Resituating cognitive mechanisms within heterarchical networks controlling physiology and behavior. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bechtel, William
• Other Names: Miłkowski Marcin guest-editor.; Hohol Mateusz guest-editor.; Nowakowski Przemysław guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Theory & psychology. Volume 29:Number 5(2019:Oct.)
• Page Start: 620
• Page End: 639
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: cognitive mechanisms -- control mechanisms -- decorticate mammals -- heterarchical organization -- invertebrate nervous systems; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0959354319873725
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3543

Abstract

Cognitive science has traditionally focused on mechanisms involved in high-level reasoning and problem-solving processes. Such mechanisms are often treated as autonomous from but controlling underlying physiological processes. I offer a different perspective on cognition which starts with the basic production mechanisms through which organisms construct and repair themselves and navigate their environments and then I develop a framework for conceptualizing how cognitive control mechanisms form a heterarchical network that regulates production mechanisms. Many of these control mechanisms perform cognitive tasks such as evaluating circumstances and making decisions. Cognitive control mechanisms are present in individual cells, but in metazoans, intracellular control is supplemented by a nervous system in which a multitude of neural control mechanisms are organized heterarchically. On this perspective, high-level cognitive mechanisms are not autonomous, but are elements in larger heterarchical networks. This has implications for future directions in cognitive science research.