Abstract
A computational modeling approach was used to test one possible explanation for the limited capacity of the subitizing phenomenon. Most existing models of this phenomenon associate the subitizing span with an assumed structural limitation of the human information processing system. In contrast, we show how this limit might emerge as the combinatorics of the space of enumeration problems interacts with the human cognitive architecture in the context of an enumeration task. Subitizing-like behavior was generated in two different models of enumeration, one based on the ACT-R cognitive architecture and the other based on the principles of parallel distributed processing (PDP). Our results provide good qualitative fits to results obtained in a variety of empirical studies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 93-122 |
| Number of pages | 30 |
| Journal | Cognitive Science |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jan 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Language and Linguistics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Linguistics and Language
Cite this
Computational evidence for the subitizing phenomenon as an emergent property of the human cognitive architecture. / Peterson, Scott A.; Simon, Tony J.
In: Cognitive Science, Vol. 24, No. 1, 01.2000, p. 93-122.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Computational evidence for the subitizing phenomenon as an emergent property of the human cognitive architecture
AU - Peterson, Scott A.
AU - Simon, Tony J
PY - 2000/1
Y1 - 2000/1
N2 - A computational modeling approach was used to test one possible explanation for the limited capacity of the subitizing phenomenon. Most existing models of this phenomenon associate the subitizing span with an assumed structural limitation of the human information processing system. In contrast, we show how this limit might emerge as the combinatorics of the space of enumeration problems interacts with the human cognitive architecture in the context of an enumeration task. Subitizing-like behavior was generated in two different models of enumeration, one based on the ACT-R cognitive architecture and the other based on the principles of parallel distributed processing (PDP). Our results provide good qualitative fits to results obtained in a variety of empirical studies.
AB - A computational modeling approach was used to test one possible explanation for the limited capacity of the subitizing phenomenon. Most existing models of this phenomenon associate the subitizing span with an assumed structural limitation of the human information processing system. In contrast, we show how this limit might emerge as the combinatorics of the space of enumeration problems interacts with the human cognitive architecture in the context of an enumeration task. Subitizing-like behavior was generated in two different models of enumeration, one based on the ACT-R cognitive architecture and the other based on the principles of parallel distributed processing (PDP). Our results provide good qualitative fits to results obtained in a variety of empirical studies.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0003190358&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0003190358
VL - 24
SP - 93
EP - 122
JO - Cognitive Science
JF - Cognitive Science
SN - 0364-0213
IS - 1
ER -