Connectionists: Neuroconstructivism

[Denis Mareschal]

Dear all,

Several readers of this list may be interested in the new two volume 
book described below.

Best regards,

Denis Mareschal

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What are the processes, from conception to adulthood, that enable a 
single cell to grow into a sentient adult? The processes that occur 
along the way are so complex that any attempt to understand 
development necessitates a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating 
data from cognitive studies, computational work, and neuroimaging - 
an approach till now seldom taken in the study of child development. 
Neuroconstructivism is a major new 2 volume publication that seeks to 
redress this balance, presenting an integrative new framework for 
considering development.

Further details can be obtained at 
http://www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk/neuroconstructivism/


Neuroconstructivism: Vol. 1: How the Brain Constructs Cognition (2007)
Denis Mareschal, Mark H. Johnson, Sylvain Sirois, Michael Spratling, 
Michael S. C. Thomas, and Gert Westermann. Oxford University Press

In the first volume, the authors review up-to-to date findings from 
neurobiology, brain imaging, child development, computer and robotic 
modelling to consider why children's thinking develops the way it 
does. They propose a new synthesis of development that is based on 5 
key principles found to operate at many levels of descriptions. They 
use these principles to explain what causes a number of key 
developmental phenomena, including infants' interacting with objects, 
early social cognitive interactions, and the causes of dyslexia. The 
"neuroconstructivist" framework also shows how developmental 
disorders do not arise from selective damage to normal cognitive 
systems, but instead arise from developmental processes that operate 
under atypical constraints. How these principles work is illustrated 
in several case studies ranging from perceptual to social and reading 
development. Finally, the authors use neuroimaging, behavioural 
analyses, computational simulations and robotic models to provide a 
way of understanding the mechanisms and processes that cause 
development to occur.

Neuroconstructivism: Vol. 2: Perspectives and Prospects (2007)
Denis Mareschal, Sylvain Sirois, Gert Westermann and Mark H. Johnson. 
Oxford University Press

Computer and robotic models provide concrete tools for investigating 
the processes and mechanisms involved in learning and development. 
Volume 2 illustrates the principles of 'Neuroconstructivist' 
development, with contributions from 9 different labs across the 
world. Each of the contributions illustrates how models play a 
central role in understanding development. The models presented 
include standard connectionist neural network models as well as 
multi-agent models. Also included are robotic models emphasizing the 
need to take embodiment and brain-system interactions seriously. A 
model of Autism and one of Specific Language Impairment also 
illustrate how atypical development can be understood in terms of the 
typical processes of development but operating under restricted 
conditions. This volume complements Volume 1 by providing concrete 
examples of how the 'Neuroconstructivist' principles can be grounded 
within a diverse range of domains, thereby shaping the research 
agenda in those domains.

Contributors to Volume 2:
James A Bednar, Institute for Adaptive & Neural Computation, 
University of Edinburgh;
Ira L Cohen, Chairman, Dept of Psychology, NYS Institute for Basic 
Research in Developmental Disabilities; Yiannis Demiris, Dept of 
Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Imperial College, London;
Melissa Dominguez, DBK Acoustics
Robert A Jacobs, Dept of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, University of 
Rochester, Rochester;
Marc Joanisse, Dept of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, The 
University of Western Ontario;
Mark H Johnson, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck 
College, University of London; Denis Mareschal, Centre for Brain and 
Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London; Risto 
Miikkulainen, Dept of Computer Sciences, The University of Texas at 
Austin;
Shreesh P Mysore, Control & Dynamic Systems Program, California 
Insitute of Technology;
Domenico Parisi, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, 
Italian National Research Council;
Steven R Quartz, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and 
Computation and Neural System Program, California Institute of 
Technology;
Maartje E J Raijmakers, Dept of Psychology, University of Amsterdam;
Matthew Schlesinger, Brain and Cognitive Sciences Program, Dept of 
Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale;
Thomas R Shultz, Dept of Psychology and School of Computer Science, 
McGill University;
Sylvain Sirois, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester;
Olaf Sporns, Dept of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana 
University, Bloomington;
Gert Westermann, Dept of Psychology, Oxford Brookes University
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	Professor Denis Mareschal
	Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development
	School of Psychology
	Birkbeck College
	University of London
	Malet St., London
	WC1E 7HX, UK
	tel +44 (0)20 7079-0751/7631-6582 reception: 7631-6207
	fax +44 (0)20 7631-6312
	http://www.psyc.bbk.ac.uk/people/academic/mareschal_d/


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