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The PROUST hypothesis: the embodiment of olfactory cognition
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA, 94720-1650, USA. jacobs@berkeley.edu.
Animal Cognition
|December 21, 2022
Summary
Olfactory cognition, or the sense of smell, extends beyond the brain, supporting embodied cognition. This ancient sensory system offers a unique model for understanding how organisms interact with their environment.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Theories of extended cognition (4E framework) often overlook olfaction.
- Olfaction is a fundamental sensory modality across diverse species.
- Embodied cognition emphasizes the role of the body and environment in cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the implications of embodiment for olfactory cognition using a philosophical framework.
- To propose an extension of the 4E framework (embodied, enacted, embedded, extended) to include 'evolved' cognition.
- To present the PROUST hypothesis for understanding olfactory perception and reconstruction.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of the 4E framework applied to olfaction.
- Conceptual integration of chemosensation, embodiment, and evolutionary history.
- Examination of the PROUST hypothesis (perceiving and reconstructing odor utility in space and time).
Main Results:
- Olfactory cognition aligns with the criteria of embodied cognition.
- The proposed 'evolved' aspect complements the 4E framework.
- Olfaction serves as an ancient scaffold for purposive behavior and cognition.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory cognition, deeply rooted in evolutionary history, exemplifies embodied cognition.
- The PROUST hypothesis provides a model for understanding olfactory perception within an embodied framework.
- Olfaction, due to its widespread presence and unique characteristics in humans, is an ideal system for studying embodiment.
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