Representationalism can connect neuroscience and philosophy.
Albert Kok
Frontiers in cognition 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fcogn.2025.1623712 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Cognitive neuroscience Consciousness Dualism Emergence Intentionality Qualia Theory of memory-representations |
| Key points | Proposes that conscious experience results from retrieval of explicit memory representations from short-term memory, and that concepts like qualia and emergence reflect memory-emotion interactions in neuro-affective networks. |
Abstract
Representationalism is the theory that our conscious perception of the world is mediated by mental representations, rather than being a direct encounter with reality. In this article, we define representations in terms of a unified theory of long-term memory that incorporates both its explicit and implicit divisions. Apart from these integrative features, the theory offers the possibility for reconciling perspectives in neuroscience and the philosophy of mind. We address various areas of debate, focusing on concepts such as consciousness, intentionality, emergence, and qualia. We draw the following conclusions based on our framework applied to representational systems. First, conscious experience results from the retrieval of the contents of explicit memory representations from short-term memory. Regarding intentionality, the strong link between intentionality and memory representations allows us to define intentionality, capturing both the "what is it" and "what it is like" aspects. Finally, notions referring to the subjective experiential content of consciousness, such as emergence and "qualia", are integral to all conscious experience, reflecting memory-emotion interactions realized in neuro-affective networks. Ultimately, we conclude that concepts from the philosophy of mind can be harmonized, in a non-reductionist way, with neurocognitive theories that define memory representations as multilevel networks of large-scale brain systems.
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| The phenomenology of deep brain stimulation-induced changes in OCD: an enactive affordance-based model. | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 24
- Consciousness, accessibility, and the mesh between psychology and neuroscience. Behavioral and Brain Sciences December 1, 2007
- Theories of consciousness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience July 1, 2022
- Biology of Consciousness Frontiers in Psychology 2011
- Unpacking the complexities of consciousness: Theories and reflections. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews March 1, 2025
- The Kantian brain: brain dynamics from a neurophenomenological perspective. Current Opinion in Neurobiology April 1, 2015
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