Elber-Dorozko, Lotem (2026) What can be inferred from a ring in the fly brain? A case for historical functions in neuroscience. In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

It is generally accepted that neural properties play an important role in supporting cognitive models. But it is less clear how this is done. Several authors suggested that neural evidence supports cognitive models through inference to the best explanation. This paper argues that for such inference to work, scientists should adopt a historical approach to functions because neural properties can only be explained by their causal history. The method by which such inferences can take place is exemplified on a case study of the ring-attractor model for head-direction representation, and the neural evidence for it in flies and in mice.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Elber-Dorozko, Lotem lotem.elber@mail.huji.ac.il 0000-0003-1235-8651
Keywords:	biological function; neuroscientific evidence; ring model; etiological functions
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience General Issues > Evidence Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
Depositing User:	Lotem Elber-Dorozko
Date Deposited:	08 Jun 2026 18:27
Last Modified:	08 Jun 2026 18:27
Item ID:	29848
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience General Issues > Evidence Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
Date:	31 May 2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/29848

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