The Perception-Conceptualisation-Knowledge Representation-Reasoning Representation-Action Cycle: The View from the Brain

We consider new and important aspects of brain processing in which it is shown how perception, attention, reward, working memory, long-term memory, spatial and object recognition, conceptualisation and action can be melded together in a coherent manner. The approach is based mainly on work done in the EU GNOSYS project to create a reasoning robot using brain guidance, starting with the learning of object representations and associated concepts (as long-term memory), with the inclusion of attention. Additional material on actions and internal simulation is taken from the EU MATHESIS project. The framework is thereby extended to the affordances of objects, so that effective action can be taken on the objects. The knowledge gained and the related rewards associated with the representations of the objects involved are used to guide reasoning, through the co-operation of internal models, to attain one or other of the objects. This approach is based on attention as a control system to be exploited to allow high level processing (in conscious thought) or lower level processing (in creative but unconscious thought); creativity is also considered as part of the abilities of the overall system.