Edward Simon Dunstone (ted at wraith.cs.uow.edu.au) wrote:
: Does anyone know of references that describe the role that
: prior knowledge plays in learning, from a biological rather than
: cognitive or computer science perspective (ie at the neuronal or dendritic
: level). Would I be correct in assuming that so far there has been
: little work in this area ?
For an excellent discussion of the possible neurobiological basis for _a
priori_ knowledge see the first chapter of O'Keefe and Nadel's book _The
Hippocampus as a Cognitive Map". The chapter is called "Remembrance of
places past: A history of theories of space". It won't get you into the
nuts and bolts of genetic transmission of knowledge but will provide a
framework for discussion by two very clever behavioural neruobiologists.
Visual neuroscience is another area where the prior knowledge vs.
experience debate is very much alive - how much of the visual system is
genetically programmed, how much is driven by experience.
Happy hunting!
Jim Blackburn
McMaster Psychology
