1. Introduction
What is a mind? How can we say it functions? Is our mind the same as our brain? Does a computer have a mind? Cognitive science aims to explore and answer questions like these. But what exactly is cognitive science?
In this tutorial, we’ll discuss what cognitive science is all about. We’ll look at the different scopes to define cognitive science and the mind, the fields in cognitive science, and their applications.
2. What Is Cognitive Science?
Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary study of the mind as an information processor. It seeks to understand the nature, origins, and processes of the human mind and its manifestations in behavior.
However, to understand the behavior of the mind, we must first know what a mind is in terms of information processing.
2.1. The Human Mind
There are many questions regarding what a mind is. Is the mind the same as the physical brain? Or is it a function of the brain, meaning the operations of the brain?
Admittedly, there’s no set definition for the mind. But we can look at the mind through the functions it performs.
Consequently, this raises further questions. If the mind is the function of a brain state in information processing, does that mean that animals or computers can have a mind?
Furthermore, if computers can have minds, does that mean a mind can’t be conscious? Can a mind be distributed? Regardless of what we might define as a mind, we can all agree that the mind is very complex, hence the interdisciplinary role of cognitive science.
2.2. The Interdisciplinary Nature of Cognitive Science
Cognitive science is interdisciplinary, meaning it cuts across various disciplines and fields of study. Generally, there are six principal fields of study through which we can view the problem of cognitive science:
- Philosophy: A field of study that raises questions about existence, knowledge, and the mind
- Psychology: Deals with mental processes, memory, and allocations
- Neuroscience: Focuses on the brain. Maps mental processes to physical structures
- Linguistics: Explores the science of language and how the mind communicates
- Computer Science: Helps us quantify cognitive functional problems through model generation
- Anthropology: Explores the scope of cognition by studying human nature and diversity in experience
Therefore, we can say that cognitive science aims to use all the tools from these fields to understand the mind.
Next, let’s look at the mind through the lens of information processing.
3. The Human Mind as an Information Processor
Cognitive science views and studies the mind as an information processor. Basically, it deals with how the mind gathers, processes, and outputs information. So, what is information?
3.1. What Is Information?
In computation, information is the representation of data in the computer. A simplified form is the bit, which stands for binary digit.
Typically, information flows from the input and is processed down to the output. In any given state of the mind, the input can be sensory or mental representations, whereas the output of the processed information can be the behavior of the mind.
3.2. The Mind as a Mental State
If the mind is the function of the brain’s operations, then we can define it as a mental state. Conversely, a brain state is the physical representation of a state.
A popular question that encapsulates what we seek to understand is when we experience an emotion, say, anger. Could we say that being angry is a physical state or the consequence or function of such a physical state? This definition of the mind based on its function is aptly called functionalism.
Furthermore, if we can define the mind as a functional state, which is a consequence of the brain state, can we then say that mental states aren’t the same as physical states?
Hilary Putnam postulates this in what he calls the Multiple Realizability Thesis. Generally, he postulates that:
- All mental states are realizable by distinct physical states
- If distinct physical states can realize a mental state, then a mental state can’t be identical to any physical state
- Therefore, no mental state is identical to a physical state
Let’s consider an example of different brains experiencing the same emotion: happiness. If we can all agree that different brains, e.g., a dog brain or a human brain, can feel happy, then we can say that the state of being happy isn’t identical to the distinct brains themselves.
4. Applications of Cognitive Science
Knowing how the mind works and the different approaches to understanding the mind can advance other key research areas. Consequently, we can apply the knowledge of cognitive science to:
- Artificial Intelligence: Developing intelligent systems inspired by human cognition
- Education: Designing effective teaching and learning methods based on cognitive principles
- Human-Computer Interaction: Creating user-friendly interfaces and technologies
- Psychology and Therapy: Understanding and treating cognitive disorders
- Neuromarketing: Studying consumer behavior and decision-making processes
As a result, more and more disciplines are using cognitive science to guide their solutions.
5. Conclusion
In this article, we discussed cognitive science, the different approaches to understanding it, and its applications. We learned that cognitive science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the mind as an information processor. We also discussed the mind, looking at it from a functional perspective as a mental state. Lastly, we explored the applications of cognitive science.