Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Cognitive Science最新文献

In this paper, we introduce the reader to the field of cognitive network science, that is, the application of network science methods to study human cognition and knowledge structures. Cognitive networks are representations of associative knowledge between concepts in a cognitive system apt at acquiring, storing, processing and producing language, that is, the mental lexicon. In a cognitive network, nodes represent concepts with links expressing relations, such as semantic, syntactic, phonological and visual connections, for example, "canine" and "dog" (nodes) linked by "being synonyms" (link). Hence, cognitive networks represent associative knowledge in mathematical, measurable and quantifiable ways. Can such structure be used to gain insights over cognitive phenomena? We explore this research question by reviewing recent, pioneering key applications and limitations of cognitive networks across visual, auditory, and semantic language processing tasks, either in healthy or clinical populations. We also review applications of cognitive networks modeling language acquisition, reconstructing text content and assessing creativity or personality traits in individuals. Our paper also gently introduces the reader to mathematical notations, definitions and measures about single-layer and multiplex networks as well as hypergraphs. Last but not least, across phonological, semantic and syntactic networks, we guide the reader through relevant psychological frameworks, datasets and software packages that might all aid current and future cognitive network scientists. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Memory Psychology > Theory and Methods Linguistics > Cognitive.

Cognitive neuroscience has made remarkable advances by conducting rigorously controlled experiments inside the laboratory. However, the generalizability and real-world relevance of these findings remain limited, in part due to fundamental, often unexamined, assumptions about how cognition operates across species and contexts. In this viewpoint, we critically evaluate three commonly held assumptions underlying current cognitive neuroscience practices: (1) laboratory animals serve as accurate representatives of their wild conspecifics; (2) animal models effectively mirror human cognitive processes; and (3) digital twins provide faithful, functionally equivalent representations of their real-world analogs. We argue that these assumptions, if left unexamined, risk narrowing our understanding of cognition by excluding the behavioral flexibility, environmental variability, and agency that natural settings afford. We advocate for an expanded notion of ecological validity to include the naturalness of both subjects and environments, and we highlight methodological shifts, such as the use of enriched experimental contexts, mobile neuroimaging, and immersive virtual environments. By reassessing these foundational assumptions, we advocate for an approach to cognitive neuroscience that better reflects the complexity of real-world behavior, species-specific cognition, and the environments, physical or virtual, in which cognition is embedded.

Hope, as conceptualized by Snyder's Hope Theory, is a cognitive process that involves goal setting, pathway thinking, and agency. While hope has been widely studied in older children and adults, limited research exists on measuring hope in early childhood. The present study addresses this gap by introducing two novel developmentally appropriate tasks-the Maze Task and the Egg Hunt Task-to assess hope in children aged 5 and 6. The Maze Task evaluates children's pathway thinking and agency through a series of structured mazes, analyzing perseverance, self-talk, emotional responses, and problem-solving strategies. The Egg Hunt Task, conducted 1 year later, refines the measurement by integrating verbal self-assessments and structured prompts based on the Children's Hope Scale. Preliminary results from both tasks suggest that hope is present in early childhood, with children demonstrating goal-directed behavior, flexible problem-solving behavior, and varying degrees of self-efficacy. Although some ceiling effects were observed, findings indicate that hope can be reliably measured before age 8. These novel methodologies contribute to the field by offering observational, interactive, age-appropriate alternatives to traditional self-report surveys. Future research should further refine these measures, explore the stability of hope across early development, and assess interventions that foster hope in young children. This article is categorized under: Cognitive Biology > Cognitive Development Psychology > Emotion and Motivation.

Perceptual-motor coupling, fundamental to human cognition and behavior, plays a crucial role in dynamic interactive contexts ranging from basic motor control to complex action understanding. Recent evidence reveals how kinematic invariants-consistent patterns in human movement-serve as a common language between perception and action, enabling both movement execution and understanding. Through the lens of striking skills-a paradigmatic example that uniquely integrates multiple aspects of perceptual-motor interaction-this review synthesizes evidence for three distinct yet interacting levels of coupling. Level 1 coupling involves fundamental interactions between perceptual and motor processes through dual-stream visual processing, where kinematic invariants are initially extracted and processed. Level 2 encompasses sophisticated control mechanisms that maintain these invariant patterns during action execution through continuous sensorimotor integration. Level 3 coupling transforms these movement patterns into meaningful representations through the action observation network, enabling action understanding and prediction. Evidence indicates these levels operate simultaneously during real-world performance, with kinematic invariants being processed and utilized differently at each level while maintaining continuous interaction between levels. By synthesizing key theories such as the dual-stream model, model-based and online control, and common coding theory in relation to movement invariants, we provide an integrative understanding of perceptual-motor coupling applicable across various domains of human behavior. This multilevel perspective offers insights into the fundamental relationship between perception and action in human cognition, with implications spanning from everyday actions to specialized skills in sports. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Motor Skill and Performance Neuroscience > Behavior Philosophy > Action.

The "inverted U" relationship between movement and cognition throughout the human lifespan highlights the intricate interplay between physical activity and cognitive function. This relationship posits that an optimal level of physical activity maximizes cognitive function, while insufficient activity can lead to suboptimal cognitive outcomes. This phenomenon is observed from fetal development to old age, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance in physical activity for overall well-being. During fetal development, maternal physical activity positively influences fetal brain growth, laying the foundation for future cognitive and physical functioning. As the child develops, regular physical activity supports improvements in key cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive function abilities essential for learning and academic success. In adulthood, maintaining an active lifestyle continues to play a central role in preserving cognitive abilities and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The inverted U model suggests that optimal cognitive functioning is achieved at moderate levels of physical activity, while too little activity can be detrimental. In older adulthood, regular physical activity is vital for maintaining cognitive function, slowing cognitive decline, and improving quality of life. In summary, understanding the balance between physical activity and cognition across the lifespan is essential for promoting cognitive resilience and sustained well-being. This article is categorized under: Cognitive Biology > Cognitive Development Psychology > Development and Aging Psychology > Learning.

