ctn-waterloo / modelling_ideas

Ideas for models that could be made with Nengo if anyone has time
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Compare to Maass' variable binding approach #70

Open tcstewar opened 7 years ago

tcstewar commented 7 years ago

This paper is a very different approach to variable binding,

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1611.03698.pdf

We propose a model for binding of variables such as the thematic role of a word in a sentence or episode (e.g., agent or patient), to concrete fillers (e.g., a word or concept). Our model is based on recent experimental data about corresponding processes in the human brain. One source of information are electrode recordings from the human brain, which suggest that concepts are represented in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) through sparse sets of neurons (assemblies). Another source of information are fMRI recordings from the human brain, which suggest that subregions of the temporal cortex are dedicated to the representation of specific roles (e.g., subject or object) of concepts in a sentence or visually presented episode. We propose that quickly recruited assemblies of neurons in these subregions act as pointers to previously created assemblies that represent concepts. We provide a proof of principle that the resulting model for binding through assembly pointers can be implemented in networks of spiking neurons, and supports basic operations of brain computations, such as structured information retrieval and copying of information. We also show that salient features of fMRI data on neural activity during structured information retrieval can be reproduced by the proposed model.

This is pretty much the same as the spa_parse example (a single input, that you can put information into one State in some conditions, and in another State in other conditions), but they don't model the control system at all. But it would still be interesting to do a direct comparison