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Origins and Evolution of Imagination, From Australopithecus to Modern-Day Deep Learning
Kiranpreet K Sidhu1, Raymond Roy1, Amedeo D'Angiulli1
1Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
Imagination, defined as imaginative generativity (IG), allows organisms to generate novel multisensory experiences for anticipating challenges and guiding actions. This capacity supports adaptive behavior and species development.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- Imagination is broadly defined, leading to a need for precise theoretical specification.
- Prior work formally specified imagination as imaginative generativity (IG).
- IG describes the generative process of novel multisensory imaginings for anticipating environmental changes and guiding actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To update and extend the theoretical construct of imaginative generativity (IG).
- To distinguish IG from related representational mechanisms like vivid representing (VR).
- To situate these distinctions within evolutionary and archaeological contexts and compare with AI systems.
Main Methods:
- Formal specification of imagination as imaginative generativity (IG).
- Distinguishing IG from vivid representing (VR) based on functional characteristics.
- Integrating evidence from neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, and AI.
Main Results:
- Clarified the distinction between vivid representing (VR) and imaginative generativity (IG).
- Provided an evolutionary and archaeological account of representational change.
- Identified functional analogues of IG in contemporary AI systems.
Conclusions:
- IG supports adaptive behavior, potentially influencing species-level development.
- Understanding IG requires interdisciplinary approaches and re-examination of underlying assumptions.
- Further research across multiple scientific domains can refine the understanding of imagination's role in cognition and consciousness.
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