Cognitive Code : An Embedded Approach to Cognitive Modeling

For several decades, production systems have been the dominant framework in which (primarily) symbolic cognitive models have been developed. This paper proposes a different approach, cognitive code, in which behavioral models are developed directly in a modern programming language. However, unlike standard code, cognitive code has simulated timing and error characteristics intended to mimic those of human cognitive, perceptual, and motor processes. Some of the benefits of this new approach are illustrated in sample models of a paired-associates task, reading task, and dual-choice task.