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Categorisation as Topographic Mapping between Uncorrelated Spaces

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Algorithmic Probability and Friends. Bayesian Prediction and Artificial Intelligence

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 7070))

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Abstract

In this paper, I propose a neurophysiologically plausible account for the evolution of arbitrary, categorical mental relationships. Topographic, or structure-preserving, mappings are widespread within animal brains. If they can be shown to generate behaviours in simulation, it is plausible that they are responsible for them in vivo. One behaviour has puzzled philosophers, psychologists and linguists alike: the categorical nature of language and its arbitrary associations between categories of form and meaning. I show here that arbitrary categorical relationships can arise when a topographic mapping is developed between continuous, but uncorrelated activation spaces. This is shown first by simulation, then identified in humans with synaesthesia. The independence of form and meaning as sensory or conceptual spaces automatically results in a categorial structure being imposed on each, as our brains attempt to link the spaces with topographic maps. This result suggests a neurophysiologically plausible explanation of categorisation in language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IO Institute of Linguistics, Australia

    T. Mark Ellison

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  1. T. Mark Ellison
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Information Technology, Clayton School of Information Technology, Monash University, Bldg. 63, Wellington Road, 3800, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    David L. Dowe

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Ellison, T.M. (2013). Categorisation as Topographic Mapping between Uncorrelated Spaces. In: Dowe, D.L. (eds) Algorithmic Probability and Friends. Bayesian Prediction and Artificial Intelligence. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7070. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-44958-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-44958-1_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-44957-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-44958-1

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