Verguts, T.
Ghent University
A first step toward formulating cognitive control in terms of associative learning was taken by Botvinick et al. (2001), who used the Cohen et al. (1990) Stroop model to account for extant cognitive control phenomena such as the Gratton effect. Here, task demand representations bias bottom up task processing, thus overcoming irrelevant sources of information (i.e., cognitive control). However, an explanation of a key aspect of cognitive control is lacking: How are task demand representations implemented on the fly such as to bias task processing? I take the associative learning approach a step further and show how task representations and its biasing of task processors can be conceptualized as fast implementation of instructions, produced by Hebbian learning (Verguts & Notebaert, 2009). This view is instantiated in a computational model. Empirical data consistent with the model are discussed.