The Process of Thinking

Chapter 6. The Process of Thinking

Three loops of imagination · Three subjects · Compilation and deconvolution · Connection with the bidirectionality of GTR

6. 1. Statement of the problem

The previous chapters described the static architecture: maps, operational networks, predictors, trajectory logs, and the isomorphism of the three transformations (convolution, splice, chain). But the process of thinking itself remained undescribed: how exactly does the system build plans, test them, and correct them?

Thinking in the Gativus architecture is not a single process. There exist three qualitatively distinct processes, isomorphic in structure but distinct in content and subject. Each is an iterative loop: building a plan, compiling it down onto the underlying level, the reverse convolution of the result, evaluation, correction.

Thinking is imagination: an iterative cycle in which the system deconvolves a plan onto the underlying level, sees the imagined consequences through reverse deconvolution, and corrects.

6. 2. The general principle: the loop of imagination

At each of the three levels thinking is one and the same structure. Before treating it step by step, it is necessary to separate the roles of the devices, as done in Chapters 4 and 5: the semantic predictor PRD computes the variant of continuation (the plan), choosing the next unit under the goal, while the syntactic predictor SPL closes each separate unit by the rules of the level; the operational network OP executes the chosen, evaluates the result, and holds the cycle. Therefore the subject of the loop — its «I» — is precisely the operational network OP: it initiates, evaluates, and corrects. The predictor in this supplies it with variants, motivation MTV sets the vector distance, the trajectory log TRL stores the experience.

1. •

   The operational network OP initiates the building of the plan; the semantic predictor PRD computes the variant of the chain (BLOM, KLOM, or WLOM) at its level, choosing the units one after another.

2. •

   The plan is compiled down through reverse deconvolution. At the underlying level new objects appear that were not there before compilation — imagined objects.

3. •

   The new objects undergo direct convolution and splice, returning to the initial level in the form of an updated map.

4. •

   OP evaluates the adequacy of the result. If the result is unsatisfactory — it corrects the plan (through PRD) and repeats the cycle.

5. •

   Each loop has its own subject — the operational network OP, acting as the «I» of the given level.

6. 3. Loop 1: spatial thinking (OP13)

Subject: OP13 — the acting «I». The loop: MP13 → motor activity → MP10 → MP11 → MP13.

a) The role of SLGW in building the spatial map

Before describing the loop, let us fix how the spatial map is filled. At the boundary between the cellular level (GTR0) and the informational (GTR1) stands the gateway organ SLGW, belonging to both transformations at once. Its map is designated MP00 from the side of GTR0 and MP10 from the side of GTR1 — it is one map, read from two sides, not two different ones. It is filled by a special operational network within SLGW — a built-in mechanism for building a map of the locality out of a stream of observations, what in technology is called SLAM. Hence the name of the organ: the SLAM gateway.

The input of this mechanism is the sensory stream (vision, touch, the vestibular apparatus) concorded with the organism's own movements; the output is the filled map MP10 as a three-dimensional voxel grid of passability (where it is solid, where hollow, where the organism itself). A newborn has only a frame of unfilled cells; as it moves, the network SLGW fills the map. This is not thinking, but the basic building of the map, common to all animals with a nervous system and locomotion. It is precisely here, on MP10, that memory first arises — in the primary form of a held map of the habitat.

The filled map MP10 becomes the input for the higher operations: the convolution into objects MP11 (a convolutional neural network, CNN) and the splice into behavior. SLGW does not enter any of the loops of thinking as a subject, but serves as their common prerequisite: without an up-to-date MP10 no loop would have information about the world.

b) The OP13 loop as thinking

The operational network OP13 holds the cycle of building behavior; the semantic predictor PRD1 computes BLOM — a sequence of OPRN with coordinates in the cells of MP10 and bindings to objects MP11. But the sensory-reflexive subsystem (SERN) does not operate with the notions of maps: for it there are neither objects nor routes, only continuous motor signals. Therefore the interface between MP13 and SERN requires an additional deconvolution: the discrete b-vector is deconvolved into a continuous sequence of motor commands. The cerebellum and other motor regions are candidates for the role of this translator.

The cycle of spatial thinking itself:

1. •

   PRD1 computes BLOM — a route with coordinates MP10 and objects MP11 (status: planned); OP13 chooses a variant.

2. •

   BLOM is compiled down: the b-vectors are deconvolved into motor commands of SERN.

