Mind Meld: Collaborative Approaches to Understanding How We All Think

Abstract

Brain research is as complex as its subject. The myriad of behavioral, imaging, physiological, and neuropsychological disciplines each give very different perspectives of the working of the human brain. While collaborative approaches can drive insightful outcomes, collaboration is time-consuming, demanding and often not “perfect”. The future challenges lie in understanding how brain, function and mind relate to one another. This will require the different disciplines learning to understand each other’s languages and perspective, and recognizing and integrating the different ways of thinking that each use. Here, we outline a discussion framework through which collaborators can achieve a common understanding of the variables included in their experiments. Logical mapping of brain, mind and function can be accomplished through use of a common modeling language where variables are pre-defined in an agreed manner.