Cognitive psychology does not reduce to neuroscience

Lincoln J. Colling; Reece P. Roberts

doi:10.5096/ASCS20097

Cognitive psychology does not reduce to neuroscience

Lincoln J. Colling, Reece P. Roberts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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Abstract

Contemporary scientific investigations of the mind have increasingly looked towards the brain in order to explain intelligent behavior. This is most evident with the rise of cognitive neuro-imaging. This approach has, however, been met with mixed reactions. On the one hand, classical cognitive scientists - in the computationalist-functionalist tradition - have argued that cognitive neuro-imaging does not, and cannot, answer questions about the cognitive mechanisms that are responsible for creating intelligent behavior; it is limited to questions about neural function or the neural basis of cognition. On the other hand, there are those who argue that an understanding of intelligent behavior can only be gained through study of the brain. We suggest that both views are misguided. We will present a third option: That neuroscience, properly used, can be employed in the development of cognitive theory, but that cognitive science does not reduce to neuroscience, because intelligent behavior can only be understood by studying how the brain interacts with the body and the brain-body with the environment.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ASCS09
Subtitle of host publication	proceedings of the 9th Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science
Editors	Wayne Christensen, Elizabeth Schier, John Sutton
Place of Publication	North Ryde, NSW
Publisher	Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science
Pages	41-48
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	9780646529189
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5096/ASCS20097
Publication status	Published - 2010
Event	Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science (9th : 2009) - Sydney Duration: 30 Sept 2009 → 2 Oct 2009

Conference

Conference	Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science (9th : 2009)
City	Sydney
Period	30/09/09 → 2/10/09

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2009 by the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science. Publisher version archived with the permission of the Editor, ASCS09 : Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science. This copy is available for individual, non-commercial use. Permission to reprint/republish this version for other uses must be obtained from the publisher.

Keywords

extended mind
reductionism
neuroscience
embodied cognition

Access to Document

10.5096/ASCS20097

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 204 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Cognitive psychology does not reduce to neuroscience",

abstract = "Contemporary scientific investigations of the mind have increasingly looked towards the brain in order to explain intelligent behavior. This is most evident with the rise of cognitive neuro-imaging. This approach has, however, been met with mixed reactions. On the one hand, classical cognitive scientists - in the computationalist-functionalist tradition - have argued that cognitive neuro-imaging does not, and cannot, answer questions about the cognitive mechanisms that are responsible for creating intelligent behavior; it is limited to questions about neural function or the neural basis of cognition. On the other hand, there are those who argue that an understanding of intelligent behavior can only be gained through study of the brain. We suggest that both views are misguided. We will present a third option: That neuroscience, properly used, can be employed in the development of cognitive theory, but that cognitive science does not reduce to neuroscience, because intelligent behavior can only be understood by studying how the brain interacts with the body and the brain-body with the environment.",

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author = "Colling, {Lincoln J.} and Roberts, {Reece P.}",

note = "Copyright 2009 by the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science. Publisher version archived with the permission of the Editor, ASCS09 : Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science. This copy is available for individual, non-commercial use. Permission to reprint/republish this version for other uses must be obtained from the publisher.; Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science (9th : 2009) ; Conference date: 30-09-2009 Through 02-10-2009",

year = "2010",

doi = "10.5096/ASCS20097",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780646529189",

pages = "41--48",

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Colling, LJ & Roberts, RP 2010, Cognitive psychology does not reduce to neuroscience. in W Christensen, E Schier & J Sutton (eds), ASCS09: proceedings of the 9th Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science. Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, North Ryde, NSW, pp. 41-48, Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science (9th : 2009), Sydney, 30/09/09. https://doi.org/10.5096/ASCS20097

Cognitive psychology does not reduce to neuroscience. / Colling, Lincoln J.; Roberts, Reece P.
ASCS09: proceedings of the 9th Conference of the Australasian Society for Cognitive Science. ed. / Wayne Christensen; Elizabeth Schier; John Sutton. North Ryde, NSW: Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, 2010. p. 41-48.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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AB - Contemporary scientific investigations of the mind have increasingly looked towards the brain in order to explain intelligent behavior. This is most evident with the rise of cognitive neuro-imaging. This approach has, however, been met with mixed reactions. On the one hand, classical cognitive scientists - in the computationalist-functionalist tradition - have argued that cognitive neuro-imaging does not, and cannot, answer questions about the cognitive mechanisms that are responsible for creating intelligent behavior; it is limited to questions about neural function or the neural basis of cognition. On the other hand, there are those who argue that an understanding of intelligent behavior can only be gained through study of the brain. We suggest that both views are misguided. We will present a third option: That neuroscience, properly used, can be employed in the development of cognitive theory, but that cognitive science does not reduce to neuroscience, because intelligent behavior can only be understood by studying how the brain interacts with the body and the brain-body with the environment.

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ER -

Cognitive psychology does not reduce to neuroscience

Abstract

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Bibliographical note

Keywords

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