Bayesian cognitive science, also known as computational cognitive science, is an approach to
cognitive science concerned with the
rational analysis Rational analysis is a theoretical framework, methodology, and research program in cognitive science that has been developed by John Anderson.Anderson, J. R. (1990). "The adaptive character of thought". Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. ...
of cognition through the use of
Bayesian inference
Bayesian inference is a method of statistical inference in which Bayes' theorem is used to update the probability for a hypothesis as more evidence or information becomes available. Bayesian inference is an important technique in statistics, a ...
and
cognitive modeling. The term "computational" refers to the computational level of analysis as put forth by
David Marr.
This work often consists of testing the hypothesis that cognitive systems behave like rational Bayesian agents in particular types of tasks. Past work has applied this idea to
categorization
Categorization is the ability and activity of recognizing shared features or similarities between the elements of the experience of the world (such as Object (philosophy), objects, events, or ideas), organizing and classifying experience by a ...
, language,
motor control
Motor control is the regulation of movement in organisms that possess a nervous system. Motor control includes reflexes as well as directed movement.
To control movement, the nervous system must integrate multimodal sensory information (both f ...
,
sequence learning,
reinforcement learning and
theory of mind.
At other times, Bayesian rationality is ''assumed'', and the goal is to infer the knowledge that agents have, and the mental representations that they use.
It is important to contrast this with the ordinary use of
Bayesian inference
Bayesian inference is a method of statistical inference in which Bayes' theorem is used to update the probability for a hypothesis as more evidence or information becomes available. Bayesian inference is an important technique in statistics, a ...
in cognitive science, which is independent of rational modeling (see e.g
Michael Lee's work.
See also
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Active inference
The free energy principle is a mathematical principle in biophysics and cognitive science that provides a formal account of the representational capacities of physical systems: that is, why things that exist look as if they track properties of the ...
*
Bayesian approaches to brain function
*
Bayesian programming
*
Rational analysis Rational analysis is a theoretical framework, methodology, and research program in cognitive science that has been developed by John Anderson.Anderson, J. R. (1990). "The adaptive character of thought". Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. ...
Selected readings
Bayesian Theory of Mind : modeling human reasoning about beliefs, desires, goals, and social relations''Chris L. Baker, (2006)''
Optimal Predictions in Everyday Cognition''T. L. Griffiths, and J. B. Tenenbaum (2006), Psychological Science 17(9), 767-773''
''M.Oaksford, & N. Chater, (Eds.), (1998), Oxford University Press''
References
Cognitive science
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