# Cognitive Science and AI

AI and cognitive science co-evolved, each informing the other. This sub-article expands [Section 2.1 of Philosophy](../philosophy.md).

## Cognitive Architectures
- **ACT-R** and **SOAR** model human cognition computationally.
- These systems emphasize working memory, production rules, and learning.

## Two Traditions
- **Symbolism**: thought is symbol manipulation; inspired by logic and language.
- **Connectionism**: thought is distributed neural activity; inspired by brains.

## Dual-Process Theories
- Fast intuition vs. slow deliberation.
- Modern AI hybrids combine fast learned heuristics with deliberate reasoning loops.

## The Reverse: AI as a Model of Mind
- Neural networks are used to test hypotheses about perception, memory, and language.
- LLMs are studied as possible models of aspects of human cognition.

## Why It Matters
Cognitive science provides AI with theories of mind, and AI offers computational models to test those theories.

## Sources
- Anderson, J. (1983). *The Architecture of Cognition.*
- Newell, A. (1990). *Unified Theories of Cognition.*

*Back to [Philosophy](../philosophy.md).*