Simulation, Situated Conceptualization, and Prediction

Abstract

Based on accumulating evidence, simulation appears to be a basic computational mechanism in the brain that supports a broad spectrum of processes from perception to social cognition. Further evidence suggests that simulation is typically situated, with the situated character of experience in the environment being reflected in the situated character of the representations that underlie simulation. A basic architecture is sketched of how the brain implements situated simulation. Within this framework, simulators implement the concepts that underlie knowledge, and situated conceptualizations capture patterns of multi-modal simulation associated with frequently experienced situations. A pattern completion inference mechanism uses current perception to activate situated conceptualizations that produce predictions via simulations on relevant modalities. Empirical findings from perception, action, working memory, conceptual processing, language and social cognition illustrate how this framework produces the extensive prediction that characterizes natural intelligence.

The role of temporal properties on the detection of temporal violations: insights from pupillometry

“…Collins and Loftus 1975). Similarly, the perceptual simulation that is triggered by the title of the event sequence naturally begins with the simulation of early events (Barsalou 1999(Barsalou , 2009). Both approaches imply that strong predictions about how an event sequence begins are formed.…”

“…According to spreading-activation models (cf., Collins and Loftus 1975), once an item (event) is activated, activation spreads to neighboring events. The simulation approach as favored by Barsalou (2008Barsalou ( , 2009) assumes that the title of the event sequence triggers a perceptual simulation of the component events. Either way, predictions may be formed about how an activity will take place and which event will follow another.…”

“…In event perception, it is assumed that the predictions that have been derived from the representation in long-term memory are compared to the sensory input, that is, to the unfolding event (cf. Barsalou 2009;Zacks et al 2007). Most of the time predictions will be correct, thereby matching the sensory input.…”

Doubletalk – The biological and social acquisition of language

“…Here, linguistic knowledge relevant to the task involves 'simulations' of situations categorised linguistically during the experience concerned (e.g. Zwaan, Stanfield, & Yaxley, 2002;Barsalou et al, 2003;Boulenger, Hauk, & Pulvermüller, 2009;Barsalou, 2009;Hesslow, 2012).…”

“…This co-activity is responsible for the emergence of a neural correlate (an assembly of neurons that wire together) that sustains the event as a coherent episode. According to Barsalou (2009), an experience of an entity or event will elicit activity in relevant neural systems within the visual realm. For instance, during the experience of a bicycle, specialised neurons will fire for edges and surfaces for colour and motion, while at the same time neurons in other sensory modalities represent how the bicycle sounds and feels.…”