Dr. Tom Griffiths\, Professor of Psychology and Cognitiv e Science at Princeton University
Modeling cognitive pr ocesses as the rational use of limited resources
https: //youtu.be/Qy5g_FsKAM8
Rational models of cognition provide a way to understand behavior in terms of the ideal solutions to com putational problems. However\, as psychologists\, we are not just intereste d in behavior. We also want to understand the cognitive processes that give rise to that behavior. Classic theories of rationality have nothing to say about this: rationality is defined by the actions an agent takes. However\ , by considering an agent who has access to limited computational resources \, we can ask how that agent should rationally make the best use of those r esources to determine the appropriate action. The resulting framework\, whi ch we call “resource rationality\,” provides a way to reconcile heuristics and rationality\, and a tool for deriving new models of cognitive processes . I will illustrate this approach using examples from the study of decision -making and planning.
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Tom Griffiths[/caption]
Dr. Griffiths is int erested in developing mathematical models of higher level cognition\, and u nderstanding the formal principles that underlie our ability to solve the c omputational problems we face in everyday life. His current focus is on ind uctive problems\, such as probabilistic reasoning\, le arning causal relationships\, acquiring and usin g language\, and inferring the structure of categor ies. Dr. Griffiths tries to analyze these aspects of human cognition by comparing human behavior to optimal or "rational" solutions to the underly ing computational problems. For inductive problems\, this usually means exp loring how ideas from artificial intelligence\, machine learning\, and stat istics (particularly Bayesian statistics) connect to human cognition. These interests sometimes lead him into other areas of research such as nonparametric Bayesian statistics and formal models of cultural evolution.
Annually the Department of Psychology hosts a Colloquia Series throughout the academic year. This ex citing program brings us together outside of the classroom to have conversa tions with the speakers we’ve invited to our campus to share their ideas. Y ou’ll have the chance to hear from international speakers on a wide range o f provocative topics.
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