Sedimentation of a Scientific Concept: The Use of Citation Data.

The sedimentation of a knowledge claim is studied by context-analysis of a key paper by the neuropharmacologist De Wied. This paper formulated the neuropeptide concept, which relates neuropeptide production within the central nervous system to the regulatory function of these peptides for learning and memory processes. Different citation classifications are introduced, which make it possible to interpret the analysis within the framework of 'sedimentation ' as outlined by Ludwik Fleck. It is shown that, in agreement with Fleck, the sedimentation is easier in applied scientific and popular circles, distant from the inner circle of the neuropeptides research field in which De Wied works. However, accounts of neuropeptide research in handbooks did not show the stronger sedimentation, as claimed by Fleck; instead, the evidence for the concept is built up again and again, indicating that the concept is not fully accepted in the inner circle of the research field. The main conclusions are affirmed by the analysis of a controversy on De Wied's work which arose recently in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]