Synaptic plasticity is complex; neurobiologists are not

The complexity of modern neurobiology in even a comparatively restricted area such as use-dependent synaptic plasticity is underestimated by the authors. This leads them to reject a neurobiological model of learning as conceptually parasitic on the psychology of conditioning, on the basis of objecti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Behavioral and brain sciences 1999-10, Vol.22 (5), p.853-854
Main Author: Vickery, Richard M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Brain
Criticism
Effects
Gold & Stoljar: A neuron doctrine
Neurology
Open Peer Commentary
Philosophy
Psychology
Theory
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The complexity of modern neurobiology in even a comparatively restricted area such as use-dependent synaptic plasticity is underestimated by the authors. This leads them to reject a neurobiological model of learning as conceptually parasitic on the psychology of conditioning, on the basis of objections that are shown to be unsustainable. An argument is also advanced that neurobiologists hold an intermediate version of the neuron doctrine rather than a conflated one. In this version, neurobiologists believe that psychology will eventually be underpinned by neurobiology but are agnostic about the extent of upheaval that this will produce in psychology.
ISSN:0140-525X
1469-1825
DOI:10.1017/S0140525X99492192