"``The cognitive (r)evolution". A scientometric perspective to review trends and developments in the cognitive science paradigm

Abstract

Cognitive science adopts an interdisciplinary approach to study cognitive systems. To systematically review the cognitive science literature, two data samples were downloaded from Scopus: one regarding the whole literature on cognitive science (N = 13,414 documents) and the other including the 2000s’s literature (N = 12,337 documents). A CiteSpace’s Document Co-Citation Analysis (DCA) was computed on each sample. From the clusters discussion, a multidisciplinary approach emerges. Psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, computer science, anthropology, and philosophy shaped the cognitive science literature over the years. Particularly, the clusters identified in the sample from 1977 to 2021 showed a strong emphasis on cognitive theories and models. Conversely, the clusters identified in the 2000s’ literature had a stronger emphasis on a physiologically based approach. Our analysis highlights two relevant aspects in cognitive science: (i) the multidisciplinary nature of the field; and (ii) how technological advances reoriented the field toward a more physiologically oriented approach.