Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
05:26
Enactive Phenomenological Approach to the Trier Social Stress Test: A Mixed Methods Point of View
Published on: January 7, 2019
6.7K
Engram Studies: A Call for Historical, Philosophical, and Sociological Approaches
Luca Chiapperino1, Francesco Panese2
1STS Lab, Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Luca.Chiapperino@unil.ch.
Advances in Neurobiology
|July 15, 2024
Summary
This chapter explores the philosophical, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of engram research. It highlights knowledge gaps and calls for interdisciplinary approaches to understand memory
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy of Mind
- History of Science
Background:
- The engram concept, originating from Richard Semon, remains incompletely understood.
- Existing research often overlooks the philosophical underpinnings and historical trajectory of engram studies.
- The sociopolitical implications of engram research are largely underexplored.
Observation:
- Philosophical debates on constructivism vs. preservationism need integration into engram research.
- The historical dissemination and national contexts of Semon's engram concept require further documentation.
- The societal and healthcare applications of engram research, including neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions, lack socio-anthropological analysis.
Findings:
- Significant gaps exist in understanding the philosophical, historical, and sociopolitical dimensions of engram research.
- The legacy of Richard Semon's engram concept is largely undocumented.
- The social and political relevance of engram research, particularly for memory-related disorders, is under-examined.
Implications:
- Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial to bridge foundational neuroscience with socially responsible knowledge dissemination.
- Further research should explore the societal role of engram research facts, metaphors, and interventions.
- Investigating the implications for foundational memory questions and shaping the social framing of engram research is essential.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Structuralism
620
Structuralism, an early psychological theory developed by Wilhelm Wundt and his student Edward Bradford Titchener, sought to dissect the human mind into its most fundamental components. Wundt's groundbreaking work in his laboratory set the stage for Titchener to define structuralism's goal as cataloging the "atoms" of the mind—sensations, images, and feelings—akin to how chemists identify elements of matter.
Titchener's approach to structuralism was unique. He...
Titchener's approach to structuralism was unique. He...
620
01:27Horney's Sociocultural Approach
493
Karen Horney's psychoanalytic theories emphasize the potential for self-realization and the importance of addressing social and cultural, rather than biological, factors in personality development. She challenged traditional Freudian views, particularly Freud's concept of "penis envy," which she argued stemmed from cultural influences rather than inherent biological differences. Horney believed that any sense of inferiority in women was a result of societal conditioning, such as...
493
01:24Humanistic Psychology
1.1K
Humanistic psychology emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the deterministic and pessimistic nature of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. While behaviorism focused on observable behaviors influenced by the environment and psychoanalysis delved into unconscious motivations, both theories suggested that human actions lacked free will. In contrast, humanistic psychology offers a perspective that emphasizes the innate potential for goodness and growth within every individual.
This approach...
This approach...
1.1K
01:17Cognitivism
1.4K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
1.4K
01:29Contemporary Psychology
537
Psychology explores human behavior and mental processes through various lenses, each offering unique insights. This overview examines key subfields, including biopsychology, evolutionary, developmental, personality, and social psychology, highlighting their approaches and contributions to understanding complex human behaviors.
Biopsychology
Biopsychology, also known as biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience, focuses on the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes. It...
Biopsychology
Biopsychology, also known as biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience, focuses on the biological underpinnings of behavior and mental processes. It...
537
01:29Theoretical Approaches to Psychological Disorder
215
The development of psychological disorders, which are characterized by deviant, maladaptive, and personally distressing behaviors, has been explored through several theoretical approaches.
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
Biological approach
The biological approach posits that internal, organic factors are the primary causes of such disorders. This perspective emphasizes brain structure and function, genetic predispositions, and neurotransmitter imbalances. For example, schizophrenia has been associated with both genetic...
215