Transcript Slide 1
Modeling Episodic Memory PROJECT: Using a web based modeling environment called NetLogo, I attempted to create a working Aged Memory Zone model of the migration of objects and information across different episodic memories using an alternate computing system known as Cellular Automata. Episodic Memory Migration “Zapper” EPISODIC MEMORY: An episodic memory is a memory of a specific event; like a trip to the supermarket or dinner at a restaurant. A migration error occurs when an object, inference, or piece of a single episodic memory moves to another episodic memory. Experiments preformed by the SLU psychology department have provided empirical data showing that migration errors occur more frequently with memories of the same schema, or setting. Fresh Memory Zone CELLULAR AUTOMATA: A cellular automaton is a computing system whose behavior is dependant upon the local relations of the automata within it. They are often used to simplify complex biological systems. The best way to think of a cellular automaton to visualize it as a 2-D gird of cells. In its simplest form a cell is either on/alive or off/dead. Each cell acts based on what’s going on in the cells around it. DATA: My dataset consists of 20 entries; 10 restaurant and 10 supermarket settings. Each one consists of 14 characteristics and a set of objects. There are 3 different types of characteristics. Those only possessed by restaurants, those only possessed by supermarkets, and those possessed by both. All of this data was provided by Dr. Sharon Hannigan of the SLU Psychology department. NetLogo is a programmable modeling environment. It allows you to create simple models with ease, access an extensive library of pre-made models, or to create complex models by programming every aspect using it’s built in language. Each pink icon represents a distinct episodic memory. The older memories are farther from the center and the and most recently recalled memories are close to the center. The yellow lightning bolt is a “zapper”. It acts as a mutation variable. It moves randomly while favoring the outer edges. Any memory it hits has a chance of being mutated. Sample Memory Data RESULTS: Memory Captains Table P&C Environment Type restaurant upscale supermarket NA Atmosphere hectic calm Food Type seafood NA Décor Section attractive NA nondescript meat Bar yes NA Service good NA Container Deli NA NA basket yes Meal Quality Size satisfactory small NA large Gas NA no ATM NA yes My final model was able to recreate migration errors similar to those found by the psychology department’s experiment. Migration errors caused objects and information to move between memories and caused the model accurately fail to recall different memories correctly. I was unable to finish the final step of my project, incorporating the physical proximity of one memory to another affecting how likely the two are to manifest a migration error. This does leave extra avenues of research for future extensions of this modeling project. Researcher: Ben Case Related Researcher: Adam Britt Advisor: Dr. Ed Harcout Cognition Advisor: Dr. Sharon Hannigan