Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- Behavioral and Brain Sciences / Volume 33 / Issue 04 / August 2010, pp 286-287
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X10001160 (About DOI), Published online: 22 October 2010
Open Peer Commentary
The Leabra architecture: Specialization without modularity
Alexander A. Petrova1, David J. Jilka2 and Randall C. O'Reillya3
a1 Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210. apetrov@alexpetrov.com http://alexpetrov.com
a2 eCortex, Inc., Boulder, CO 80301. david.jilk@e-cortex.com http://www.e-cortex.com
a3 Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. Randy.OReilly@colorado.edu http://psych.colorado.edu/~oreilly
Abstract
The posterior cortex, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex in the Leabra architecture are specialized in terms of various neural parameters, and thus are predilections for learning and processing, but domain-general in terms of cognitive functions such as face recognition. Also, these areas are not encapsulated and violate Fodorian criteria for modularity. Anderson's terminology obscures these important points, but we applaud his overall message.
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