A Non-von-Neumann Computational Architecture Based on in Situ Representations: Integrating Cognitive Grounding, Productivity and Dynamics

Abstract

Human cognition may be unique in the way it combines cognitive grounding, productivity (compositionality) and dynamics. This combination imposes constraints on the underlying computational architecture. These constraints are not met in the von-Neumann computational architecture underlying forms of symbol manipulation. The constraints are met in a computational architecture based on ‘in situ’ grounded representations, consisting of (distributed) neuronal assembly structures. To achieve productivity, the in situ grounded representations are embedded in (several) neuronal ‘blackboard’ architectures, each specialized for processing specific forms of (compositional) cognitive structures, such as visual structures (objects, scenes), propositional (linguistic) structures and procedural (action) sequences. The architectures interact by the neuronal assemblies (in situ representations) they share. This interaction provides a combination of local and global information processing that is fundamentally lacking in symbolic architectures of cognition. Further advantages are briefly discussed.