From Theory of Mind to Theory of Environment: Counterfactual Simulation of Latent Environmental Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper proposes a 'Theory of Environment' that extends the concept of Theory of Mind to infer hidden environmental dynamics, enhancing behavioral innovation through increased motor exploration in complex settings.

Contribution

It introduces a computational framework linking Theory of Mind to environmental inference, enabling better understanding of hidden dynamics in dense action-outcome environments.

Findings

Humans may infer hidden environmental dynamics from social cues.

Expanding motor exploration can promote behavioral innovation.

The framework connects social cognition with environmental inference.

Abstract

The vertebrate motor system employs dimensionality-reducing strategies to limit the complexity of movement coordination, for efficient motor control. But when environments are dense with hidden action-outcome contingencies, movement complexity can promote behavioral innovation. Humans, perhaps uniquely, may infer the presence of hidden environmental dynamics from social cues, by drawing upon computational mechanisms shared with Theory of Mind. This proposed "Theory of Environment" supports behavioral innovation by expanding the dimensionality of motor exploration.