Levels of explanation in the study of auditory verbal hallucinations: Views from neuroscience and philosophy

Over the last years, the topic of “auditory verbal hallucinations” (AVHs)—also known as the phenomenon of “hearing voices”—has attracted much interest in a number of different disciplines, including neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and philosophy. Important progresses have been made towards an understanding of AVHs at various levels within these areas. But there has not been much debate yet about how explanations of AVHs at the different levels relate to each other: are they compatible with each other? Do they complement or support each other? Or do they stand in conflict with each other? In the workshop, philosophers and neuroscientists will come together to explore these and related questions.

Program

9.00-9.15 Welcome: Reidar Lie (UiB Department of Philosophy)

Chair person for morning session: Reidar Lie

09:05-09:35 Kenneth Hugdahl (UiB, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology): Levels of explanation from the neuroscientific viewpoint 

09:35-10:05 Timothy Bayne (Monash University, Philosophy Department / UiB, Department of Philosophy): Levels of explanation from the philosophical viewpoint 

10:05-10:45 Discussion

10:45-11:00 Break11:00-11:30 Kenneth Hugdahl (UiB, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology): The level of neurochemistry

11.30-12.00 Discussion12.00-12.30 Kristiina Kompus (UiB, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology): The cognitive level and neuroimaging 

12:30-13:00 Discussion13:00-14:00 Lunch break

Chair person for afternoon session: Josef Bless (UiB, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology)

14:00-14.30 Franz Knappik (UiB, Department of Philosophy): A Bayesian inner speech account for the cognitive level

14:30-15:00 Discussion15:00-15:15 Break

15:15-15:45 Frank Larøi (UiB, Department of Biological and Medical Psychology): The clinical and the cultural level 

15:45-16:15 Discussion