Critical thresholds and dynamical network states in a neural architecture for cognitive tasks

Cognitive tasks are represented in a network, in which:- Nodes correspond to cell-assemblies with a critical threshold, which enables explanation of various psychological phenomena, like priming.- Dynamical network states (excitation loops) can propagate in specific, task-dependent ways ranging from singular chains to avalanches of excitation.- Temporary connections (binding) ensure the theoretically necessary, rapid, serial coupling of separate neural excitation patterns, corresponding at the cognitive level to binding of location, identity, rank-order, and task knowledge.Computer simulations of the network and empirical evidence for hypotheses on the critical threshold and serial binding show the viability of the model in the study of letter- and word recognition, change-blindness, and meta-cognition involving the tip-of-the-tongue state.The representation of several tasks within a single neural architecture produces constraints for the study and simulation of the architecture’s autonomous development. This is a necessary step in the search for biologically plausible mechanisms and conditions of cognitive self-organisation.