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Human, All Too Human: Euclidean and Multifractal Analysis in an Experimental Diagrammatic Model of Thinking

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Anticipation Across Disciplines

Part of the book series: Cognitive Systems Monographs ((COSMOS,volume 29))

Abstract

A nominal, theoretical definition of executive functions and a diagrammatic model of thinking, related to the research and writings of J. Piaget, J. S. Peirce, P. K. Anokhin and N. A. Bernstein, is presented. The model is an attempt to capture the underlying anticipatory inferential dynamics of human thinking. Furthermore the model is substantiated in a microgenetic experimental paradigm that contains a problem-solving task presented to children, adolescents and machine algorithms. Representative examples of Euclidean and multifractal analysis and its results are illustrated. Our findings suggest that the dynamics of inferential processes in humans are like finger-prints, i.e., they display an idiosyncratic character. It is hypothesised that due to the discriminant character of these processes, the paradigm could have a potential clinical use allowing the quantitative description, classification, diagnosis, monitoring and screening of mental conditions that impair executive functions. It is concluded that this model and the related experimental paradigm could help us increase our knowledge of the anticipatory aspects of human cognition.

“By means of a game similar to the game of chess -it is perhaps possible to bring about symbolic thought constructions. The former sport of logical disputation was very similar a board game.” Novalis (1772–1801). Notes for a Romantic Encyclopaedia, Das Allgemeine Brouillon, pag 173 : 1005.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Our translation from the Spanish text.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Helmut Ahammer from the Institute of Biophysics at the Medical University of Graz, who provided the IQM package to perform the multifractal and lacunarity analysis presented here, and to Dr. Claire Postlethwaite from Applied Mathematics Department at University of Auckland who provided the MSSI measures package. Also I would like to thank Richard Sellars for his help in the preparation and edition of the diagrams for this manuscript.

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  1. Clinical Research Programme, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Fabián Labra-Spröhnle

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  1. University of Texas at Dallas, antÉ—Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems, Richardson, Texas, USA

    Mihai Nadin

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Labra-Spröhnle, F. (2016). Human, All Too Human: Euclidean and Multifractal Analysis in an Experimental Diagrammatic Model of Thinking. In: Nadin, M. (eds) Anticipation Across Disciplines. Cognitive Systems Monographs, vol 29. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22599-9_9

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