An integrated theory of the mind

Abstract

Adaptive control of thought-rational (ACT-R; J. R. Anderson & C.Lebiere, 1998) has evolved into a theory that consists of multiplemodules but also explains how these modules are integrated to producecoherent cognition. The perceptual-motor modules, the goal module,and the declarative memory module are presented as examples of specializedsystems in ACT-R. These modules are associated with distinct corticalregions. These modules place chunks in buffers where they can bedetected by a production system that responds to patterns of informationin the buffers. At any point in time, a single production rule isselected to respond to the current pattern. Subsymbolic processesserve to guide the selection of rules to fire as well as the internaloperations of some modules. Much of learning involves tuning of thesesubsymbolic processes. A number of simple and complex empirical examplesare described to illustrate how these modules function singly andin concert.