Giulia Baracchini, Ph.D.

CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow

Bridging the epistemological divide in neuroscience to improve ontological clarity


Journal article


Giulia Baracchini, Eli Muller, James M. Shine
Aperture Neuro, 2025

Semantic Scholar DOI
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Cite

APA   Click to copy
Baracchini, G., Muller, E., & Shine, J. M. (2025). Bridging the epistemological divide in neuroscience to improve ontological clarity. Aperture Neuro.


Chicago/Turabian   Click to copy
Baracchini, Giulia, Eli Muller, and James M. Shine. “Bridging the Epistemological Divide in Neuroscience to Improve Ontological Clarity.” Aperture Neuro (2025).


MLA   Click to copy
Baracchini, Giulia, et al. “Bridging the Epistemological Divide in Neuroscience to Improve Ontological Clarity.” Aperture Neuro, 2025.


BibTeX   Click to copy

@article{giulia2025a,
  title = {Bridging the epistemological divide in neuroscience to improve ontological clarity},
  year = {2025},
  journal = {Aperture Neuro},
  author = {Baracchini, Giulia and Muller, Eli and Shine, James M.}
}

Abstract

Neuroscience as a field is relatively fragmented. This perspective highlights the epistemological divide that arises from the wide variety of different experimental approaches that we use, which in turn lead to ontological clashes in our understanding of brain function. We argue that overcoming these conceptual barriers requires fostering collaboration without sacrificing domain expertise. While interdisciplinary training and international cooperation offer promising avenues, practical challenges persist, such as the time investment required for dual specializations and the risk of diluted expertise. We propose leveraging shared data repositories and computational modelling frameworks to benchmark methodologies, facilitating a more coherent integration of findings across subfields. Additionally, we advocate for the creation of a structured “map” of neuroscience, charting relationships between domains to enhance conceptual clarity. By embracing these strategies, we can move toward a more unified, mature neuroscience capable of addressing fundamental questions about the brain with greater precision and coherence.