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A model of conceptual bootstrapping in human cognition
Bonan Zhao1, Christopher G Lucas2, Neil R Bramley3
1Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. b.zhao@ed.ac.uk.
Nature Human Behaviour
|October 16, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a computational model for conceptual bootstrapping, showing how reusing past knowledge shapes new concept formation. The model predicts that learning order significantly impacts concept discovery, a finding supported by behavioral experiments.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Computational Neuroscience
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Humans effectively reuse and recombine existing knowledge to tackle complex problems, a process known as conceptual bootstrapping.
- This cognitive ability allows for the development of rich mental concepts even with limited cognitive resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a computational model that explains conceptual bootstrapping as a process of compositional generalization.
- To investigate how the order of evidence processing influences concept learning and discovery.
Main Methods:
- Developed a computational model featuring a dynamic conceptual repertoire for caching and reusing insights.
- Modeled learning as a series of compositional generalizations.
- Conducted four behavioral experiments with 570 participants to test model predictions.
Main Results:
- The model predicts, and experiments confirm, that the order of evidence processing leads to systematically different learned concepts.
- Demonstrated significant curriculum-order and conceptual garden-pathing effects.
- Results align with model predictions and diverge from alternative explanations.
Conclusions:
- Past experiences critically shape future conceptual discoveries through a process of reusing and recombining knowledge.
- The design of learning curricula significantly impacts human inductive concept inference.
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