Ongoing Research Projects
A 4E-cognition approach to the notion of representation
The notion of representation, understood as a neural or mental element that stands for some environmental element, is a fundamental conceptual building block in neuroscience, although it presents critical problems that have suggested the need for an alternative. At the moment, the most promising ideas come from what is known as “4E cognition”, that is, embodied, embedded, extended, and enactive cognition theories. The objectives of this study are: a) To outline a non-representational approach to cognition based on 4E cognition theories; b) To devise the properties that more ecological experimental settings should present to suitably study 4E cognition, and c) To empirically test the non-representational approach proposed in an experimental setting congruent with the second objective. The study will be set within the “description-experience gap paradigm. Sixty students will be recruited to assess their learning performance in the memorization of two texts. The study will have a 2×2 factorial design comparing the two learning strategies (descriptive vs. experiential) and the two texts. The study will have a first session in which the participants’ baseline performance on learning the texts will be assessed both behaviorally and in a neuroimaging protocol. Then, participants will memorize the texts during ten sessions, one via the experiential strategy and the other with the descriptive one. In the last session the participants’ performance on learning the texts will be assessed both behaviorally and in a neuroimaging protocol.
Funding
4e-neuroscience. Fundación Tatiana. (PI: Oscar Vilarroya; duration: 2022-2025)
Relevant Publications
Vilarroya O. Neural Representation. A Survey-Based Analysis of the Notion. (2017) Front Psychol 8: 1458. (Q1 in Psychology; IF:2,3)
Vilarroya O. (2014). Sensorimotor event: an approach to the dynamic, embodied, and embedded nature of sensorimotor cognition. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7: 912
Vilarroya O. (2013). The Challenges of Neural-Mind Reading Paradigms. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7: 306
Vilarroya, O (2012) A Satisficing and Bricoleur Approach to Sensorimotor Cognition. Biosystems 2012 Nov;110(2):65-73
Vilarroya, O (2013) Introducing Experion as a Primal Cognitive Unit of Neural Processing. In: Vincent C. Müller (ed.) Philosophy and Theory of Artificial Intelligence. Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics Volume 5. pp: 289-305.
Vilarroya, O (2013) An Experientially-Based Informationless Communication In: Àngels Massip-Bonet and Albert Bastardas-Boada (ed) Complexity Perspectives on Language, Communication and Society. Berlin, Springer (Understanding Complex Systems) pp: 61-73.