Emergence of symbolic behavior from brain like memory with dynamic attention

An important feature of human intelligence is the use of symbols. This is s een in our daily use of language and logical thinking. However, the use of symbols is not limited to humans. We observe planned action sequences in pr imate behavior and prediction-based action in higher mammals. For the repre sentation and operation of symbols by the brain neural circuit, no specific construction principle or computational theory is known so fa. In this pap er, we regard the brain as a complex of associative memory and dynamic atte ntional system, and starting from two hypotheses on information representat ion and operation in the brain, we propose a model of primitive symbolic be havior emergence that is consistent with the conventional symbolic processi ng model. We also describe a computational theory of the symbolic processin g model in associative memory. Through computer simulation studies on a lan guage-like memory search and map learning by a moving robot, we discuss the validity of the model. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.