Sequence Generation in Dynamic Field Theory

A neural dynamics that controls behavior of an embodied agent has to be coupled through sensory-motor systems to a real-world environment. Thus, temporal continuity and gradedness of the dynamics of the perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes is to be considered. In the face of the inherent variability of these processes, stability is a necessary property of the behaviorally relevant neural states. But stability is in conflict with sequentiality, because transitions from one action to the next one require that a neural state decays and gives way to the next relevant neural state. In my doctoral thesis, I propose a mechanism that solves the problem of the stability vs. sequentiality trade-off in a model based on Dynamic Neural Fields. Robotic implementations of the model demonstrate how sequences of actions may be acquired from sensory input and then produced in an unknown environment. The sequence generation model may also be used to increase autonomy of neural-dynamic cognitive architectures. Overall, this work presents first steps towards elaboration of a neural-dynamic architecture that controls autonomous behavior of an embodied agent.