Speaker: Randall K. Jamieson
Title: Sophisticated behaviour in simple systems: Humans

Abstract:
Peoples' behaviour is often more sophisticated than their explicit knowledge 
would seem to support. One popular explanation for the discrepancy is that 
the brain abstracts knowledge, but the knowledge is unavailable to 
introspection. I pose a different explanation.

I will demonstrate that a simple algorithm applied to a structured terrain 
produces sophisticated behaviour. I will extend the analysis to explain 
peoples' incidental learning of structure in finite state grammars. I will 
draw out a computational description of memory retrieval. I will show the 
model predicts peoples' learning. In closing, I will discuss the lessons 
of computational psychology for the design of intelligent artificial cognitive 
systems.