Reductionism and COmplexity Flashcards
What is reductionism?
Reductionism is the idea that complex systems can be understood by breaking them into simpler components. The goal is to choose levels of analysis that simplify phenomena enough to enable progress without overwhelming complexity.
What are the limitations of reductionism?
Complex behaviors, like grammar, cannot be fully explained by chemical reactions alone.
Effective research requires balancing detail and comprehension.
What are the levels of analysis in behavioral neuroscience?
Social Interactions: Examining how group dynamics influence individual behavior.
Brain Systems: Studying networks responsible for sensory perception or decision-making.
Circuits and Neurons: Investigating specific neural pathways involved in visual or motor tasks.
Molecular and Biochemical Processes: Exploring chemical signaling or genetic factors influencing neural activity.
How do researchers collaborate across different levels?
Researchers work on different levels simultaneously to address distinct aspects of the same phenomenon.
Example: Visual Perception
Cognitive Psychologists: Study eye movement patterns or contrast sensitivity.
Behavioral Neuroscientists: Compare visual abilities across species to understand evolutionary adaptations.
Neuroanatomists: Map brain structures and networks supporting vision.
Molecular Scientists: Investigate chemical and electrical processes during vision.
What is the skepticism surrounding the study of the brain?
The question remains whether the human brain can fully comprehend itself. Consciousness, identity, and free will are still enigmatic.
What is the optimism in the study of the brain?
Advances in brain research continue to bring us closer to solving the mysteries of the brain.
How does behavioral neuroscience progress?
Behavioral neuroscience progresses by blending multiple levels of analysis, with each level contributing critical insights to create a fuller understanding of how the brain and behavior connect.
