The Interdisciplinary Handbook of Perceptual Control Theory: Living Control Systems IV

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The Interdisciplinary Handbook of Perceptual Control Theory brings together the latest research, theory, and applications from W. T. Powers’ Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) that proposes that the behavior of a living organism lies in the control of perceived aspects of both itself and its environment. Sections cover theory, the application of PCT to a broad range of disciplines, why perceptual control is fundamental to understanding human nature, a new way to do research on brain processes and behavior, how the role of natural selection in behavior can be demystified, how engineers can emulate human purposeful behavior in robots, and much more. Each chapter includes an author biography to set the context of their work within the development of PCT. Cover The Interdisciplinary Handbook of Perceptual Control Theory Copyright Contributors Author biographies Preface Section A: Why do we need perceptual control theory? 1 - The world according to PCT 2 - Understanding purposeful systems: the application of control theory in engineering and psychology Understanding control: control theory Doing reverse engineering from a forward engineering perspective Perceptual control theory: control of perception Reverse engineering a robot Testing for controlled variables: reverse engineering living control systems Conclusion References 3 - The crisis in neuroscience Paradigm and crisis Behavior is not solely determined by neural output Calculation problem and control Control of input Misunderstanding control Observer's bias Input/output analysis and behavioral illusion Case study 1: Sherrington's analysis of the reflex Case study 2: sensorimotor transformations: from flies to monkeys The proper study of behavior Conclusions References 4 - When causation does not imply correlation: robust violations of the faithfulness axiom Introduction Preliminaries Causal inference Zero correlation between a variable and its derivative Control systems Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 A digression on disturbances Example 4 Example 5 Summary Current causal discovery methods applied to these examples The fundamental problem Conclusion Appendix: Sufficient conditions for zero correlation between a function and its derivative References Section B: Models of brain and behavior 5. - Unraveling the dynamics of dyadic interactions: perceptual control in animal contests Introduction Lessons from fighting Some thoughts on methodology Some thoughts on interpretation Problems needing novel solutions Conclusion: where to go from here? Acknowledgments References 6 - How the brain gets a roaring campfire: Structuring for perceptual results Introduction Features of perceptual control How to structure a goal Organizational rationale Modeling with falsifiability in mind Predictive proposals of PCT Hierarchical classes of perception How to maintain commensurate matching Getting a workable address Cortical implementation PCT reference signals and HTM “name” cells Neocortical layers in action Modeling the temporal flow of experience How to build contextualized beliefs First chunk: detect co-occurrences Second chunk: notice lateral sequences Third chunk: compile into a “name” Fourth chunk: pool the evidence Fifth chunk: provide a timing gate Sixth chunk: output the interpretation Compatible cortical mind-sets Constructing invariants: a summary Addressing reference signals Status of the brain's campfire Remaining challenges Acknowledgments References 7 - How the brain gets a roaring campfire: Input and output functions Introduction Prolegomenon: The what and the how A hierarchy of perceptions Open-loop methods to study closed-loop features Constructing visual input functions: This way in Signal-to-noise sensitivity Early forms of contrast On and off signals Figure-ground contrasts Motion and transition Modeling with spatial frequencies Handling stark edges Objects recognized by harmonic composition Sensorimotor coordination: This way out Perceiving objects and their relational flux Blended frames of reference Summary and implications So how does the brain get that campfire? Acknowledgments References 8 - The phylogeny, ontogeny, causation and function of regression periods explained by reorganizations of the hierarchy of perc ... Introduction Evolution Development Causation Function Discussion The field of ethology is ready for a paradigm shift toward PCT PCT informs human developmental studies beyond the sensorimotor stage PCT and understanding the evolution of human cognition Summary of the discussion References Section C: Collective control and communication 9 - Social structure and control: perceptual control theory and the science of sociology Overview of my argument A control-theory analysis tool kit Atenfels: physical components of feedback loops Matching atenfels to perceptions Atenfels and the facilitation of feedback paths The mirror world