Modeling Associative Reasoning Processes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a formally sound model of associative reasoning that integrates logical reasoning with large commonsense knowledge, enabling applications like modeling mind-wandering and testing creativity through the RAT.

Contribution

It presents a novel, sound method combining logical reasoning with associative techniques, advancing the modeling of complex cognitive processes.

Findings

Effective modeling of associative reasoning with logical mechanisms

Application to mind-wandering and Remote Associates Test

Implications for understanding consciousness

Abstract

The human capability to reason about one domain by using knowledge of other domains has been researched for more than 50 years, but models that are formally sound and predict cognitive process are sparse. We propose a formally sound method that models associative reasoning by adapting logical reasoning mechanisms. In particular it is shown that the combination with large commensense knowledge within a single reasoning system demands for an efficient and powerful association technique. This approach is also used for modelling mind-wandering and the Remote Associates Test (RAT) for testing creativity. In a general discussion we show implications of the model for a broad variety of cognitive phenomena including consciousness.