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Cognitive Science Glossary: G–I

Cognitive science terms G–I: gene, genetics, perception, holism, humanities, hypothesis, implementation, induction, intentionality, and more.

This section contains key cognitive science concepts starting with letters G–I.

G

Gene

A DNA system regulating individual development and underlying hereditary mechanisms.

Key concepts:

  • Genotype: An individual's genetic composition
  • Phenotype: Gene expression as observable traits

Genetics

A branch of biology describing heredity and genetic inheritance laws and underlying molecular mechanisms.

H

Holism

  1. Anti-localizationism—the view that psychological functions cannot be localized to single brain regions.
  2. A theory that systems cannot be understood by analyzing into independent parts. Systems lack permanent independent essences.

Opposite: Reductionism

Humanities

Disciplines (education, art, religion, anthropology, history, parts of psychology and philosophy) understanding humans and society as meaningful experiences rather than merely natural phenomena.

Hypothesis

  1. An assumption or proposition.
  2. A scientific method claim testable through objective systematic observations—a theory prediction.

Properties of a good hypothesis:

  • Testability
  • Falsifiability
  • Precision

I

Implementation

Higher-level properties' realization in complex lower-level system organization.

Example: Software (higher level) is implemented in hardware (lower level).

Induction

Generalizing reasoning deriving general rules from specific cases as premises.

Example:

  1. Observed swan 1 is white
  2. Observed swan 2 is white
  3. Observed swan 3 is white
  4. Therefore, all swans are white (inductive conclusion)

Problem: Inductive reasoning is not logically binding—the conclusion can be false even if premises are true.

Intentionality

  1. Mental states' "directedness" toward objects (not necessarily existing).
  2. Representations' property of having satisfaction conditions.

Example: The belief "Santa Claus lives at the North Pole" is directed at Santa Claus, even though Santa doesn't exist.

Key philosophers:

  • Franz Brentano
  • Edmund Husserl

Introspectionism

An early experimental psychology school using trained observer introspection rather than objective behavior observation.

Representatives:

  • Wilhelm Wundt
  • Edward Titchener

Self-Correction

Scientific method's capacity for correction through objective, systematic observation methods with testable auxiliary assumptions.