Manifesto for a new (computational) cognitive revolution

Cognition. 2015 Feb:135:21-3. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2014.11.026. Epub 2014 Dec 8.

Abstract

The cognitive revolution offered an alternative to merely analyzing human behavior, using the notion of computation to rigorously express hypotheses about the mind. Computation also gives us new tools for testing these hypotheses - large behavioral databases generated by human interactions with computers and with one another. This kind of data is typically analyzed by computer scientists, who focus on predicting people's behavior based on their history. A new cognitive revolution is needed, demonstrating the value of minds as intervening variables in these analyses and using the results to evaluate models of human cognition.

Keywords: Big data; Computational modeling; Crowdsourcing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Behavioral Research / trends*
  • Cognition*
  • Crowdsourcing*
  • Databases, Factual / trends*
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical*