Rate-Coding Bundle Memory (RCBM):
A Unified Model of Memory and Control for Symbolic Computation in the Brain
Teun van Gils*1, Rowan Sommers*1, Markus Ostarek1, and Peter Hagoort1,2
1Neurobiology of Language Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
2Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University
* Equal contributions.
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We propose a neurobiologically plausible model of cognition that combines the advantages of connectionist and symbolic systems, and that can solve a wide range of cognitive problems. This model, called Rate-Coding Bundle Memory (RCBM), is based on the Symbolic Subsystem Hypothesis, which posits that the brain implements a symbolic subsystem within its fundamentally connectionist nature. RCBM is a hybrid model that uses rate coding to represent symbols in a continuous space, and it uses a bundle memory system to store and retrieve these symbols. The model is capable of solving a wide range of cognitive problems, including one-shot learning, pattern separation, and the binding problem. We argue that RCBM provides a promising framework for understanding the nature of cognition, and that it can be used to develop more sophisticated models of cognition in the future.
Note: The preprint manuscript is a rough draft and not the final version. It is subject to change. A finalized preprint will be available soon.