It is very tempting to try to reconcile perception and cognition
perceptual symbol systems may be a good way to achieve this; but is
there actually a perception-cognition continuum? We offer several
arguments for and against the existence of such a continuum and in favor
of the choice of perceptual symbol systems. One of these arguments is
purely theoretical, some are based on PET-scan observations and others
are based on research with handicapped subjects who have communication
problems associated with cerebral lesions. These arguments suggest
that modal perceptual symbols do indeed exist and that perception
and cognition might have a common neuronal basis; but perceptual
and cognitive activities require the activation of different
neuronal structures.
