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Reverse Inference, Abduction, and Probability in Cognitive Neuroscience

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Handbook of Abductive Cognition

Abstract

The chapter presents the problem of reverse inference in cognitive neuroscience, discussing its analysis in terms of abductive and Bayesian reasoning and highlighting the main methodological issues and open problems surrounding this crucial inferential practice with reference to case studies from current research.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Tommaso Brischetto Costa, Davide Bottari, Luca Cecchetti, Vincenzo Crupi, Igor Douven, Vincenzo Fano, Jordi Manuello, Jan Sprenger, and Marco Viola for very useful discussions on the topics of the chapter. Davide Coraci acknowledges funding from an ERASMUS+ Mobility Grant 2020/2021 and Gustavo Cevolani from the PRIN 2017 grant (n. 201743F9YE) “From Models to Decisions” of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.

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Coraci, D., Calzavarini, F., Cevolani, G. (2023). Reverse Inference, Abduction, and Probability in Cognitive Neuroscience. In: Magnani, L. (eds) Handbook of Abductive Cognition. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10135-9_60

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