Quality-space theory in olfaction.
Benjamin D Young, Andreas Keller, David Rosenthal
Frontiers in Psychology January 16, 2014 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00001 (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 | Consciousness Olfaction Mental qualities Perceptual qualities Quality-space theory |
| Key points | Argues that quality-space theory, typically developed for color, can be extended to olfaction: a quality space can be constructed from olfactory perceptible properties, olfactory mental qualities defined by their role in it, and the olfactory space delimited from other modalities. The authors contend that QST also handles experience-driven refinement of smell discrimination and olfactory mental qualities in non-conscious states, concluding it is fully applicable to olfaction. |
Abstract
Quality-space theory (QST) explains the nature of the mental qualities distinctive of perceptual states by appeal to their role in perceiving. QST is typically described in terms of the mental qualities that pertain to color. Here we apply QST to the olfactory modalities. Olfaction is in various respects more complex than vision, and so provides a useful test case for QST. To determine whether QST can deal with the challenges olfaction presents, we show how a quality space (QS) could be constructed relying on olfactory perceptible properties and the olfactory mental qualities then defined by appeal to that QS of olfactory perceptible properties. We also consider how to delimit the olfactory QS from other modalities. We further apply QST to the role that experience plays in refining our olfactory discriminative abilities and the occurrence of olfactory mental qualities in non-conscious olfactory states. QST is shown to be fully applicable to and useful for understanding the complex domain of olfaction.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: a framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From dopamine to salience to psychosis--linking biology, pharmacology and phenomenology of psychosis. | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How do the brain's time and space mediate consciousness and its different dimensions? Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| 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
Cited by 27
- Neurophenomenal structuralism. A philosophical agenda for a structuralist neuroscience of consciousness. Neuroscience of Consciousness August 23, 2022
- How to Mitigate the Hard Problem by Adopting the Dual Theory of Phenomenal Consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology 2019
- Toward a Mature Science of Consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology 2018
- Implicit-explicit gradient of nondual awareness or consciousness as such. Neuroscience of Consciousness October 8, 2021
- Unitary and dual models of phenomenal consciousness. Consciousness and Cognition November 1, 2017
and 22 more in the library
Cites 4
- On a confusion about a function of consciousness Behavioral and Brain Sciences June 1, 1995
- Consciousness, accessibility, and the mesh between psychology and neuroscience. Behavioral and Brain Sciences December 1, 2007
- Consciousness and Cognitive Access Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society October 1, 2008
- Functionalism and qualia Identity, Cause, and Mind September 4, 2003