Technical Report #241

Dynamic Systems (Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science entry)

Jerome R. Busemeyer

Abstract

A critical factor facilitating the "cognitive revolution" of the early 1960's was the capability of formulating rigorous (computational or mathematical) models of how the inputs and outputs from mental processing systems change over time. The earliest approach was to view the mind as a dynamic cybernetic feedback system (see Miller, Gallanter, & Pribram, 1960). But this was later abandoned in favour of another approach, which was to view the mind as a rule-based, symbol processor (see Newell and Simon, 1972). Most recently, developments in neural and connectionist networks have revived interest in a dynamic systems approach. More broadly, dynamic systems theory has been adopted by a wide range of fields in cognitive science, including perceptual-motor behaviour, child development, speech and language, and artificial intelligence. Some excellent presentations of mathematical dynamic system theory include Beltrami (1987), Luenberger (1979), Padula and Arbib (1974), and Strogatz (1994).

To appear in Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science, Macmillan Publishing

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