Sciences of the brain: The long road to scientific maturity and to present-day reductionism

Abstract

When examined in a long-term perspective, brain sciences demonstrate certain conceptual consistencies as well as theoretical oppositions that have lasted for centuries, ever since Ancient Greece. The neurosciences have progressed more on the basis of technological than conceptual advances, and the constant recuperation of new techniques from other sciences have led to a continually reductionist view of the brain and its functions. In a different perspective, if not opposite to the reductionism, are the psychological constructs and those that constitute the functional unity of individuals, which are still mysterious. In fact, the gap between these two approaches has never been larger than it is now. This chapter discusses the enduring nature of some of these problems and their recent consequences.

Diagnosing ASD with fractal analysis

“…Inferences as to the relationship of observed anomalies in form and function to observed behavior or reported symptoms are based on reductionist/deterministic theories that predict specific abnormal forms lead to specific abnormal function and eventually to symptoms and behavior (Mazzocchi, 2008). These inferences are related to existing construct-based categories of psychiatric disease which are based on models with greater and lesser reliability and validity (Le Moal and Swendsen, 2015). ASD is associated with a variety of idiopathic neurophysiological anomalies, observation of which could indicate pathology without prior diagnosis (Fein, 2011).…”

“…This approach traces the relationship of the various parts and processes so as to comprehend the entire complex machinery involved both in its design and function. The deterministic/reductionist paradigm has run into some complications anticipated by philosophers but not acknowledged by many scientists however (Le Moal and Swendsen, 2015).…”

“…If the purpose of science is understanding nature in light of the discouraging limits of reductionism/determinism we could employ emergent paradigms coming from mathematics, physics and information science (Gershenson, 2013). These perspectives have allowed us to see and understand the relationships and processes of the constituent parts of the brain in a manner that accepts these limits in measurement in exchange for other information (Le Moal and Swendsen, 2015). Chaos theory, complex systems and fractal analysis could change the study of complicated phenomenon like the brain.…”