Science helps us understand the external world. But cognition – the mental process by which we perceive the world and acquire knowledge – is difficult to observe because the “platform” supporting cognition – the human brain – is staggeringly complex. Understanding the relationship between the mind and the brain demands an interdisciplinary approach – the approach of cognitive science.
At Bar-Ilan University, cognitive researchers are thinking about thought. Following in the footsteps of the psychologist and cognitive science pioneer George Miller, they are clarifying the representational and computational capacities of the human mind, as well as their functional bases in neural structures. By making new connections, Bar-Ilan researchers are painting a clearer picture of how the mind helps us understand the world in which we live.