INVESTIGADORES
VENTURELLI Alfonso Nicolas
artículos
Título:
Conceptual Change in Visual Neuroscience: The Receptive Field Concept
Autor/es:
VENTURELLI, ALFONSO NICOLÁS
Revista:
International Studies in the Philosophy of Science
Editorial:
Taylor and Francis
Referencias:
Lugar: London ; Año: 2021 vol. 34 p. 41 - 57
Resumen:
I focus on the concept of the receptive field of a sensory neuron,taking it as a prominent case to address conceptual change inthe history of neuroscience. I argue for an interpretation of itsrole and evolution based on the idea, previously rehearsed in thephilosophy of biology, of a problem agenda. I claim that theconcept?s main contribution to visual neuroscience was that ofestablishing a problem agenda for the early experimentalresearch on visual processing, thus structuring the field?sexperimental practices and integration between convergingscientific fields. I pay particular attention to the researchprogramme led by Hubel and Wiesel, revolving their famousexperiments on the cat?s visual cortex during the 60s, whenreceptive field exploration blossomed. I additionally claim thatthe concept?s more recent evolution, witnessing a loss in itsdefiniteness and centrality, can be accommodated by my account.