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More than a scaffold: Language is a neuroenhancement
1Department of Philosophy, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
Cognitive Neuropsychology
|July 5, 2019
Summary
Language acts as a cognitive scaffold and a neuroenhancement, extending our conceptual reach. This view explains abstract concept development and language
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
- Linguistics
Background:
- The role of language in thought is debated, with some viewing it as a cognitive scaffold.
- Embodied and grounded cognition theories highlight language's role in capturing regularities and cultural information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that language functions as a neuroenhancement, not just a cognitive scaffold.
- To explore how the language system extends conceptual abilities.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical argumentation and synthesis of existing research in cognitive science and neuroscience.
- Analysis of language's contribution to conceptual systems and development.
Main Results:
- Language is a neuroenhancement, a computational add-on extending conceptual reach.
- The language system is integral to a flexible, multimodal conceptual system.
Conclusions:
- Viewing language as a neuroenhancement offers a compelling explanation for cognitive development and abstract thought.
- It highlights the profound impact of language on human cognition and conceptual abilities.
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