Cognitive NeurosciencePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-11-16DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2025.2590660
Hans Op de Beeck
{"title":"In defense of categories.","authors":"Hans Op de Beeck","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2590660","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2590660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ritchie et al. (this issue) argue that the complex landscape of selectivity in the human occipitotemporal cortex is better understood in terms of behavioral relevance than in terms of category. At the descriptive level, their suggestion is obviously very powerful because it allows to <i>describe</i> almost any type of selectivity that is found. Yet, it does not seem to suffice to <i>explain</i> the selectivity and its properties. Categories still play a crucial role in clarifying the functional organization of object representations in the brain, including the tuning for dimensions and the relationship to behavioral relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"95-97"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145530477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cognitive NeurosciencePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-11-16DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2025.2590657
Marc N Coutanche
{"title":"Seeking cognitive and neural specificity in occipitotemporal cortex.","authors":"Marc N Coutanche","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2590657","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2590657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Studies in our field have often operated under an implicit assumption that the purpose of visual processing is categorization. I argue that our reliance on univariate category-selectivity has diverted attention from behaviorally critical dimensions, such as individuation, which are best captured in multivariate patterns. Category-focused localizers suppress within-category variability, masking signals at the level of individuals, exemplars, and items. By shifting the emphasis from univariate activation to multivariate discriminability, we can better align neural measures with the cognitive demands of everyday vision.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"80-81"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145530447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cognitive NeurosciencePub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2025-11-23DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2025.2590656
Leonard E van Dyck, Katharina Dobs
{"title":"Category selectivity as a window into behavioral relevance.","authors":"Leonard E van Dyck, Katharina Dobs","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2590656","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2590656","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ritchie et al. (this issue) argue that a deeper understanding of occipitotemporal cortex (OTC) requires shifting emphasis from category selectivity to behavioral relevance. They suggest that focusing on categories such as faces, bodies, or scenes is too narrow and overlooks how OTC supports flexible, goal-directed behavior. We agree that linking neural representations to behavior is essential but caution against treating category selectivity and behavioral relevance as opposing views. Category selectivity provides valuable insight into how cortical representations are organized to support behavior, and recent advances in computational modeling, particularly with deep neural networks, offer a powerful framework for probing this relationship.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"103-105"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145582099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Giovanni Federico, Ciro Rosario Ilardi, Maria A Brandimonte, Paola Marangolo, François Osiurak
{"title":"Toward a cognitive neuroscience of technology.","authors":"Giovanni Federico, Ciro Rosario Ilardi, Maria A Brandimonte, Paola Marangolo, François Osiurak","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2026.2647745","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2026.2647745","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In our target article, we proposed a <i>hub-and-processors</i> model of <i>technological cognition</i>. The twelve commentaries that followed offer a rare opportunity to refine, extend and test that framework against new perspectives. We integrate their contributions into a revised synthesis. The parietal sites now gain sharper anatomical definition: core substrates of technical reasoning can be more clearly distinguished from adjacent regions supporting manipulation knowledge and mental-to-digital goal-directed conceptual transformations. The inferior frontal gyrus, in turn, emerges as a dual-function node - one that routes information across hubs while simultaneously meeting the planning and control demands of tool-related behavior. Beyond cortical organization, the commentaries push the framework toward white-matter connectivity, reward and motivational circuits, as well as affordance-based theoretical accounts spanning the physical, digital and symbolic domains. They also broaden the model's translational scope to aging, neurodegeneration, digital inclusion, and neurorehabilitation, and open new lines of inquiry into temporal dynamics, expertise, and cognitive extension. The cumulative result is a strengthened case for a <i>cognitive neuroscience of technology</i>: a mechanistic, translational and lifespan-oriented program aimed at understanding how the brain supports technology use, acquires technological skills and is, over time, reshaped by sustained engagement with technological artifacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147502982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cognitive NeurosciencePub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2024-10-11DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2024.2409715
Binglei Zhao, Sergio Della Sala, Elena Gherri
{"title":"Visuo-spatial working memory abilities modulate mental rotation: Evidence from event-related potentials.","authors":"Binglei Zhao, Sergio Della Sala, Elena Gherri","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2024.2409715","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2024.2409715","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the present study, we investigated whether differences in spatial working memory (SWM) abilities - assessed through the Corsi block task (CBT) - impact the processes of mental rotation (MR) engaged during a classic letter rotation task. Based on the median split of their scores in the CBT, participants were divided into a higher and a lower SWM group. Behavioral and electrophysiological data were recorded while participants completed the MR task and were compared across groups. Higher error rates were observed in individuals with lower than higher SWM scores, while no RT differences emerged. Systematic group differences were observed before and during the MR process of canonical letters. A delayed onset of the event-related potential (ERP) rotation-related negativity (RRN), a reliable psychophysiological marker for MR processes, was observed in the lower SWM group for all rotation angles, suggesting that a longer time is needed to generate a mental representation of familiar stimuli in individuals with lower SWM scores. Furthermore, a delayed RRN offset indicating the end of the MR process and longer RRN durations suggesting longer MR processes were found for letters with larger rotation angles (i.e. 120°, 150°) in individuals with lower SWM scores on canonical character trials. These observed group differences provided evidence for the debated issue of the interaction between SWM and MR, suggesting that SWM plays a role in both the initial phase to generate the mental representation of familiar objects and during the MR process, especially for larger angles.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142459575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cognitive NeurosciencePub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2025.2599784
