Journal Home
Login
Register
Open Access Journal
Submit a Paper
Propose a Special lssue
Open Access
ARTICLE
From Molecules To Mental States: A Critical Analysis Of Ruthless Reductionism And The Cellular Basis Of Long-Term Memory
Issue Vol. 2 No. 02 (2025): VOLUME 02 ISSUE 02 --- Section Articles
PDF
Abstract
This research article explores the philosophical and empirical foundations of "ruthless reductionism" within the field of modern molecular neuroscience, focusing specifically on the transition from cellular signaling pathways to the manifestation of long-term memory. The study examines the integration of molecular biology and cognitive psychology, investigating how specific biochemical cascades, such as the Protein Kinase A (PKA) pathway, serve as the causal foundation for hippocampus-based memory storage. By synthesizing evidence from landmark genetic studies and neurological network analyses, this paper argues that the traditional gap between mind and brain is increasingly bridged by identifying "interlevel" experiments that link molecular manipulations directly to behavioral outcomes. The methodology involves a meta-theoretical analysis of existing literature, specifically evaluating the role of Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and its late-phase transitions as the physiological bridge between protein synthesis and cognitive retention. The results of this analysis suggest that while molecular pathways provide a necessary and arguably sufficient causal explanation for memory consolidation, the hierarchical organization of the brain—ranging from synaptic hubs to global functional networks—must be considered to understand the complexity of cognitive states in health and pathology, such as schizophrenia or comatose states. The discussion reflects on the philosophical implications of reducing psychology to molecular biology, addressing the critiques of emergentism and the necessity of maintaining a multi-scale perspective. Ultimately, the article concludes that the "ruthless" reductionist approach does not eliminate the relevance of higher-level descriptions but rather provides the mechanistic grounding required for a scientifically robust understanding of consciousness and cognition.
Keywords
References
1. Abel, T., Nguyen, P. V., Barad, M., Deuel, T. A., Kandel, E. R., & Bourtchouladze, R. (1997). Genetic Demonstration of a Role for PKA in the Late Phase of LTP and in Hippocampus-Based Long-Term Memory. Cell, 88(5), 615–626.
2. Achard, S., Delon-Martin, C., Vértes, P. E., Renard, F., Schenck, M., Schneider, F., … Bullmore, E. T. (2012). Hubs of brain functional networks are radically reorganized in comatose patients.7 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(50), 20608–20613.
3. Alkire, M. T., Hudetz, A. G., & Tononi, G. (2008). Consciousness and anesthesia. Science, 322(5903), 876–880.
4. Bailey, C. H., Bartsch, D., and Kandel, E. R. (1996).8 Towards a Molecular Definition of Long-Term Memory Storage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 93(24), 13445–52.
5. Bassett, D. S., Bullmore, E., Verchinski, B. A., Mattay, V. S., Weinberger, D. R., & Meyer-Lindenberg, A. (2008). Hierarchical Organization of Human Cortical Networks in Health and Schizophrenia. The Journal of Neuroscience, 28(37), 9239–9248.
6. Bechtel, W. and Richardson, R. (1992). Discovering Complexity. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
7. Berger, R. (1998). Understanding Science: Why Causes Are Not Enough. Philosophy of Science, 65(2), 306–332.
8. Bhalla, U. S., & Iyengar, R. (1999). Emergent properties of networks of biological signaling pathways. Science, 283(5400), 381-387.
9. Bickle, J. (1998). Psychoneural Reduction: The New Wave. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
10. Bickle, J. (2003). Philosophy and Neuroscience: A Ruthlessly Reductive Account. Dordrecht: Kluwer.
11. Bickle, J. (2005). Molecular Neuroscience to My Rescue (Again): A Reply to Looren de Jong and Schouten. Philosophical Psychology, 18(4), 487–93.
12. Bickle, J. (2006a). Reducing Mind to Molecular Pathways: Explicating the Reductionism Implicit in Current Mainstream Neuroscience. Synthese, 152, 411–34.
13. Bickle, J. (2006b). Ruthless Reductionism in Recent Neuroscience. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 36, 134–40.