Collective control processes Cooperation and conflict Giant virtual controllers: the social power of numbers Human activities as feedback paths Comparing human activities to physical artifacts Collective control and levels of perception Protocols: structural frameworks for dyadic interactions Atenfels and human interaction Symbols and meaning from the PCT perspective Associative memory and the organization of the brain Meaning, symbols, language, and culture Collective control networks and social groups Scale and stability of collective control networks Multiple overlapping collective control networks The anatomy of social structures The four main types of collective control networks in social structures Embedding and interleaving of social structures A conceptual map of a social Structure's collective control networks Three mechanisms of social stability Collective control and social structural levels Stabilization of physical environments Cultural environments and social structural levels High and low culture and layers of perception The two faces of social structure The dynamics of social structures Work and social structures Creating and maintaining stable feedback paths Work and resources Socialization of new members of social structures Redundancy of feedback paths and reorganization of perceptual hierarchies Learning by imitation and play Differences among types of new members of social structures Innovation and change in social structures Mismatches between self and living environment Competition, innovation, and social structures Consequential and inconsequential innovations Other sources of social change Discussion Acknowledgments References 10 - Perceptual control in cooperative interaction Introduction History: Layered Protocol Theory (LPT) Control and perceptual control Elements of control The Powers hierarchy of control Perception of uncertainty Protocols Classes of protocol Feedback loops and control loops Generalized feedback loops Atenfels Four-element loops Protocol representation A protocol example The General Protocol Grammar: introduction Extending the GPG: error correction Representing problems Protocols proper Protocol function: control of belief Protocol function: three propositions Protocol function: R-Display and interrupt Protocol function: moving through the GPG The test for the controlled variable in a protocol Triadic protocols Protocol levels Protocol as communication Summary References 11 - Language and thought as control of perception1 Introduction Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) Imagination Memory Levels of the perceptual hierarchy Collective control Methodological summary Language perceptions Phonemic distinctions Disturbing the control of pronunciation Words and morphemes Word dependencies Word selection Word order Variant shapes of words Repetition and the construction of objective information Knowledge in a subject-matter domain Operator Grammar Operator-argument dependencies Selection and likelihood differences Linear order Reductions Control of linguistic information Common knowledge and discourse coherence Information is constructed by parallel repetition Sublanguage Nonverbal perceptions and subjective meanings Language variation and change Linguistic information and information theoretic ‘information’ Consequences Some consequences of empirical linguistics for PCT Uses of information theory with PCT Status of categories Some consequences of PCT for empirical linguistics Status of acceptability judgments Status of metalinguistic sameness Latency period ‘Mainstream’ views Cognitive Psychology and Generative Linguistics Connectionism versus computationalism Computer languages and robots Some epistemological considerations Conclusion References Section D: Applications 12 - Perceptions of control theory in industrial-organizational psychology: disturbances and counter-disturbances Organizational psychology and perceptual control theory Established views and their discontents Current state of PCT in IO A history of PCT in organizational psychology The emergence of PCT Conceptual papers Empirical work A backlash The 1990's Conceptual work Empirical work The 2000s to the present Conceptual work Empirical work The self-efficacy studies Another backlash Enter computational modeling Thinking and learning with PCT Discussion The permeation challenge Self-regulation in IO Conclusion References 13 - Method of Levels Therapy Method of levels and perceptual control theory Perceptual control theory (PCT) A brief history of MOL therapy Doing the MOL therapy two-step Learning MOL Why learn PCT and MOL therapy? What is the evidence for MOL therapy effectiveness? Future directions for MOL therapy research Scientific validity Conflict with assumptions Accessibility Conclusions Therapy manuals on method of levels Key links References 14 - Robotics in the real world: the perceptual control theory approach Introduction Perception-based robotics Models and Control Purpose Perceptual control Hierarchical control The power of hierarchies