Whether we study single cells, measure populations of neurons, characterize anatomical structure, or quantify BOLD, whether we collect reaction times or construct computational models, it is a presupposition of our field that we strive to bridge the neurosciences and the psychological/cognitive sciences. Our tools provide us with ever-greater spatial resolution and ideal temporal resolution. But do we have the right conceptual resolution? This conversation focuses on how we are doing with this challenge, whether we have examples of successful linking hypotheses between psychological and neurobiological accounts, whether we are missing important ideas or tools, and where we might go or should go, if all goes well. The conversation, in other words, examines the very core of cognitive neuroscience. Discussants were:
- Lila Davachi, Columbia University
- Jennifer Groh, Duke University
- Catherine Hartley, New York University
- Sharon L. Thompson-Schill, University of Pennsylvania
Discussion moderator: David Poepple, New York University
Watch the session here:
Some highlights:
We don’t often examine the foundations of cognitive neuroscience, which is what we’re going to do here now –@davidpoeppel #CNS2019 pic.twitter.com/Fwp7G0lu5D
— CNS News (@CogNeuroNews) March 23, 2019
“What is an explanation?” This is not a question to take for granted –@LilaDavachi tackling fundamentals of studying behavior and neuroscience #CNS2019 pic.twitter.com/RndFeDgP5N
— CNS News (@CogNeuroNews) March 24, 2019
Lila Davachi @LilaDavachi: it’s easy to get lost in the data (we love data!), but we need to get back to basics – what is the goal of what we’re going? To describe behaviour? To predict it? To explain it? Ideally, all of these. #CNS2019
— Nikola Vukovic (@VukovicNikola) March 24, 2019
Takeaways from Groh’s short presentation and advice for young neuroscientists #CNS2019 pic.twitter.com/aGbuGtTmv4
— Nikola Vukovic (@VukovicNikola) March 24, 2019
Even if we can predict behavior, if we don’t know how it works, we likely have not achieved our goals -Catherine Hartley #CNS2019 #psychology #neuroscience pic.twitter.com/PsdlH3e1l3
— CNS News (@CogNeuroNews) March 24, 2019
The public perceives neuroscience as “hard” and unrelatable and psychology as “easier” and relatable but neuroscience is actually giving us an easier way to do something hard -Sharon Thompson-Schill #CNS2019 pic.twitter.com/81w9DBwwQM
— CNS News (@CogNeuroNews) March 24, 2019
Must all science be hypothesis driven? There can be discovery without explanation -Catherine Hartley #CNS2019 pic.twitter.com/S2u4o87ALO
— CNS News (@CogNeuroNews) March 24, 2019
The overarching theme of tonight’s session – the importance of merging psychology and neuroscience by achieving all aspects of the purpose of this research: describing, predicting and explaining behaviour #CNS2019 https://t.co/We2n6bx3P8
— Zorry Belchev (@z_belchev) March 24, 2019
-Lisa M.P. Munoz
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