The self and its disorders in schizophrenia have been studied extensively over recent decades. Much of this literature is grounded in a bipartite understanding of the self, distinguishing the pre-reflective, minimal self from the reflective, narrative self. However, few studies have systematically examined the links between disturbances at these two levels of self. This integrative review addresses this gap by analyzing both theoretical and empirical contributions. Three theoretical models are described. The Structural model posits that minimal self-disorders hierarchically give rise to narrative self-disturbances and the schizophrenia phenotype, with a primarily pathogenic focus. The Dialectical model emphasizes reciprocal interactions between minimal and narrative self-disturbances, generating the schizophrenia phenotype with both pathogenic and salutogenic implications. The Contextual model highlights social, territorial, and biological dimensions of the self and its disorders in context. Empirical studies specifically addressing the mechanistic links between minimal and narrative self-disturbances remain scarce and preliminary. Overall, the literature appears preliminary and occasionally speculative, yet it suggests several promising avenues for future research and clinically relevant applications. This article is categorized under: Philosophy > Consciousness Psychology > Theory and Methods.

Insomnia has become the most prevalent sleep disorder in the world. The hyperarousal model is one of the main theories to explain the pathogenesis of insomnia disorder, and neuroimaging studies have provided important evidence to support this model. Although the findings vary, the overall results indicate that insomnia patients experience a condition of hyperarousal. We reviewed and summarized the related evidence from previous functional and structural neuroimaging studies of hyperarousal, which mainly showed enhanced local activity and interregional functional connectivity, increased metabolism, structural changes in gray matter, and altered white matter connectivity. Future research should further focus on cortical hyperarousal in different insomnia subtypes, unify the treatment criteria based on a sleep-staging interpretation, strictly control for the effects of age and gender, and advance the application of neuroimaging in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of insomnia. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction Neuroscience > Clinical Neuroscience > Computation.

Many researchers in cognitive science and linguistics now recognize that iconicity-perceived resemblance between the form and meaning of a signal (e.g., a word, sign, or gesture)-is an essential property of language, playing vital roles in its processing, learning, and historical development. Iconicity is also fundamental to the human ability to create meaningful new signals without reliance on convention. This iconic turn raises a critical question for the study of language origins: Do great apes use iconic gestures? Apes are well documented to use a flexible and wide-ranging repertoire of gestures, and many appear to be iconic representations of actions, including directive touches, visual directives, and pantomimed actions. However, the most widely accepted theories-ontogenetic ritualization and biological inheritance through phylogenetic ritualization-argue that this apparent form-meaning resemblance is not psychologically real to the apes using the gestures. They argue instead that effective actions are channeled into gestures through repeated use, either through an individual's experience or over generations of evolution. Yet, it is increasingly recognized that these theories cannot account for the variability and contextual tuning of ape gestures. Alternatively, reasoning from cognitive theories of human gesture and iconicity as rooted in sensorimotor simulation and mental imagery, apes may use a range of gestures that appear homologous to the iconic gestures of humans, even if comparatively restricted in imaginative scope and anchored heavily in a here-and-now context. This fundamental capacity for iconic gesturing may have been a critical precursor to the evolution of language.

The public perception of clinical psychology has been heavily influenced by neuroscientific methods over the past several decades. However, we have seldom stopped to consider to what extent neuroscience can contribute to our understanding of how human psychology-including our experience of our psychological self-operates. This article reviews the progress and weaknesses of an extant psychopharmacological approach to psychological disorders. A psychological model is developed, which positions current neuroscientific research as describing symptoms, rather than causes, of mental disorders. This model relates closely to network theories of psychological disorders, with a strong emphasis on the Pattern Theory of the Self, where disruptions to the psychological self are a central etiological factor in mental disorders. In doing so, this article argues that the philosophical underpinnings of clinical psychological and neuroscientific research should be reconsidered if we intend to develop effective interventions for mental disorders. This article is contextualized in the author's experience of psychological and neuroscientific training, as well as subsequent research experience as a neuroscientist. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Theory and Methods Philosophy > Foundations of Cognitive Science Neuroscience > Clinical.

Chanting is an ancient and globally widespread ritualistic practice involving rhythmic vocalization or repetition of words, phrases, or sounds. While previous reviews have considered the neurophysiological impact of meditation and spirituality, chanting has received limited systematic investigation. This review aimed to identify and synthesize neural correlates of chanting, examine methodological variability, and determine consistent neural patterns across chanting studies and styles. PsycINFO and PubMed databases were systematically searched for neuroimaging studies including chanting, mantra, and repetitive prayer. Articles published through October 8, 2024, were included, yielding 899 initial articles. After applying exclusion criteria, 24 studies were included. Study quality was assessed using the adapted Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) criteria. Findings demonstrate that chanting activates brain regions involved in attention and emotional regulation, including the prefrontal cortex, insula, and cingulate gyrus. Deactivation of default mode network (DMN) areas, particularly the posterior cingulate cortex and hippocampus, was also observed, suggesting reduced self-referential thought. Electroencephalography (EEG) studies revealed increased theta activity, indicating enhanced relaxation during chanting. Although heterogeneity in sample sizes, imaging modalities, participant characteristics, and control conditions preclude a formal meta-analysis, the findings lay a foundation for advancing research into the neural mechanisms of chanting. Chanting engages neural networks associated with attention and emotional regulation. The consistent pattern of prefrontal activation and DMN deactivation suggests mechanisms similar to other contemplative practices.