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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

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Published on: March 2, 2015

Context-sensitive computational mechanistic explanation in cognitive neuroscience.

Matthieu M de Wit¹, Heath E Matheson²

¹Department of Neuroscience, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, United States.

Frontiers in Psychology

|August 8, 2022

Summary

Cognitive neuroscience struggles to map behavior to brain networks due to unstable neural mappings. A contextual approach across all levels is needed for mechanistic explanations of behavior.

Keywords:

cognitive neuroscience degeneracy functional brain mapping levels of analysis many-to-many mappings mechanistic explanation neural reuse structure-function relationships

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience

Background:

Cognitive neuroscience seeks to explain behavior by linking organismal abilities to neural networks via computation.
Current models face challenges due to empirical findings that contradict stable mappings between analysis levels.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the commitments of cognitive neuroscience in mapping behavior to brain networks.
To highlight the mismatch between theoretical models and empirical research findings.
To propose a reorientation of methodological and theoretical approaches.

Main Methods:

Integrative review of existing literature and empirical research findings.
Analysis of phenomena such as context-dependent neural tuning, neural reuse, and plasticity.
Examination of research on task context and dynamic neural parcellation.

Main Results:

Stable mappings between organismal, computational, and neural levels are lacking.
Neural function is context-dependent, preventing stable computational descriptions.
Task context dynamically influences neural component organization.

Conclusions:

Instability across analysis levels poses an epistemological challenge for cognitive neuroscience.
A shift towards contextual explanations at all levels is necessary.
Brain mapping efforts require methodological and theoretical reorientation to achieve mechanistic explanations of behavior.