Past Projects

The Embodiment of Tools and Objects

We reviewed and analyzed the literature on embodiment of tools and objects to answer the questions (among others): What does it mean to embody an object? And a tool? What is the empirical evidence that supports the idea of embodiment of objects and tools? In the project, we paid attention both to classic/dominant cognitive science and to embodied/radical embodied cognition offering a possible way to reconcile both positions. The outcome of the project was an article published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.

Questions? ​Contact Aubrie Schettler, Vicente Raja or Mike Anderson!

Figure (Right): Hammer by Maxim Kulikov from the Noun Project.

Embodied Learning

Where does learning happen? What is it that changes as we learn a new skill? An obvious answer is that structure of the brain changes. This is true. But if we take a wider view of the process of learning, we see that brain changes alone are not enough. For example, consider learning to stand upright. The process of learning to stand upright involves attending to patterns of visual information flow, holding on to furniture, gaining strength in the muscles of our limbs, etc. By seeking to understand learning as an embodied process, and not merely a change in the brain, we hope to gain new insights on how human behavior comes to acquire its richness.
​The project ended up with an article by Ed Baggs, Vicente Raja, and Michael Anderson in Frontiers in Psychology.  
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Questions? ​Contact Ed Baggs, Vicente Raja or Mike Anderson!

Figure (Right): biking by Lluisa Iborra from the Noun Project.

Minimal Cognitive Agents 

​We seek to study the relationship(s) between behavior and brain activity using minimal cognitive agents (MCAs). MCAs are models that use simple neural networks to exhibit simple behaviors. Using simulations of MCAs we aim to explore the relevant behavior-brain activity relationships, their complexity, and their critical features.
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Questions? Contact Vicente Raja!
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Figure (Right): AI KNOWLEDGE by Vectors Market from the Noun Project

Neurorehabilitation

We seek to investigate the relevance of ecological and dynamical perception-action approaches for the neural rehabilitation of individuals. Gibson’s ecological approach focuses on possibilities for action (affordances) while the dynamical systems approach accounts for movement patterns as they develop over time. Our first aim is to address the gap between the theoretical viewpoints and therapeutic procedures in rehabilitation for both neurotypical and non-neurotypical individuals. Our second aim is to emphasize perception-action systems and the importance of neurological control of behaviour-action for rehabilitation purposes, and vice versa.
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Questions? Contact Vicente Raja!

Figure (Right): neuron by Eucalyp from the Noun Project.