The ability to learn concepts lies at the very core of human cognition, enabling us to efficiently classify, organize, identify, and store complex information. In view of the basic role that concepts play in our everyday physical and mental lives, the fields of cognitive science and psychology face three long standing challenges: discovering the laws that govern concept learning and categorization behavior in organisms, showing how they inform other areas of cognitive research, and describing them with the mathematical systematicity and precision found in the physical sciences. In light of these theoretical and methodological shortcomings, this volume will introduce a set of general mathematical principles for predicting and explaining conceptual behavior.

The author's theory is based on seven fundamental constructs of universal science: invariance, complexity, information, similarity, dissimilarity, pattern, and representation. These constructs are joined by a novel mathematical framework that does not depend on probability theory, and derives key results from conceptual behavior research with other key areas of cognitive research such as pattern perception, similarity assessment, and contextual choice. The result is a unique and systematic unifying foundation for cognitive science in the tradition of classical physics.

About the Author
Ronaldo Vigo is Associate Professor of Mathematical & Computational Cognitive Science at Ohio University, USA, where he is also director of the Center for the Advancement of Cognitive Science. He received his doctoral degree on Mathematical & Computational Cognitive Science from Indiana University at Bloomington.


Book Information
ISBN 9781138286641
Author Ronaldo Vigo
Format Paperback
Page Count 246
Imprint Psychology Press Ltd
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 380g