Event overview
Prof. Colin Davis will present a lecture examining the limitations of the mathematical analysis of cognition.
Bayesian theories are all the rage in psychology and neuroscience. These theories claim that minds and brains are (near) optimal in solving a wide range of tasks. A common premise of these theories is that theorising should largely be constrained by a rational analysis of what the mind ought to do in order to perform optimally. I will argue that this approach ignores many of the important constraints that come from biological, evolutionary, and processing (algorithmic) considerations, and that it has contributed to the development of many Bayesian “just-so” stories in psychology and neuroscience; that is, mathematical analyses of cognition that can be used to explain almost any behavior as optimal. I will argue that the empirical evidence for Bayesian theories in psychology is weak at best, and that the empirical evidence for Bayesian theories in neuroscience is weaker still.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Mar 2013 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm |
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