Preconference: Communication Science: Evolution, Biology, and Brains Across the Lifespan - Innovation in Theory and Methods

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Research using evolutionary theory, biological explanations, and study paradigms from the neurosciences to answer questions central to communication scholars are increasingly common and have seen a recent surge in communication science. For instance, the past year has seen multiple special issues focusing on neuroscience and broader biological methods in communication science including special issues in Communication Monographs, Journal of Medial Psychology, and Communication Methods and Measures. This reflects a surge in interest in such integration. This pre-conference responds to the critical mass of communication researchers who have taken up biological explanations and seeks to bring together researchers under the explicit umbrella of our field and our questions.

Building on the momentum from the past two years, this pre-conference will bring together scholars who are working across sub-fields of communication studies and use evolutionary theory, biological explanations as well as neuroscience and other biological measures to address core questions in communication studies. Most importantly, the pre-conference participants will share new data and ideas and discuss a vision for how communication studies can best leverage such new theorizing and study paradigms.

Sub Unit

• Sponsored Sessions

Chairs

• Rene Weber, U of California - Santa Barbara

• Jason C. Coronel, University of Pennsylvania

• Allison Eden, VU U Amsterdam

• Emily Falk, University of Pennsylvania