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The evolution of cognition--a hypothesisBy
Holk Cruse

• Presentation facilitated by
• Bethany Sills and Lauren Feliz
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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Introduction

• Cruse argues that a humans cognitive system
  might be regarded as a special form of reactive
  systems (exaptation).
• He believes that humans have developed the
  ability to neurologically perceive the world
  around them (Internal perspective).
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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Overview of Topics

• Reactive Systems
• Cognitive Systems
• MMC
• Internal Perspective
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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Reactive Systems ("motor intelligence". )

• A reactive system responds to sensory-input
• Reactive systems usually deal with a stimulus
  that occurs in the present (for example an
  involuntary motor reaction).
• Also called passive representation a cognitive
  look-up-table. (a kind of cognitive process where
  a specific stimulus elicits a specific response)
• Thus, faster solutions to known tasks, but less
  flexible
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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Cognitive Systems(Internal World Model)

• A cognitive system must have a kind-of internal
  model of the world in order to manipulate
  potential behavioral reactions in the mind.
• Includes a dynamic or manipulable
  representation.
• This cognitive representation can find
  potentially new solutions to given problems.
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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MMC Net

• MMC stands for the mean of multiple computation
• It is a neurological model that consists of a
  recurrent network which relaxes to adopt a stable
  state corresponding to a geometrically correct
  solution, even when the input does not fully
  constrain the solution (140)
• In other words, MCC is a cognitive basis for
  which humans imagine the movements of their
  mental body.
• Ex/ Cruses arm studies
• http//www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Kybernetik/re
  search/arm.html
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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Internal Perspective

• Humans have evolved an HIP (have an internal
  perspective) vs. NIP (not having an internal
  perspective).
• An internal perspective is the individual
  experience of an individuals subjective world.
• Internal perspective corresponds to
  consciousness.
• Subjective experience does not reflect our
  direct sensory input, but relies on the content
  of a construct (147).
• Cruse, Holk. (2003). The Evolution of
  Cognition--- a hypothesis. Cognitive Science,
  27, 135-155

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Points that we found interesting

• Cruse asserts that the most important part of
  the world, and also nearest part of the world,
  seen from a brains view is the own body. Thus
  cognitive internal world models might be formed
  by a model of ones own body.
• How is the mind able to create an internal mental
  model of the body? And, why are some peoples
  mental models better defined than others
  (example/ dancing or coordination).
• Subjective experience

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Points that we found debatable.

• Do we really have a holistically cognitive
  internal body model that is able to model
  geometric surroundings and possibilities? Is our
  awareness of the environment a cognitively
  learned state? If internal models do exist, what
  is the cause of errors in cognitive processes?
• This article examined examples that are based on
  the bodys awareness of movement, but what about
  abstract thought? What kind-of internal model
  would create this? If one works from the bottom
  up, wouldnt abstract thought also have some
  kind-of internal model?

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Any Questions?