Two open questions in the reformist agenda of the philosophy of cognitive science

Abstract: In this paper we carve out a reformist agenda within the debate on the foundations of cognitive science, incorporating some important ideas from the 4E cognition literature into the computational-representational framework. We are deeply sympathetic to this reformist program since we think that, despite strong criticism of the concept of computation and the related notion of representation, computational models should still be at the core of the study of mind. At the same time, we recognize the need for a liberalization of the computational and representational framework that can address deep dissatisfaction with the anti-biologism and radical internalism of classical cognitive science. However, reform is a difficult task, so in this article we focus on two open questions within the reformist agenda. The first concerns the possibility of combining mechanistic-computational and dynamical explanations. The second concerns related changes in the notion of representation and its use (with special attention to Andy Clark’s radical predictive processing).Keywords: Continuum of Representational Genera; Enactivism; Predictive Processing; Radical Embodied Cognition Thesis; RepresentationalismDue problemi aperti nell’agenda riformista della filosofia della scienza cognitivaRiassunto: In questo lavoro identifichiamo un’agenda riformista nel dibattito sui fondamenti della scienza cognitiva che incorpora alcune idee centrali provenienti dalla letteratura sulla cognizione 4E all’interno di una cornice computazionalista e rappresentazionalista. Tale agenda considera il quadro computazionalista e rappresentazionalista ancora imprescindibile ai fini dello studio integrato della mente e del cervello, ma ne persegue una liberalizzazione nell’intento di renderlo idoneo ad accogliere alcuni importanti spunti emersi dalla letteratura sulla cognizione delle 4E. Tuttavia, riformare è un compito difficile. In questo articolo ci concentriamo su due problemi aperti nell’agenda riformista. Il primo riguarda la possibilità di mettere assieme le spiegazioni meccaniciste e computazionaliste con quelle dinamiche. Il secondo riguarda i cambiamenti relativi alla nozione di rappresentazione e al suo impiego (con particolare attenzione all’elaborazione predittiva radicale di Andy Clark).Parole chiave: Continuum dei generi rappresentazionali; Elaborazione predittiva; Enattivismo; Tesi della cognizione incarnata radicale; Rappresentazionalism

Post-marketing active surveillance of Guillain Barré Syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination in persons aged ≥12 years in Italy: A multi-database self-controlled case series study.

BackgroundRecently published studies have reported association of COVID-19 vaccine ChAdOx1-S (Vaxzevria) with Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS). Less is known about the safety of other COVID-19 vaccines with respect to GBS outcome. This study investigated the association of COVID-19 vaccines with GBS in more than 15 million persons aged ≥12 years in Italy.MethodsStudy population was all individuals aged ≥12 years who received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines, admitted to emergency care/hospital for GBS from 27 December 2020-30 September 2021 in Italy. Identification of GBS cases and receipt of at least one dose of mRNA-1273 (Elasomeran), BNT162b2 (Tozinameran), ChAdOx1-S (Vaxzevria) and Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) through record linkage between regional health care and vaccination registries. Relative Incidence (RI) was estimated Self-controlled case series method adapted to event-dependent exposure using in the 42-day exposure risk period after each dose compared with other observation periods.ResultsIncreased risk of GBS was found after first (RI = 6.83; 95% CI 2.14-21.85) and second dose (RI = 7.41; 2.35-23.38) of mRNA-1273 and first dose of ChAdOx1-S (RI = 6.52; 2.88-14.77). Analysis by age found an increased risk among those aged≥60 years after first (RI = 8.03; 2.08-31.03) and second dose (RI = 7.71; 2.38-24.97) of mRNA-1273. The first dose of ChAdOx1-S was associated with GBS in those aged 40-59 (RI = 4.50; 1.37-14.79) and in those aged ≥ 60 years (RI = 6.84; 2.56-18.28).ConclusionsmRNA-1273 and ChAdOx1-S vaccines were associated with an increased risk of GBS however this risk resulted in a small number of excess cases. Limitations were loss of GBS outpatient cases and imprecision of the estimates in the subgroup analysis due to a low number of events

Characteristics of GBS cases by vaccine brand, n. 287 (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).

Characteristics of GBS cases by vaccine brand, n. 287 (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).</p

Characteristics of vaccinated population aged ≥12 years by age group (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).

Characteristics of vaccinated population aged ≥12 years by age group (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).</p

Excess of cases estimates with 95% CIs for GBS cases corresponding to exposures with RIs estimated in the 42 days risk period with p<0.05.

Excess of cases estimates with 95% CIs for GBS cases corresponding to exposures with RIs estimated in the 42 days risk period with p<0.05.</p

Sensitivity analyses: Relative Incidences estimated by Self-Controlled Case Series model by vaccine brand and dose: 287 Guillain Barré Syndrome events in the anti-COVID-19 vaccinated population (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).

Sensitivity analyses: Relative Incidences estimated by Self-Controlled Case Series model by vaccine brand and dose: 287 Guillain Barré Syndrome events in the anti-COVID-19 vaccinated population (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).</p

Flow chart of selection of the study population (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).

Flow chart of selection of the study population (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).</p

Relative Incidences estimated by Self-Controlled Case Series model by vaccine brand and dose: 287 Guillain Barré Syndrome events in the anti-COVID-19 vaccinated population (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).

Relative Incidences estimated by Self-Controlled Case Series model by vaccine brand and dose: 287 Guillain Barré Syndrome events in the anti-COVID-19 vaccinated population (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).</p

Characteristics of vaccinated population by anti-COVID-19 vaccine brand (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).

Characteristics of vaccinated population by anti-COVID-19 vaccine brand (27 December 2020–30 September 2021).</p