Simplicity: a unifying principle in cognitive science?

by: Nick Chater, Paul MB Vitányi

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Vol. 7, No. 1. (January 2003), pp. 19-22.

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Abstract

Much of perception, learning and high-level cognition involves finding patterns in data. But there are always infinitely many patterns compatible with any finite amount of data. How does the cognitive system choose `sensible' patterns? A long tradition in epistemology, philosophy of science, and mathematical and computational theories of learning argues that patterns `should' be chosen according to how simply they explain the data. This article reviews research exploring the idea that simplicity drives a wide range of cognitive processes. We outline mathematical theory, computational results and empirical data that underpin this viewpoint.

@article{ChaterVitanyi2003Simplicity, abstract = {Much of perception, learning and high-level cognition involves finding patterns in data. But there are always infinitely many patterns compatible with any finite amount of data. How does the cognitive system choose `sensible' patterns? A long tradition in epistemology, philosophy of science, and mathematical and computational theories of learning argues that patterns `should' be chosen according to how simply they explain the data. This article reviews research exploring the idea that simplicity drives a wide range of cognitive processes. We outline mathematical theory, computational results and empirical data that underpin this viewpoint.}, author = {Chater, Nick and Vit{\'a}nyi, Paul M. B. }, citeulike-article-id = {1677864}, doi = {10.1016/S1364-6613(02)00005-0}, journal = {Trends in Cognitive Sciences}, keywords = {category-learning-use, complexity, \_d\_, decision-making}, month = {January}, number = {1}, pages = {19--22}, posted-at = {2007-09-20 02:46:18}, priority = {5}, title = {Simplicity: a unifying principle in cognitive science?}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1364-6613(02)00005-0}, volume = {7}, year = {2003} }

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TY - JOUR ID - ChaterVitanyi2003Simplicity L3 - citeulike-article-id:1677864 TI - Simplicity: a unifying principle in cognitive science? JF - Trends in Cognitive Sciences VL - 7 IS - 1 SP - 19 EP - 22 N2 - Much of perception, learning and high-level cognition involves finding patterns in data. But there are always infinitely many patterns compatible with any finite amount of data. How does the cognitive system choose `sensible' patterns? A long tradition in epistemology, philosophy of science, and mathematical and computational theories of learning argues that patterns `should' be chosen according to how simply they explain the data. This article reviews research exploring the idea that simplicity drives a wide range of cognitive processes. We outline mathematical theory, computational results and empirical data that underpin this viewpoint. KW - category-learning-use KW - complexity KW - _d_ KW - decision-making AU - Chater, Nick AU - Vit{\'a}nyi, Paul PY - 2003/01// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1364-6613(02)00005-0 ER -

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