Vicente Raja

Vicente Raja, a research fellow in ecological psychology and neuroscience; Luis Favela, author and philosopher of the ecological brain; Matthieu de Wit, leader of the Ecological Neuroscience lab. They trace the naturalistic turn in neuroscience, debate whether brain research can honor ecological principles, and explore affordances, ecological information, and practical paths like robotics and multimodal data for true organism–environment science.

In this engaging discussion, Miguel Segundo-Ortin and Vicente Raja, both postdoctoral researchers from the University of Murcia, delve into ecological psychology and its transformative potential for education. They argue that traditional learning environments often constrict exploration, while ecological psychology encourages sensory-rich interactions with surroundings. The duo highlights the intertwined nature of perception and action, the importance of agency in learning, and the need for educators to embrace the complexities of human experience, drawing from the legacies of psychological pioneers like Eleanor Gibson.

Vicente Raja, a philosopher and cognitive scientist at the University of Murcia, explores ecological psychology, focusing on perception, affordances, and behavior in organisms and plants. He discusses the idea of 'motifs'—imprecise yet useful concepts that unify diverse scientific discussions. Vicente critiques traditional neuroscience's internal models, advocating for a perception-action approach instead. He also highlights innovative studies on plant behavior, demonstrating how climbing plants adjust their movements toward potential supports. This synthesis of philosophy and science offers a refreshing perspective on cognition.