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In defense of learning by selection: Neurobiological and behavioral evidence revisited

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 1997

G. Dehaene-Lambertz
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, 75270 Paris cedex 06, Franceghis@lscp.ehess.fr
Stanislas Dehaene
Affiliation:
INSERM U334, CHFJ CEA, 91401 Orsay, Francestan@lscp.ehess.fr

Abstract

Quartz & Sejnowski's (Q&S's) constructivist manifesto promotes a return to an extreme form of empiricism. In defense of learning by selection, we argue that at the neurobiological level all the data presented by Q&S in support of their constructive model are in fact compatible with a model comprising multiple overlapping stages of synaptic overproduction and selection. We briefly review developmental studies at the behavioral level in humans providing evidence in favor of a selectionist view of development.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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