4E Cognition and the Landscapes of Mental Disorder

1 May 2017 - 30 April 2018

About the research

How do physical, social, clinical, and political landscapes shape the dynamics of mental disorder? Whilst dominant biomedical approaches in psychopathology adopt brain-centered approaches to taxonomy, diagnosis, and treatment, new “4E” approaches in philosophy and cognitive science look beyond the brain and portray minds as embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended. According to 4E cognition, minds are shaped by their embodiment, as well as by their material, social, and symbolic environments. This project explores the significance of 4E cognition for understanding and treating mental disorder. An international conference will be used to engage researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders in an interdisciplinary exploration of challenges 4E cognition presents to brain-centered biomedical approaches, as well as practical implications of 4E cognition for mental health interventions (diagnosis, treatment, recovery, resilience) and social and health policies.