Cognition in chemistry: Exploring how the brain encodes and manipulates scientific models

在日常生活中，科学家和工程师使用复杂的图表来模拟具体事物和模拟过程。在化学领域，即使在显微镜下也看不到分子和反应动力学，这种模型是必不可少的，建模技术的发展对创新非常重要。尽管对视觉工作记忆和神经感觉过程的机制进行了数十年的研究，但我们仍然对大脑如何编码和操纵科学中的简单模型知之甚少，对专业知识的作用也知之甚少。我们的研究计划使用行为实验，眼动跟踪和连续脑扫描与脑电图（EEG）的新组合来解决这些问题，其长期目标是在认知科学领域取得重大概念进展。这可能会导致可视化，建模和复杂体验（如虚拟或增强现实）的实际创新，这些创新与药物设计，军事训练和科学传播等不同领域有关。该提案概述了三个相互关联的研究流，这些研究流解决了理解化学认知的基础研究问题。流1将测试分子的视觉表征与化学反应的编码不同的假设，并使用眼动追踪技术探索专业知识的作用。流2将研究大脑如何操纵化学反应的心理图像，并测试使用心理图像和绘画可以改善化学概念记忆的假设。流3将联合收割机行为评估与休息和任务期间的连续EEG测量相结合，以研究特定领域概念知识的神经相关性。作为“中心科学”，化学连接了所有的科学学科和拟议的研究将形成未来的研究的基础上认识的科学模型。这个多学科研究计划将使学员能够发展成为独立的研究人员，并获得最先进技术的专业知识。学员将领导自己的项目，在合作研究环境中发展和结合他们的化学和认知科学知识。

In daily life, scientists and engineers use complex diagrams to model concrete things and simulate processes. Such models are essential in the field of chemistry where molecules and reaction dynamics are invisible even under the microscope, and the development of modelling technology is of high importance for innovation. Despite decades of research into the mechanisms of visual working memory and neural sensory processes, we still know little about how the brain encodes and manipulates even simple models in science, and less about the role of expertise. Our research program targets these questions using a novel combination of behavioural experiments, eye-tracking, and continuous brain scanning with electroencephalography (EEG) with the long-term goal of making major conceptual advances in the field of cognitive science. This can lead to practical innovations in visualization, modelling, and complex experiences like virtual or augmented reality which are relevant in diverse areas such as pharmaceutical drug design, military training, and science communication. This proposal outlines three connected streams of research that address fundamental research questions for understanding cognition of chemistry. Stream 1 will test the hypothesis that visual representations of molecules are encoded differently than those of chemical reactions and explore the role of expertise using eye-tracking technology. Stream 2 will study how the brain manipulates mental images of chemistry reactions and test the hypothesis that using mental imagery and drawing can improve memory of chemistry concepts. Stream 3 will combine behavioural assessments with continuous EEG measurement during rest and task to investigate the neural correlates of domain-specific conceptual knowledge. As the "central science", chemistry connects all science disciplines and the proposed research will form the basis of future studies into the cognition of scientific models. This multidisciplinary research program will enable trainees to develop into independent researchers and gain expertise in state-of-the-art techniques. Trainees will lead their own projects, developing and combining their knowledge of chemistry and cognitive science in a collaborative research environment.