The human Turing machine: a neural framework for mental programs
Open accessAbstract
In recent years much has been learned about how a single computational processing step is implemented in the brain. By contrast, we still have surprisingly little knowledge of the neuronal mechanisms by which multiple such operations are sequentially assembled into mental algorithms. We outline a theory of how individual neural processing steps might be combined into serial programs. We propose a hybrid neuronal device: each step involves massively parallel computation that feeds a slow and serial production system. Production selection is mediated by a system of competing accumulator neurons that extends the role of these neurons beyond the selection of a motor action. Productions change the state of sensory and mnemonic neurons and iteration of such cycles provides a basis for mental programs.
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Attentional signals select information by amplifying its activity and reducing that of competing stimuli, whereas persistent neuronal activity keeps information online in working memory.
“Attentional signals select a particular piece of information by amplifying its activity and reducing that of other competing stimuli, whereas persistent neuronal activity keeps information online in working memory (Roelfsema, 2005; Roelfsema et al., 2000; Zylberberg et al., 2011).”
From Conscious Processing and the Global Neuronal Workspace Hypothesis (2020) · cites this paper as Zylberberg et al., 2011
The ‘Single decision making by evidence accumulation’ section says sustained neuronal firing stores temporary, task-relevant information, and the ‘Opinion’ section describes attentional modulation as enhanced activity for selected visual information. The copy does not say that attention reduces the activity of competing stimuli; its discussion of mutual inhibition concerns competing productions instead. Page numbers were not provided for these passages. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAttended memory items can activate subsequent memory states to retrieve an association or as part of a cognitive routine, such as when a mental image is transformed during mental rotation.
“Attended memory items csan activate subsequent memory states in order to retrieve an association or as part of a cognitive routine when, for example, a mental image is transformed during mental rotation (genuinely meriting the name “working” memory) (Zylberberg et al., 2011).”
From Conscious Processing and the Global Neuronal Workspace Hypothesis (2020) · cites this paper as Zylberberg et al., 2011
The ‘Single decision making by evidence accumulation’ section says stored information is used by subsequent operations, and the Opinion section describes a remembered color guiding the next step of a visual routine. These passages support sequential use of working-memory contents, but our copy does not describe retrieving an association or transforming a mental image during mental rotation. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Cites
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Conscious Processing and the Global Neuronal Workspace Hypothesis
Mashour, G. A., Roelfsema, P., Changeux, J.-P., & Dehaene, S. (2020) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.026 · Cited by 1,164 · see citing works
“Attentional signals select a particular piece of information by amplifying its activity and reducing that of other competing stimuli, whereas persistent neuronal activity keeps information online in working memory (Roelfsema, 2005; Roelfsema et al., 2000; Zylberberg et al., 2011).”
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- Authors
- Zylberberg, A., Dehaene, S., Roelfsema, P. R., & Sigman, M.
- Affiliations
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Sigman, Mariano
- Venue
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 293-300
- ISSN
- 1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2135544531
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 0.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- KNAW Research Portal (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) (submittedVersion)
- CONICET Digital (CONICET) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Cognitive Computing and Networks
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- serial processing, production systems, hybrid neural architecture, massively parallel computing, sensory neurons
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Brain Mapping, Computer Simulation, Humans, Mental Processes, Models, Neurological, Neurons
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