# Cognitive Architecture --- title: Cognitive Architecture type: concept status: stable tags: - cognition - architecture - organization - systems - computation semantic_relations: - type: implements links: [[cognitive_systems]] - type: related links: - [[information_processing]] - [[neural_computation]] - [[memory_systems]] --- ## Overview Cognitive Architecture describes the fundamental organization and structure of cognitive systems, specifying how different components interact to produce intelligent behavior. This framework provides a unified theory of how cognitive processes are implemented and coordinated in biological and artificial systems. ## Core Components ### Processing Systems - [[information_processors]] - Think parts - [[perceptual_systems]] - Input parts - [[sensory_processing]] - Sense work - [[pattern_recognition]] - Find things - [[central_systems]] - Main parts - [[working_memory]] - Hold now - [[long_term_memory]] - Keep long ### Control Systems - [[control_mechanisms]] - Manage parts - [[executive_control]] - Boss parts - [[goal_management]] - Want handle - [[resource_allocation]] - Give what - [[attention_systems]] - Focus parts - [[selective_attention]] - Pick what - [[sustained_attention]] - Keep on ### Output Systems - [[response_systems]] - Do parts - [[motor_control]] - Move parts - [[action_selection]] - Choose do - [[movement_execution]] - Make do - [[language_production]] - Say parts - [[speech_planning]] - Plan say - [[articulation]] - Make say ## Structural Organization ### Hierarchical Levels - [[processing_levels]] - Think layers - [[low_level]] - Basic work - [[feature_processing]] - Thing parts - [[motor_programs]] - Move plans - [[high_level]] - Complex work - [[abstract_processing]] - Big think - [[strategic_planning]] - Big plan ### Modular Organization - [[cognitive_modules]] - Think boxes - [[specialized_modules]] - Special jobs - [[language_module]] - Talk box - [[spatial_module]] - Space box - [[integration_modules]] - Join boxes - [[multimodal]] - Sense join - [[cross_domain]] - Kind join ### Network Structure - [[cognitive_networks]] - Think nets - [[local_networks]] - Near nets - [[processing_units]] - Work dots - [[local_connections]] - Near links - [[distributed_networks]] - Far nets - [[long_range]] - Far links - [[hub_nodes]] - Join points ## Processing Mechanisms ### Information Flow - [[processing_flow]] - Think move - [[feedforward]] - Forward go - [[sequential]] - Step by step - [[parallel]] - Same time - [[feedback]] - Back go - [[top_down]] - High to low - [[recurrent]] - Loop back ### Resource Management - [[resource_systems]] - Power use - [[attention_resources]] - Focus power - [[capacity_limits]] - How much - [[allocation_rules]] - Give rules - [[processing_resources]] - Think power - [[cognitive_load]] - Brain full - [[efficiency]] - Power good ### Control Processes - [[control_processes]] - Boss work - [[monitoring]] - Watch work - [[error_detection]] - Wrong find - [[conflict_resolution]] - Fix fight - [[adaptation]] - Change fit - [[strategy_adjustment]] - Way change - [[learning_updates]] - Know change ## Implementation Principles ### Computation - [[cognitive_computation]] - Think math - [[symbolic_processing]] - Sign work - [[rule_application]] - Use rules - [[symbol_manipulation]] - Change signs - [[subsymbolic]] - Pattern work - [[parallel_distributed]] - Spread work - [[emergent_computation]] - Come out ### Memory Organization - [[memory_architecture]] - Know build - [[storage_systems]] - Keep parts - [[buffer_systems]] - Hold short - [[long_term_store]] - Keep long - [[access_systems]] - Get parts - [[retrieval]] - Find stored - [[encoding]] - Put in ### Learning Mechanisms - [[architecture_learning]] - System learn - [[structural_learning]] - Build learn - [[connection_formation]] - Link make - [[pruning]] - Cut extra - [[functional_learning]] - Work learn - [[parameter_tuning]] - Number fix - [[strategy_acquisition]] - Way get ## Theoretical Frameworks ### Classical Architectures - [[symbolic_systems]] - Sign think - [[production_systems]] - Rule use - [[condition_action]] - If then - [[goal_stack]] - Want pile - [[semantic_networks]] - Mean nets - [[concept_nodes]] - Idea dots - [[relations]] - Idea links ### Neural Architectures - [[brain_inspired]] - Brain like - [[neural_networks]] - Brain nets - [[layered_networks]] - Layer nets - [[recurrent_networks]] - Loop nets - [[plasticity_rules]] - Change rules - [[hebbian_learning]] - Fire join - [[error_driven]] - Wrong fix ### Hybrid Architectures - [[mixed_systems]] - Both kinds - [[symbolic_neural]] - Sign brain - [[neural_symbols]] - Brain signs - [[symbolic_dynamics]] - Sign change - [[modular_hybrid]] - Box mix - [[specialized_modules]] - Job box - [[integration_mechanisms]] - Join way ## Applications ### Cognitive Modeling - [[model_systems]] - Think copy - [[behavior_models]] - Do copy - [[performance]] - How good - [[learning]] - Get good - [[process_models]] - How copy - [[mechanisms]] - Way work - [[dynamics]] - Time change ### Artificial Intelligence - [[ai_systems]] - Smart make - [[intelligent_agents]] - Smart thing - [[reasoning_systems]] - Think smart - [[learning_systems]] - Learn smart - [[cognitive_robots]] - Smart move - [[embodied_ai]] - Body smart - [[social_ai]] - People smart ### Clinical Applications - [[disorder_models]] - Wrong models - [[dysfunction]] - Not work - [[process_breakdown]] - Break how - [[compensation]] - Fix how - [[intervention]] - Help fix - [[rehabilitation]] - Work fix - [[training]] - Learn fix ## Research Methods ### Behavioral Studies - [[behavior_analysis]] - Do look - [[task_performance]] - How do - [[accuracy]] - How right - [[response_time]] - How fast - [[strategy_use]] - Way use - [[problem_solving]] - Fix how - [[skill_learning]] - Get good ### Neural Methods - [[brain_measures]] - Brain look - [[activity_patterns]] - Fire look - [[localization]] - Where work - [[connectivity]] - How join - [[lesion_studies]] - Break look - [[damage_effects]] - Wrong what - [[recovery]] - Fix how ### Computational Methods - [[architecture_models]] - Build math - [[simulation]] - Fake do - [[process_models]] - Step math - [[network_models]] - Net math - [[formal_analysis]] - Deep look - [[complexity]] - Hard how - [[optimality]] - Best how ## Future Directions ### Current Challenges - [[scaling_issues]] - Big hard - [[integration_problems]] - Join hard - [[biological_plausibility]] - Real match ### Emerging Approaches - [[new_architectures]] - New ways - [[quantum_cognitive]] - Quantum think - [[quantum_computation]] - Quantum math - [[quantum_memory]] - Quantum keep - [[embodied_systems]] - Body think - [[sensorimotor]] - Feel move - [[environmental]] - World use ## References - [[newell_unified]] - [[anderson_act]] - [[rumelhart_pdp]] - [[brooks_behavior]] ## Related Concepts - [[information_processing]] - [[neural_computation]] - [[memory_systems]] - [[attention]] - [[learning_theory]] - [[artificial_intelligence]]