A READER FOR THE COGNITIVE MAP

A local diffusion model (Staddon and Reid, 1990) can reproduce exponen tial and Gaussian stimulus-generalization gradients. We show that a tw o-dimensional diffusion model, together with simple reinforcement assu mptions, can reproduce many of the empirical properties of goal-direct ed spatial search, including area-restricted search, open-field foragi ng, barrier and detour problems, maze learning and spatial ''insight.' ' The model provides a simple, associationistic ''reader'' for Tolman' s cognitive map. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1997.