Neuroheuristics
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 | This article possibly contains original research. (May 2021) |
Neuroheuristics (or neuristics) studies the dynamic relations within neuroscientific knowledge, using a transdisciplinary studies approach. It was proposed by Alessandro Villa in 2000.[1]
Etymology[edit]
The word comes from the Greek νεύρον (neuron, which refers to the nerve cell[2]) and εύρισκω ("euriskein", heuristic, which refers to problem-solving procedures characterized by informal, intuitive and speculative features[3]).
Paradigm[edit]
Neuroheuristics defines a scientific paradigm aimed to develop strategies that can be enabled to understand brain and mind following subsequent problems emerging from transdisciplinary studies including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physics, artificial intelligence, engineering, computer science, economics and mathematics.
The research framework introduced by the neuroheuristic paradigm appears as an essential step for the investigation of the information processing effected by the brain because it is the outcome of nature and nurture, at the crossing of top-down and bottom-up design.
Neurobiologists apply a bottom-up research strategy in their studies. This strategy has been able to describe a simple organism's nervous system, such as Caenorhabditis elegans.[4][5][6][7] However, it would be impossible to simultaneously examine all neurons and all variables. This limits the value experimentation using this method could provide.
The top-down strategy with the assistance of black box theory appears easier to complete, but inappropriate for understanding the mechanisms which coordinate neurons.
The paradigm offers a needed and possibly distinct approach to the study of brain and mind.[8][9][10][11]
In this framework, a result cannot be simply positive or negative because the process itself cannot be reduced to proficiency as such.[clarification needed] Dynamics is an essential feature of the neuroheuristic paradigm, but it is more than just the neurobiological facet of holism as opposed to reductionism.[clarification needed]
References[edit]
- ^ Villa, Alessandro E. P. (2000). "La neuroheuristique, un paradigme distinct en neurosciences" [Neuroheuristics, a new paradigm in neuroscience]. Revue médicale de la Suisse romande (in French). 120 (9): 743–748. PMID 11094540 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ "Neuron". Encyclopædia Britannica. 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Structure of problems in thought". Encyclopædia Britannica. 17 March 2024.
- ^ "A database featuring behavioral and structural anatomy of Caenorhabditis elegans".
- ^ "Specification of the nervous system of C. elegans".
- ^ White, J.G.; Southgate, E.; Thomson, J.N.; Brenner, S. (1986). "The Structure of the Nervous System of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 314 (1165): 1–340. Bibcode:1986RSPTB.314....1W. doi:10.1098/rstb.1986.0056. PMID 22462104.
- ^ Jabr, Ferris. "The Connectome Debate: Is Mapping the Mind of a Worm Worth It?". Scientific American.
- ^ Taylor, John G.; Villa, Alessandro E.P. (2001). The "Conscious I": A Neuroheuristic Approach to the Mind. Frontiers of Life. Vol. 3. pp. 349–368. ISBN 9780120773404.
- ^ Villa, Alessandro E.P. (2000). "Neuroheuristics, a new paradigm in neuroscience". Rev Med Suisse Romande. 120 (9): 743–748. PMID 11094540.
- ^ Villa, Alessandro E.P. (2008). "Neural Coding in the Neuroheuristic Perspective". The Codes of Life. Biosemiotics. Vol. 1. pp. 357–377. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6340-4_16. ISBN 978-1-4020-6339-8.
- ^ Villa, Alessandro E.P.; Missonnier, Pascal; Lintas, Alessandra (2012). "Neuroheuristics of Decision Making: From Neuronal Activity to EEG". Decision Making with Imperfect Decision Makers. Intelligent Systems Reference Library. Vol. 28. pp. 159–194. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-24647-0_7. ISBN 978-3-642-24646-3.