1. Mental Functioning Ontology
and the ICF
Barry Smith
October 1, 2012

2. Basic Formal Ontology
2
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:Process
BFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
BFO:Disposition

3. Basic Formal Ontology
and Mental Functioning Ontology (MFO)
3
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:Process
Organism
BFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Behaviour
inducing state
Mental Functioning
Related Anatomical
Structure
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Affective
Representation
Mental Process
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition

4. Basic Formal Ontology
and Mental Functioning Ontology (MFO)
4
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:Process
Organism
BFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Behaviour
inducing state
Mental Functioning
Related Anatomical
Structure
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Affective
Representation
Mental Process
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition

5. Functions vs. Functionings
Continuants vs. Occurrents
55
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:Process
Organism
BFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Mental
Function
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Mental Process
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition
Mental
Functioning

6. Aboutness (‘Intentionality’)
6
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:Process
Organism
BFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Mental
Function
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Mental Process
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition
Mental
Functioning
does all mental functioning involve cognitive
representation (aboutness)?
what is aboutness?

7. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
7

8. Linguistic Functioning Ontology
(1. Speech and hearing)
8
8
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:ProcessBFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Behaviour
inducing state
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Speech-
mediated
cognitive
representation
Speech
process
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition
Linguistic
competence
Speech competence of a
population
= a [spoken] language
Speech competence of
an individual
Hearing
(registering)
process

9. Linguistic Functioning Ontology
(2. Reading and writing)
9
9
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:ProcessBFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Behaviour
inducing state
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Written-
language-
mediated
cognitive
representation
Writing
process
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition
Linguistic
competence
Written linguistic
competence of a
population
= a [written] language
Written linguistic
competence of an
individual
Reading
(registering)
process

10. Linguistic Functioning Ontology
(the whole thing)
10
10
BFO:Entity
BFO:Continuant BFO:Occurrent
BFO:ProcessBFO:Independent
Continuant
BFO
MFO
BFO:Dependent
Continuant
Behaviour
inducing state
Cognitive
Representation
BFO:Quality
Language-
mediated
cognitive
representation
Writing
Bodily Process
BFO:Disposition
Linguistic
competence
Linguistic competence
of a population
= a language Linguistic competence
of an individual
Reading
Speaking

11. How to build MF±Language
First idea:
Along what dimensions human beings
can depart from normal (‘canonical’)
mental and linguistic functioning?
11

12. http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/45578/
12
from WHO | World Health Organization

13. For ICD mental function is a subtype of
body function
ICD definition of ‘Body functions’:
Body functions are the physiological
functions of body systems (including
psychological functions).
Impairments are problems in body
function or structure as a significant
deviation or loss.
13

14. http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/45578/
14

15. http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/45578/
15

16. Definition of ‘Mental Functions’
Definitions: 'This chapter is about the
functions of the brain: both global
mental functions, such as
consciousness, energy and drive, and
specific mental functions, such as
memory, language and calculation
mental functions.'
16

17. 17

18. 18

19. Quality ≠ Function
19

20. 20

21. 21

22. Dreaming?
22

23. http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en#/F44.8
23

24. http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/45578/
24

25. http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/45578/
25

26. 26

27. Ontological traffic rule:
always use singular nouns 27

28. 28

29. 29

30. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
30

31. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
31

32. Definitions: 'Specific mental functions
of focusing on an external stimulus or
internal experience for the required
period of time.'
32

33. 33

34. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
34
brainin
endocrine
gland

35. 35

36. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
36

37. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
37
brainin
olfactory
system

38. 38

39. Mental Functioning Ontology (MF)
39
brainin
olfactory
system

40. Again, confusion of function and quality
40

41. 41

42. Integrative language functions
Definitions: 'Mental functions that organize semantic
and symbolic meaning, grammatical structure and
ideas for the production of messages in spoken,
written or other forms of language.'
42

43. WHO ICF Pro
Performs an amazingly difficult task of unifying
public data across the planet (Versions in 5
different languages, plus Youth Version)
Serves billing task in US
43http://apps.who.int/classifications/icfbrowser/

44. 44
http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/icf/

45. WHO ICF Con
Use of ‘other’ and other features make it is not
future proof (will not evolve gracefully with
advances in neuroscience
Poor or absent definitions will mean
inconsistent annotation of data
Lack of logical definitions would mean poor
support for computational reasoning with data
that is annotated
45

46. Strategy for MF Ontology
• Ensure that the ontology is developed in
conformity with basic biology ontologies such
as the Gene Ontology
• Provide human-readable definitions for each
term to ensure consistent annotation
• Provide logical definitions to support
reasoning with data
46

47. http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/49078/
47
Examples from
MF-Emotion Ontology

48. 48
‘emotion
process’

49. need link to a physiology ontology 49
‘physiological response to emotion’