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2 - Connectionist Models of Cognition

from Part II - Cognitive Modeling Paradigms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

By
Michael S. C. Thomas  and
James L. McClelland
Edited by
Ron Sun
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Summary

In this chapter, computer models of cognition focusing on the use of neural networks are reviewed. This chapter begins by placing connectionism in its historical context, leading up to its formalization in Rumelhart and Mc-Clelland's two-volume Parallel Distributed Processing. Three important early models illustrating some of the key properties of connectionist systems are discussed, as well as how the novel theoretical contributions of these models arose from their key computational properties. Connectionism offers an explanation of human cognition because instances of behavior in particular cognitive domains can be explained with respect to a set of general principles and the conditions of the specific domains. Connectionist theory has had a widespread influence on cognitive theorizing, and this influence was illustrated by considering connectionist contributions to our understanding of memory, cognitive development, acquired cognitive impairments, and developmental deficit.
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The Cambridge Handbook of Computational Psychology , pp. 23 - 58
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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