitive functions, including consciousness, are rooted in the cerebral cortex.
On the other hand, the limitations of studying brain injury post-mortem involve missing the dynamic processes and potential recovery of brain functions.