The European journal of neuroscience
December 1, 2021
Francisco J Parada, Alejandra Rossi
48 citations
A revitalized form of emergentism, grounded in the Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) framework and 4E-Cognition theory, can finally synchronize methodology with theory to model cognition as a complex emergent phenomenon arising from brain, body, and world couplings. The work argues that recent technological and theoretical advances allow a long-standing scientific and philosophical challenge—understanding the role of the body and world in the emergence of mind—to be addressed anew. The authors outline the materialist/naturalist view of cognition as emergent and propose that MoBI and 4E approaches together lay new grounds for investigating cognitive phenomena.
BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology
June 1, 2022
Ismael Palacios-García, Gwynne A Mhuireach, Aitana Grasso-Cladera et al.
13 citations
Human cognition depends not only on brain processes but also on bodily and environmental factors, a view known as the 4E perspective (embodied, embedded, enacted, extended). The human microbiome—the community of microorganisms living in and on the body—is a key mediator of this interaction, influencing brain function and mental health across a person's lifetime. This theoretical review presents a 4E approach to the microbiome, arguing that microbial networks from the gut, skin, and built environments shape mental processes. The authors review evidence for this framework and outline future research and clinical interventions that integrate biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, particularly targeting the brain-gut-microbiome axis for low-cost, personalized mental health treatments.
The European journal of neuroscience
August 1, 2024
Francisco J Parada, Aitana Grasso-Cladera, Alejandra Rossi et al.
11 citations
The 3E-Cognition perspective—emphasizing the embodied, environmentally scaffolded, and enactive nature of cognition—offers a paradigm shift away from deficit-based views of neurodiversity. By focusing on the dynamic interplay between brain, body, and environment, it promotes inclusive practices in education, workplace, and healthcare. Examples illustrate how spaces, methodologies, and roles can be designed to accommodate diverse strengths. Challenges include the need for technological advances and real-world research, with mobile brain/body imaging suggested as a solution. The perspective values diverse ways of experiencing the world, fostering well-being, innovation, and creativity.