Looking for keys in model organisms: interpreting and keying-up in basal cognition

In this article, I analyse what epistemic operations are involved in extending model organisms to a novel research field. To this end, I draw on the DEKI account of scientific representation, and augment it by introducing the notions of “interpretation-” and “key-sketches”. These refer to the incomplete and heuristically-justified mappings between models and targets that are initially constructed while the model is being developed for a particular use. I substantiate this proposal by analysing three case studies coming from the emerging research area of basal cognition, where stablished model organisms are adopted for novel uses in the context of neuroscientific research.