Principles of information structure common to six levels of the human cognitive system

Abstract

It is argued that, in human cognition, information is organized as the algebraic structure G of a machine such that G is given a factorization sequence G = G 1 . ̄ G 2G n induced by a crucial dynamical systems criterion. This criterion states that, given any representation of a stimulus set S, the cognitive system attempts to remove the properties of S in order of their decreasing instability. The successive stabilization structure is represented as a dynamical system on G such that, under the dynamic, G is given a factorization sequence G 1 . ̄ G 2G n where the successive identity elements e n , e n − 1 , e 1, ( e i ϵG i ) become successive sinks in the trajectory structure. It is proposed that any such decomposition G = G 1 . ̄ G 2G n is cognized as a structure of nested control in which each factor G i is cognized as a control group with respect to the dynamics on the cosets of its right subsequence G j + 1 . ̄ G j + 2 G i+1G i+2G n . We argue that human cognitive reference frames are structured as such dynamically induced algebraic decompositions G 1 . ̄ G 2G n . Three crucial properties of such frames are that the referential structure, which is induced among the underlying stimuli, is asymmetric, sequential, and explicit, in contrast to current algebraic (group theoretic) models in cognitive psychology, where reference is symmetric, homogeneous and implicit in accord with Klein's view of geometry. Thus stimuli are referentially identified via the succession of sinks, e n , e n − 1 , e 1 in the dynamical structure, rather than by invariants under G. Research literature on six levels of human cognition is reviewed in support of these proposals. In ascending order, upward through the human cognitive system, the levels are 1. (1) simple cell function, where the local Fourier-analytic approach is reviewed; 2. (2) psychological scales, where the representation-theoretic and information-quantitative approaches are reviewed; 3. (3) perceptual organization, where classical and modern Gestalt research is reviewed; 4. (4) categorization, where Roschian theory is reviewed; 5. (5) grammatical structure, where both Chomskian and functionalist theories are reviewed 6. (6) planning, where research on biological control and trajectory planning is reviewed.