49,886 research outputs found
Self-directedness, integration and higher cognition
In this paper I discuss connections between self-directedness, integration and higher cognition. I present a model of self-directedness as a basis for approaching higher cognition from a situated cognition perspective. According to this model increases in sensorimotor complexity create pressure for integrative higher order control and learning processes for acquiring information about the context in which action occurs. This generates complex articulated abstractive information processing, which forms the major basis for higher cognition. I present evidence that indicates that the same integrative characteristics found in lower cognitive process such as motor adaptation are present in a range of higher cognitive process, including conceptual learning. This account helps explain situated cognition phenomena in humans because the integrative processes by which the brain adapts to control interaction are relatively agnostic concerning the source of the structure participating in the process. Thus, from the perspective of the motor control system using a tool is not fundamentally different to simply controlling an arm
Lifelong Learning of Spatiotemporal Representations with Dual-Memory Recurrent Self-Organization
Artificial autonomous agents and robots interacting in complex environments
are required to continually acquire and fine-tune knowledge over sustained
periods of time. The ability to learn from continuous streams of information is
referred to as lifelong learning and represents a long-standing challenge for
neural network models due to catastrophic forgetting. Computational models of
lifelong learning typically alleviate catastrophic forgetting in experimental
scenarios with given datasets of static images and limited complexity, thereby
differing significantly from the conditions artificial agents are exposed to.
In more natural settings, sequential information may become progressively
available over time and access to previous experience may be restricted. In
this paper, we propose a dual-memory self-organizing architecture for lifelong
learning scenarios. The architecture comprises two growing recurrent networks
with the complementary tasks of learning object instances (episodic memory) and
categories (semantic memory). Both growing networks can expand in response to
novel sensory experience: the episodic memory learns fine-grained
spatiotemporal representations of object instances in an unsupervised fashion
while the semantic memory uses task-relevant signals to regulate structural
plasticity levels and develop more compact representations from episodic
experience. For the consolidation of knowledge in the absence of external
sensory input, the episodic memory periodically replays trajectories of neural
reactivations. We evaluate the proposed model on the CORe50 benchmark dataset
for continuous object recognition, showing that we significantly outperform
current methods of lifelong learning in three different incremental learning
scenario
Born to learn: The inspiration, progress, and future of evolved plastic artificial neural networks
Biological plastic neural networks are systems of extraordinary computational
capabilities shaped by evolution, development, and lifetime learning. The
interplay of these elements leads to the emergence of adaptive behavior and
intelligence. Inspired by such intricate natural phenomena, Evolved Plastic
Artificial Neural Networks (EPANNs) use simulated evolution in-silico to breed
plastic neural networks with a large variety of dynamics, architectures, and
plasticity rules: these artificial systems are composed of inputs, outputs, and
plastic components that change in response to experiences in an environment.
These systems may autonomously discover novel adaptive algorithms, and lead to
hypotheses on the emergence of biological adaptation. EPANNs have seen
considerable progress over the last two decades. Current scientific and
technological advances in artificial neural networks are now setting the
conditions for radically new approaches and results. In particular, the
limitations of hand-designed networks could be overcome by more flexible and
innovative solutions. This paper brings together a variety of inspiring ideas
that define the field of EPANNs. The main methods and results are reviewed.
Finally, new opportunities and developments are presented
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