Combinatorial Structures and Processing in Neural Blackboard Architectures

Frank van der Velde, Marc de Kamps

Abstract: We discuss and illustrate Neural Blackboard Architectures (NBAs) as the basis for variable binding and combinatorial processing the brain. We focus on the NBA for sentence structure. NBAs are based on the notion that conceptual representations are in situ, hence cannot be copied or transported. Novel combinatorial structures can be formed with these representations by embedding them in NBAs. We discuss and illustrate the main characteristics of this form of combinatorial processing. We also illustrate the NBA for sentence structures by simulating neural activity as found in recently reported intracranial brain observations. Furthermore, we will show how the NBA can account for ambiguity resolution and garden path effects in sentence processing.