Mathematics and Cognition  Seminar

Fall 2004

Tuesdays 12:00  GWC 604

Seminar Schedule:<http://math.la.asu.edu/~tom/cognition/math+cogsched.html>
On Tuesday, November 16, at 12:00 Noon in GWC 604,
the Mathematics and Cognition Seminar will
present a discussion with Dr.Gregory Stone of the Department of Psychology
on the topic of:

"Combining connectionist and sybolic properties in a single system -- adaptive organization of information at different scales"

Abstract:
In the debate over symbol systems and connectionist systems with distributed representations, both sides have presented compelling advantages of their own approach and disadvantages of the other approach. I will argue that the best of both approaches can be achieved using a connectionist system with distributed representations.  The key is the use of recurrent feedback loops between layers and competitive cooperative interactions within layers.  Besides solving the basic  connectionist problem of selecting a single coherent output (a.k.a. eliminating cross-talk), the system has a property I call functional unitization, in which patterns behave as if they were discrete units with constituent structure.  However, there is still a serious, unsolved problem with this system- representing serial order.  I will propose a solution (as yet un-implemented) that uses coupled oscillator dynamics instead of fixed-point attractor dynamics.