Embodied cognition

In front of the ‘brain as a computer’ perspective, the field of cognitive science is taking a   ‘pragmatic turn’ towards understanding cognition as skillful activity that involves interaction loops with the external world. One of the theories under this umbrella is called the “sensorimotor theory”, which tries to explain that perception is the mastery of the “sensorimotor contingencies” (SMCs) that govern our interaction with the world. One of the challenges faced by sensorimotor theory faces is to specify at the level of neural mechanism what is meant by a SMC and by their mastery.

Using minimal modeling principles, we work in minimally cognitive setups implemented in computer simulations capturing brain-body-environment dynamics of human subjects and synthetic agents. Using the principles of Dynamical Systems theory, Information Theory and Complex Systems theory, our aim is to better understand the principles that govern the process of learning during sensorimotor interactions and how and what changes on the dynamics of neural networks.

Publications

Aguilera M, Bedia MG and Barandiaran XE (2016)Extended Neural Metastability in an Embodied Model of Sensorimotor Coupling. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 10:76. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2016.00076

Aguilera M, Barandiaran XE, Bedia MG, Seron F (2015) Self-Organized Criticality, Plasticity and Sensorimotor Coupling. Explorations with a Neurorobotic Model in a Behavioural Preference Task. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0117465. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117465

Bedia, MG, Aguilera, M, Gomez, T, Larrode, DG, & Seron, F (2014).Quantifying long-range correlations and 1/f patterns in a minimal experiment of social interaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1281. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01281

Aguilera, M, Bedia, MG, Barandiaran, XE. & Serón, F (2014).Intermittent animal behaviour: the adjustment deployment dilemma. Artificial Life, 20(4), 471–489. doi:10.1162/ARTL_a_00133

Aguilera, M, Bedia, MG, Santos, BA, Barandiaran, XE (2013). The Situated HKB Model: how sensorimotor spatial coupling can alter oscillatory brain dynamics. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience 7 (2013): 117. doi:10.3389/fncom.2013.00117.

Santos, BA, Barandiaran, XE, Husbands, P, Aguilera, M & Bedia, M G. (2012).Sensorimotor coordination and metastability in a situated HKB model. Connection Science.

Bedia, MG, & Di Paolo, E (2012). Unreliable gut feelings can lead to correct decisions: the somatic marker hypothesis in non-linear decision chains. Frontiers in psychology, 3.