The scientific use of ‘representation’ and ‘function’: avoiding explanatory vacuity

Nearly all of the ways philosophers currently attempt to define the terms ‘representation’ and ‘function’ undermine the scientific application of those terms by rendering the scientific explanations in which they occur vacuous. Since this is unacceptable, we must develop analyses of these terms that avoid this vacuity. Robert Cummins argues in this fashion in Representations, Targets, and Attitudes. He accuses ‘use theories’ of representational content of generating vacuous explanations, claims that nearly all current theories of representational content are use theories, and offers a non-use theory of representational content which avoids explanatory vacuity. One task I undertake in this article is to develop an alternative non-use theory which avoids an objection fatal to that theory. My second task is to adapt Cummins’ argument to criticize most current analyses of ‘function,’ which undermine scientific explanation in an analogous way. Though Cummins does not explicitly argue in this manner, his own analysis of ‘function,’ by avoiding any appeal to use, avoids the explanatory vacuity to which they succumb. Consequently, I endorse Cummins’ notion of function. However, although use theories fail as analyses of the terms ‘representation’ and ‘function,’ they can still make significant contributions to the sciences employing these terms. For, while philosophers seeking to define ‘representation’ and ‘function’ must avoid incorporating representational and functional uses into their definitions, scientists must still find a way to determine which representations and functions are being used. Suitably re-construed use theories of representation and function may in many cases assist them in this task.     

Representation over time: the effects of temporal distance on similarity

Similarity is central in human cognition, playing a role in a wide range of cognitive processes. In three studies, we demonstrate that subjective similarity may change as a function of temporal distance, with some events seeming more similar when considered in the near future, while others increase in similarity as temporal distance increases. Given the ubiquity of inter-temporal thought, and the fundamental role of similarity, these results have important implications for cognition in general.     

Aspects of Code-Specific Memory Development

We investigated the development of code specific representations of different kinds of information in long term memory. Forty second graders, 40 sixth graders and 40 adults learned the associations between 12 pictures and one position each in a 4 × 3 grid of squares, 12 pictures and 1 of 12 monosyllabic words each or 12 pictures and 1 of 12 faces. After a 3 min distractor task, a picture was presented in the retrieval phase, and the associated position, word or face had to be selected. Performance in the verbal condition improved as a function of age, while performance in the spatial condition turned out to be independent of age, and the performance in the facial condition showed a difference between both child groups and the adults. The results revealed a developmental difference of code specific representation of different kinds of information.     

Sens du travail et rapports vie de travail - vie hors travail chez trois catégories de télétravailleurs et chez les travailleurs classiques

Telework, namely so remote work, is composed of three basic forms: home based-telework, alternated telework and mobile telework. These three basic forms of telework and the traditional form of work are compared to identify their respective impact on work centrality, work social representation, and on relations between work life and out of work life. The mobile teleworkers present a high work centrality and the alternated teleworkers, a high family centrality. Concerning the representation, only mobile teleworkers and home based teleworkers cannot think the work without the basic knowledge of constraint. For the exchanges between work of life and out of work life, traditional workers separate their domains of life even though alternated teleworkers and home based-teleworkers combinate it. Mobile teleworkers develop exchanges between some domains of life.This study proves that it is not necessary to reason globally but to consider the specificity of each telework forms introduced or to implant in a organization.     

限制性饮食者对食物线索的认知偏向：行为和脑机制的证据

限制饮食是为了控制体重, 长期严格地控制进食的倾向。大量研究表明相对于非限制性饮食者, 限制性饮食者对食物线索尤其是高能量或高美味食物线索存在认知偏向。这种偏向是基于一定的脑神经基础的如前额叶背内侧, 小脑等区域。未来研究应设置严格的筛选标准, 运用视觉odd-one-out和学习-再认实验范式, 重视认知神经机制的探讨, 开展中国限制性饮食者对食物线索加工的认知机制和主要影响因素模型的系统研究。     

Memory Maintenance

ABSTRACT— Change in the synaptic communication between neurons—known as synaptic plasticity—plays a key role in learning and memory. It is not yet clear, however, whether the properties of synaptic plasticity are sufficient to account for long-term-memory maintenance. Recent studies have revealed that synaptic plasticity can indeed persist for weeks or months, as might be expected of a long-term-memory mechanism. However, memories encoded by neural systems are not static; they continue to evolve as new learning occurs. Furthermore, neural-network modeling has shown that synapses must be able to reconfigure their connection strengths during new learning if old information is to be preserved. Recent tests confirm that synapses, once modified, retain their capacity for further modification, indicating that they can indeed operate in the manner predicted to be necessary for memory maintenance in a dynamic learning network.     

印尼留学生汉语主动句被动句命题表征项目顺序

采用句子-图形验证任务初步探讨了不同汉语水平的印尼留学生理解汉语主动句、被动句所形成的命题表征中的项目顺序特点。结果表明,初级汉语水平印尼留学生理解汉语主动句、被动句后所建构的命题表征中项目顺序均为“受事→施事”;中级汉语水平印尼留学生理解汉语主动句所形成的命题表征项目顺序为“施事→受事”,而其理解汉语被动句所形成的命题表征项目顺序为“受事→施事”。母语主动句、被动句的理解特点影响印尼留学生汉语主动句、被动句命题表征项目顺序;这种影响作用与其汉语水平有一定的关系。     

人工神经网络模型在心理学研究中的运用

人工神经网络是对真实神经元网络的粗略模拟,具有容错性、抗干扰性、高效性等特征,具有学习、记忆等强大的认知功能,因此适宜于心理学许多领域的模拟研究。借助神经网络模型不仅可以模拟和验证以往的实验室研究;还能深入探讨感知、联想、学习和记忆等认知过程的具体发生机理,把握其内在机制;它对探讨内隐记忆、内隐学习等无意识认知过程有极大的启发作用。     

Are unsupervised neural networks ignorant? Sizing the effect of environmental distributions on unsupervised learning

Learning environmental biases is a rational behavior: by using prior odds, Bayesian networks rapidly became a benchmark in machine learning. Moreover, a growing body of evidence now suggests that humans are using base rate information. Unsupervised connectionist networks are used in computer science for machine learning and in psychology to model human cognition, but it is unclear whether they are sensitive to prior odds. In this paper, we show that hard competitive learners are unable to use environmental biases while recurrent associative memories use frequency of exemplars and categories independently. Hence, it is concluded that recurrent associative memories are more useful than hard competitive networks to model human cognition and have a higher potential in machine learning.     

化学概念心理表征的初步研究

化学概念表征是化学教育心理学的重要研究对象。化学概念是以命题、表象、产生式和图式等方式表征的。化学概念表征有表象优先性、丰富性、相关性、个体性、可变性等特点。学习者对化学概念理解的本质是形成恰当的心理表征,用“正确度”、“深度”和“速度”等概念,对化学概念的表征可作更为精致的描述。