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Representational content and computation in the human visual system
1Department of Psychology, University of Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
Psychological Research
|January 1, 1990
Summary
This study explores how information-processing systems, like the human brain, transform internal symbols. It proposes an explanation by instantiation for visual capacities, addressing fundamental challenges in defining representational content.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Information-processing systems systematically transform internal representational states (symbols).
- Understanding the principles behind these transformations and how they are instantiated is crucial.
- Defining and ascribing representational content to internal states poses a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline an explanation by instantiation for information-processing capacities.
- To apply this framework to a specific human visual capacity.
- To discuss fundamental problems in developing such explanations.
Main Methods:
- Developing a theoretical framework for explanation by instantiation.
- Applying the framework to analyze human visual information processing.
- Identifying and discussing key challenges and open questions.
Main Results:
- Outlines a method for explaining information-processing capacities through instantiation.
- Provides a framework applicable to specific cognitive functions like human vision.
- Highlights fundamental conceptual and methodological challenges.
Conclusions:
- Explanation by instantiation offers a promising approach to understanding cognitive systems.
- Further research is needed to address the identified fundamental problems.
- This framework can guide future investigations into the neural basis of representation.