Reflections on Bruce Bridgeman's insights into the Evolution of Consciousness and Cognition.
Stanley Klein
Consciousness and Cognition August 17, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.08.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Visual pathways Humans Eye movements Language Cognition Consciousness Visual perception Cultural evolution Biological evolution Bruce bridgeman |
| Key points | Argues that Bridgeman's eye-movement research shows the visual system is functionally divided into a temporal pathway available to consciousness and cognition and a parietal pathway serving the motor system that is largely unconscious, and highlights his related work linking language and consciousness and his broad-ranging book Psychology and Evolution. |
Abstract
This tribute to Bruce Bridgeman has three parts, which were selected to illustrate his diverse approaches for linking consciousness and cognition. In Part 1 Bridgeman's research on eye movements is used to show how the visual system is functionally divided into two very different streams: the temporal pathway is available for cognitive aspects available to consciousness and the parietal pathway is available to the motor system and is largely unconscious. Part 2 provides links to his Psycoloquy article that connects language and consciousness. The Psycoloquy format has other scholars write a response and then the author responds to each one. Part 3 covers Bruce Bridgeman's book Psychology and Evolution, which is special because it covers many areas with examples not typically treated in introductory psychology textbooks. I decided to quote directly from Bridgeman's writings throughout this essay. I can't think of a better way to pay tribute to him and to inspire others to read his publications.