This book highlights some of the main lines of research in cognitive psychology in the Alps-Adria region, which, being geographically located in the centre of the European continent, encompasses eleven regions from six different countries: namely, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Serbia and Slovenia. The reason for bringing together authors from different geographical areas and with different approaches to the broad discipline defined as Cognitive Science is detailed in the first section of this book, which outlines a brief history of psychology in each country in the region and provides an overview of the spirit that characterizes the Alps-Adria working community. The Alps-Adria Rector Conference "believes that harmonious coexistence and efficient collaboration of the peoples and communities of the different regions constitute the characteristics and specificities of the present cultural landscape of the Alps-Adria region in Europe." It is in this spirit that this book has been edited, underscoring the concept of unity in diversity that has characterized the Alps-Adriatic community.
Furthermore, such unity is now a necessary attribute for science, where interdisciplinarity is both highly encouraged and increasingly accepted. The second and third sections of the book are devoted to situating this interdisciplinarity in the framework of cognitive science. As such, this book will serve as a basis for fruitful exchange not only inside the community, but also beyond both geographical and theoretical borders.