Is information theory, or the assumptions that surround it, holding back neuroscience?. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de-Wit, Lee; Ekroll, Vebjørn; Schwarzkopf, Dietrich Samuel; Wagemans, Johan
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 42(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X19001250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: The challenges raised in this article are not with information theory per se, but the assumptions surrounding it. Neuroscience isn't sufficiently critical about the appropriate 'receiver' or 'channel', focuses on decoding 'parts', and often relies on a flawed 'veridicality' assumption. If these problematic assumptions were questioned, information theory could be better directed to help us understand how the brain works.