What is behavior? Modeling behavior Comparing approaches Model-based predictive control Memory-based prediction Behaviour-based robotics Modeling dynamics Discussion References 15 - PCT and beyond: toward a computational framework for ‘intelligent’ communicative systems Introduction Good old-fashioned artificial intelligence Behavior-based robotics Artificial cognitive systems Agent based modeling Contemporary intelligent systems Whither perceptual control theory? Classic automatic control Hierarchical perceptual control The way forward? Toward ‘intelligent’ communicative systems Discussion Summary and conclusion Acknowledgments References Section E: Synthesis 16 - Ten vital elements of perceptual control theory, tracing the pathway from implicit influence to scientific advance What was unique about PCT in 1960? The dissemination and divergence of PCT Psychotherapy Reality therapy Grawe's Psychological Therapies Method of Levels (MOL) Social, personality and occupational psychology Carver & Scheier's self-regulation theory Lord and Levy's (1994) Control theory Vancouver's self-regulatory theory Sociology Affect control theory Identity control theory Perceptual control theory Summary Is there a convergence of other theories with PCT, or is it unique? The ecological approach Event coding The empirical strategy of vision Controlled versus automatic behavior Free energy principle Society of Mind Interactive cognitive subsystems Conway's model of autobiographical memory Summary Empirical tests of the unique features of PCT Behavior is the control of perception The test for the controlled variable A perceptual control hierarchy Reorganization of the perceptual control hierarchy Rerouted perceptual memory as imagination Demonstration of several specific levels of perceptual abstraction A definition of consciousness The use of symbols as ‘order-reduction representations’ Conflict Resolution of conflict Summary Addressing the critiques of PCT Summary Limitations, open issues and future direction for PCT The components of control: how are they formed? Intrinsic systems and evolution Neural components Muscular mechanisms Physical properties of anatomy, including sensors and effectors Understanding feedback paths through the environment Developing input functions The operation of specific levels in the hierarchy What is the role for ‘internal modeling’? Potential extensions of the PCT architecture Future research design Chapter summary Acknowledgments References Online materials 17 - How the brain gets a roaring campfire: Structuring for perceptual results Introduction Features of perceptual control How to structure a goal Organizational rationale Modeling with falsifiability in mind Predictive proposals of PCT Hierarchical classes of perception How to maintain commensurate matching Getting a workable address Cortical implementation PCT reference signals and HTM “name” cells Neocortical layers in action Modeling the temporal flow of experience How to build contextualized beliefs First chunk: detect co-occurrences Second chunk: notice lateral sequences Third chunk: compile into a “name” Fourth chunk: pool the evidence Fifth chunk: provide a timing gate Sixth chunk: output the interpretation Compatible cortical mind-sets Constructing invariants: a summary Addressing reference signals Status of the brain's campfire Remaining challenges Acknowledgments References 18 - How the brain gets a roaring campfire: Input and output functions Introduction Prolegomenon: The what and the how A hierarchy of perceptions Open-loop methods to study closed-loop features Constructing visual input functions: This way in Signal-to-noise sensitivity Early forms of contrast On and off signals Figure-ground contrasts Motion and transition Modeling with spatial frequencies Handling stark edges Objects recognized by harmonic composition Sensorimotor coordination: This way out Perceiving objects and their relational flux Blended frames of reference Summary and implications Inhibit what you don't want, disinhibit what you do Get the timing right So how does the brain get that campfire? Acknowledgments References 19 - How the brain gets a roaring campfire: Thalamus through a PCT microscope Introduction First, know your equipment Multifunctional comparators A bank of thalamic comparators Electrochemical on-off switches Tonic versus burst oscillation: signaling error, heightening gain Bi-directional comparators Thalamic routing Summary: thalamic control loop signals Make it a roaring campfire A final survey through that PCT microscope Acknowledgments References Appendix 1 - Key websites for further reading on perceptual control theory Appendix 2 - Leading figures in perceptual control theory A note from the editor Bruce Abbott Tom Bourbon Tim Carey Gary Cziko Philip Farrell Ed Ford Dag Forssell Perry and Fred Good Wayne Hershberger Fred Nickols Richard Pfau Mary Powers Richard Robertson Shelley Roy Phil Runkel Sara Tai Further reading Index A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T U V W Z Back Cover