Quan Do, Thomas M Morin, Chantal E Stern, Michael E Hasselmo
{"title":"A feature-based generalizable prediction model for both perceptual and abstract reasoning.","authors":"Quan Do, Thomas M Morin, Chantal E Stern, Michael E Hasselmo","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2599784","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2599784","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A hallmark of human intelligence is the ability to infer abstract rules from limited experience and apply these rules to unfamiliar situations. This capacity is widely studied in the visual domain using the Raven's Progressive Matrices. Recent advances in deep learning have led to multiple artificial neural network models matching or even surpassing human performance. However, while humans can identify and express the rule underlying these tasks with little to no exposure, contemporary neural networks often rely on massive pattern-based training and cannot express or extrapolate the rule inferred from the task. Furthermore, most Raven's Progressive Matrices or Raven-like tasks used to train neural networks consist only of symbolic challenges, whereas humans can flexibly solve both symbolic and perceptual challenges. In this work, we present an algorithmic approach to rule detection and application using feature detection, affine transformation estimation and search. We applied our model to a simplified Raven's Progressives Matrices task, previously designed for behavioral testing and neuroimaging in humans. The model exhibited one-shot inference and achieved near human-level performance in the symbolic reasoning condition of the simplified task. Furthermore, the model can express the relationships discovered and generate multi-step predictions in accordance with the underlying rule. Finally, the model can handle perceptual challenges containing continuous patterns. We discuss our results and their relevance to studying abstract reasoning in humans, as well as their implications for improving intelligent machines.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"13-29"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145755387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cognitive NeurosciencePub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-18DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2026.2615960
Scott D Slotnick
{"title":"Reducing type II error in fMRI analysis: cluster-extent threshold simulation results and an evaluation of current methods to correct for multiple comparisons.","authors":"Scott D Slotnick","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2026.2615960","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17588928.2026.2615960","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many procedures to correct for multiple comparisons in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis require a minimum cluster-extent threshold; however, sample size (N) is often not modeled. In this study, a series of simulations was conducted where N was varied to determine whether this parameter affected cluster threshold. The primary hypothesis was that modeling N in the simulations would reduce cluster thresholds. A secondary hypothesis was that this cluster size reduction was due to between-subject variability, which was tested by eliminating the corresponding standard error term. Acquisition volume parameters were fixed, while key parameters were varied to reflect reasonable ranges: N (10, 20, or 30), corrected p-value (.05, .01, or .001), individual-voxel p-value (.01, .005, or .001), FWHM (3, 5, or 7 mm), and voxel resolution (2 or 3 mm). Each simulation consisted of 100 iterations repeated 100 times, with a total of 4,860,000 iterations and 66,420,000 simulated subjects. There was a significant effect of condition with clusters approximately 18% smaller with versus without N modeled and a significant increase in cluster thresholds for larger sample sizes. Bayesian analysis provided very strong support for the secondary hypothesis. These simulation results were replicated in a real fMRI data set. The present findings indicate that sample size should be incorporated into all methods to provide the most accurate thresholds possible and reduce type II error. A broader range of topics is discussed including balancing type I and type II error, and the assumption that non-task fMRI activity reflects null data is questioned.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"30-47"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145994096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding the role of the frontal lobe in tool-use tasks: how much does it represent domain-general rather than domain-specific contribution?","authors":"Clara Seifert, Joachim Hermsdörfer","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2576114","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2025.2576114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>When using novel tools with low semantic content, the left inferior-frontal-gyrus (IFG) plays a role. We argue that this activation is not purely specific to novel tool use but rather represents part of a cross-domain cognitive network supporting sequential planning processes. The IFG does not only manage information flow between distributed areas but functionally contributes by maintaining focus on the intended target state and supporting the processing, monitoring, and adjustment of steps needed to achieve that goal. These cognitive functions are particularly important when compensation for reduced tool-related semantic knowledge is needed during the usage of novel tools and technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145562950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solène Kalenine, Sarah E M Stoll, Jennifer Randerath
{"title":"From framework to function: sharpening digital tool use within technological cognition.","authors":"Solène Kalenine, Sarah E M Stoll, Jennifer Randerath","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2585987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2025.2585987","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Federico et al. present an interesting framework for technological cognition distinguishing mechanical and digital technologies within a distributed brain network. We build on this contribution by emphasizing two key issues for neuropsychology. First, greater weight on semantic processing may not suffice for efficient digital tool use: selection mechanisms are crucial for translating abstract goals into concrete action sequences. Second, digital technologies must be considered in terms of what they <i>offer</i> (functional opportunities) and what they <i>demand</i> (user skills). These distinctions clarify pathways for assessment, rehabilitation, and inclusion, and highlight open questions essential to advancing digital neuropsychology.</p>","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145548442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What is technology-specific in technological cognition?","authors":"Josselin Baumard","doi":"10.1080/17588928.2025.2585989","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2025.2585989","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10413,"journal":{"name":"Cognitive Neuroscience","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145512130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}