ACT* (J.

ANDERSON )
ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF
THOUGHT – RATIONAL
PROFILE – JOHN ANDERSON
 John Robert Anderson
 Born August 27,1947 in Vancouver, British
Columbia
 A Canadian-born American psychologist
 Obtained his B.A in 1968 and Ph.D. in 1972
 Currently a professor of Psychology & Comp.
Science at Carnegie Mellon University
 WHAT IS ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF
THOUGHT – RATIONAL?
( ACT-R )

ACT-R is a cognitive architecture, a theory about how

human cognition works.

• Looks like a programming language.
• Constructs based on assumptions about human
cognitions.
 OVERVIEW OF ACT-R
1. ACT-R is a framework
2. Researchers can create models
that are written in ACT-R
including assumptions about
cognition.
3. It is made up of :
• Modules
• Buffers
• Pattern Matcher
4. ACT-R has been used
successfully to create
models in domains such
as
• Learning and memory
• Problem solving and
decision making
• Language and
communication
 MODULES
PROCEDURAL KNOWLEDGE
 Knowledge about how to do something

 Production Rule

 How to type the letter “Q” on a keyboard

 How to swim

DECLARATIVE KNOWLEDGE
 Facts

 Can describe to others

 Chunks

 Washington, D.C. is the capital of the U.S.

 2+3=5.
 BUFFERS
 The procedural module accesses the other modules through
buffers.
 For each module, a dedicated buffer serves as the interface
with that module.

PATTERN MATCHER
 Search a production that matches the buffers
 Only one production can be executed at a time
 EDUCATIONAL SETTING
(Cognitive Tutor in USA)

 ACT has been the basis for cognitive tutors

 Teachers taught both traditional and Cognitive Tutor classes.
 Students were randomly assigned to curriculum
 Education is most efficient when focused on specific skills individual
students need to practice
 ADVANTAGE & DISADVANTAGE

ADVANTAGE
 It is known as the most comprehensive network model of
memory

DISADVANTAGE
 When the environment changes quickly, adaptive functions
and behavior may be out of date.