A Philosophical Understanding of Representation for Neuroscience
arXiv Preprint Archive February 12, 2021 Ben Baker, Benjamin Lansdell, Konrad Kording
This theoretical paper clarifies what neuroscientists mean when they call neural activity a representation. The authors argue that the term carries three distinct connotations drawn from philosophy of mind: correspondence, functional role, and teleology. They contend that while each aspect is implied by the explanatory role the term plays in neuroscience, individual studies rarely present evidence for all three. Overlooking these aspects hinders communication, obscures experimental limitations, and conceals gaps in understanding. The authors propose that adopting a three-part view can promote clearer communication about representations in the brain.