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SUMMARY:Computational Neuroscience Journal Club - Edward Young\, Zahara Gi
 rones
DTSTART:20221206T140000Z
DTEND:20221206T150000Z
UID:TALK193606@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Luke Johnston
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\n\nOne of the tasks of philosophy is to offer method
 ological critiques of other disciplines. In this journal club\, we will di
 scuss two papers from within neuroscience that dissect our tools and techn
 iques. By examining the philosophical assumptions that underlie these meth
 ods\, the papers aim to shed a light on what they see as prominent problem
 s within modern neuroscience. In particular\, both papers are concerned wi
 th the issue of what is means to understand a cognitive system\, and wheth
 er we have the capacity to generate that understanding. \n\nThe first pape
 r\, “Neuroscience Needs Behaviour: Correcting a Reductionist Bias” (Kr
 akauer et al. 2017) examines the role of behavioural data in neuroscientif
 ic analysis. The authors advance a thesis that neuroscientific analysis fo
 cusing on constituent elements of the nervous system\, such as individual 
 neurons and circuits\, is insufficient to generate a rich understanding of
  the brain and the computations it performs. Instead\, an understanding-or
 iented analysis much begin with the repertoire of natural behaviours the n
 ervous system is capable of producing.\n\nThe second paper\, “Could a ne
 uroscientist understand a microprocessor?” (Jones and Kording 2017) asks
  whether standard neuroscientific techniques are capable of generating the
  sort of understanding that the discipline seeks. To test these standard t
 echniques\, the authors apply them to a computational system (a microproce
 ssor) and ask whether they are sufficient to uncover the computations bein
 g performed. Finding them wanting\, they then ask what these techniques mu
 st be supplemented with to give us a toolkit for understanding computation
 al processes.\n\nReferences:\n\n[1] “Neuroscience Needs Behaviour: Corre
 cting a Reductionist Bias” (Krakauer et al. 2017)\n\n[2] “Could a neur
 oscientist understand a microprocessor?” (Jones and Kording 2017)\n\nZoo
 m information:\n\nhttps://eng-cam.zoom.us/j/84204498431?pwd=Um1oU284b1YxWT
 hObGw4ZU9XZitWdz09 Meeting ID: 842 0449 8431 Passcode: 684140\n
LOCATION:CBL Seminar Room (in person)\, Engineering Department\, 4th floor
  Baker building
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