Studies of Symbols from "Robot Science"

Abstract

The current paper reviews neuro-robotics studies by the author’s group by which possible neuro-phenomenological accounts are explored for “symbolic” processes assumed in various aspects in human cognition. The reviews on the series of studies elucidate that many of “symbolic” computation scheme can be alternated by neuro-dynamic systems approach utilizing self-organization. It is concluded that “symbols” can be obtained just as an immanent property in the consequences of self-organization when natural interactions between the top-down intention and the bottom-up sensory-motor processes are allowed in embodied neuronal systems.