Conceptual Change in Visual Neuroscience: The Receptive Field Concept

Abstract

I focus on the concept of the receptive field of a sensory neuron, taking it as a prominent case to address conceptual change in the history of neuroscience. I argue for an interpretation of its role and evolution based on the idea, previously rehearsed in the philosophy of biology, of a problem agenda. I claim that the concept's main contribution to visual neuroscience was that of establishing a problem agenda for the early experimental research on visual processing, thus structuring the field's experimental practices and integration between converging scientific fields. I pay particular attention to the research programme led by Hubel and Wiesel, revolving their famous experiments on the cat's visual cortex during the 60s, when receptive field exploration blossomed. I additionally claim that the concept's more recent evolution, witnessing a loss in its definiteness and centrality, can be accommodated by my account.