Macroscopic Neural Theories of Cognition
Abstract
This article explores the question, "are the available conceptual foundations, the statistical techniques, and the empirical data of cognitive neuroscience sufficiently robust to serve as a foundation for a neuroreductionist explanatory theories of the mind-brain relationship?" The answer proposed here is that there is insufficient reason to think that such a theory is likely to emerge in the near future. In this context, a theory means a comprehensive explanation of how cognitive or mental processes are explained by neural mechanisms. There are two main contenders for this kind of theory building. The first is based on macroneural measurements such as those produced by brain imaging equipment. The alternative is a microneural approach epitomized by the Hebb (1949) Conjecture. The Hebbian approach asserts that it is most likely that cognitive processes of all kinds are mediated by the concurrent collective microneural state (not the summed, pooled, or accumulated macroneural properties) of an assembly of individual neurons. Although there is insufficient evidence at the microneural level to robustly support this conjecture, difficulties with the macroneural approach and the logic of the microneural approach suggest that Hebb was essentially correct. Thus, overarching theories of the mind-brain relation are unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA597175
Entities
People
- William R. Uttal
Organizations
- Arizona State University