Dynamical Systems Approaches to Cognition

摘要: Think of a little boy playing in the playground, climbing up on ladders, balancing beams, jumping, running, catching other kids. Or think girl who prepares to draw picture, finding and setting her painting utensils, dipping brush water, carefully wiping it off, whipping water paint selected color with small circular movements, just touching pad paint. When she actually paints, makes sequence strokes sketch house. Clearly, both scenes involve lots cognition. The ongoing, complex behaviors two children are certainly not simple reflexes, nor fixed action patterns elicited by key stimuli, strictly dictated stimulus–response relationships. Hallmarks cognition visible: selection, generation, working memory. And yet, what these daily life activities most intriguing is how seamlessly fine gross motor control tuned environment; sensory information actively sought looking around, searching, establishing reference; flow moves forward. No artificial system has ever achieved even remotely comparable behavior. Although computer programs may play chess at grand master level, their ability generate smooth flows actions natural environments remains extremely limited. takes place when organisms bodies systems situated structured environments, which they bring individual behavioral history quickly adjust. There strong theoretical tension cognitive science about extent can be studied while abstracting from embodiment, situatedness structure nervous that processes organisms. This chapter argues making such abstractions, important concepts missed, including importantly stability instability. embodied view emphasizes close link surfaces immersed. dynamical approach