3. •

   SERN executes; the sensors register the result; the SLGW mechanism updates MP10 — the statuses of the cells are refined, new pages of space appear.

4. •

   The updated MP10 is processed by the convolution MP11 (CNN): objects are recognized more exactly or new ones appear.

5. •

   OP13 sees the result through the updated MP10 and MP11. If it does not correspond to the goal — it corrects BLOM (through PRD1) and repeats.

This loop works in all animals with a developed behavioral level. An octopus opening a jar iteratively corrects BLOM by feedback from MP10/MP11. Spatial thinking is not accompanied by inner speech and is not recognized as «thinking»: we do not think about how to bring a cup to the mouth — OP13 does this autonomously, relying on the continuously updated map. But this is full-fledged thinking with iterative correction — only at a level inaccessible to symbolic consciousness.

6. 4. Loop 2: symbolic thinking (OP23)

Subject: OP23 — the thinking «I». The loop: MP23 → MP21 → MP13 → MP11 → MP21 → MP23.

This is the principal process of thinking, which a person is aware of and feels as inner speech. The operational network OP23 holds the cycle; the semantic predictor PRD2 computes KLOM — a narrative plan out of a chain of utterances KLEN. Then comes the iterative cycle:

1. •

   PRD2 builds KLOM — a narrative plan out of symbols MP21; OP23 chooses a variant.

2. •

   KLOM is compiled down: the reverse deconvolution of symbols (MP21 → MP11) translates the plan onto the behavioral level, then onto the spatial. On MP13 a plan appears with the status «planned» with objects that were not there before compilation — imagined objects.

3. •

   The new objects MP11/MP13 undergo direct convolution and splice — they become «visible» at the symbolic level MP21/MP23.

4. •

   OP23 sees the updated narrative map and evaluates the adequacy of the result.

5. •

   If the result is unsatisfactory — it corrects KLOM (through PRD2) and repeats the cycle.

The cycle can repeat many times, until OP23 obtains the desired result. Inner speech is the voicing of the work of this loop: we «hear» our thoughts because the symbols MP21 have a phonetic binding from the shared symbols — the collective language.

The key moment: in compilation down, objects appear on the map MP13 that physically do not exist. This is precisely imagination: the system sees what is not there, evaluates the consequences, and corrects. The planning of the future is iterative imagination. It is precisely this loop that makes GTR2 bidirectional — in contrast to the one-sided convolution of GTR1. Imagination is the downward deconvolution of the symbolic through the objective and the spatial. Symbolic thinking is specifically human: it presupposes the ability to operate with absent objects, to hold a plan beyond the horizon of visibility, to generate inner speech.

6. 5. Loop 3: conceptual thinking (OP33)

Subject: OP33 — the willing «I». The loop: MP33 → MP23 → MP33.

An isomorphic process at the conceptual level. The operational network OP33 holds the cycle; the semantic predictor PRD3 computes WLOM — a plan for sublating a contradiction out of a chain of volitional acts WILL. The cycle:

1. •

   PRD3 builds WLOM — a plan for sublating the w-vector; OP33 chooses a variant.

2. •

   WLOM is compiled onto the underlying level MP23: the w-vector is deconvolved into a narrative; new KLOM appear on MP23 — the narrative expression of the volitional act.

3. •

   The new narratives MP23 undergo direct convolution into concepts and return to MP33.

4. •

   OP33 evaluates: is the w-vector sublated (the modulus below the threshold)?

5. •

   If not — it corrects WLOM (through PRD3) and repeats.

If necessary, the narratives generated at the conceptual level are compiled lower — but now under the control of OP23: the symbolic «I» becomes the executor of the will of the conceptual. This loop makes GTR3 bidirectional. The ascending direction is observational (the convolution of narratives into concepts and the detection of contradictions). The descending is will proper as an act: the resolution of a contradiction is deconvolved through all the lower levels down to physical action in the world.

Conceptual thinking is not felt as inner speech. It is felt as «I know what I must do» — before a verbal justification appears. OP33 has already decided; OP23 only voices the decision in symbolic form.

6. 6. The three subjects

Each loop has its own subject. The three «I»s compete for control of one motor system.

The conflict between the three subjects is literally a conflict of three sources of control for one motor system. The relation between them is hierarchical, and it maps well onto Leontiev's distinction of levels of activity:

1. •

   OP33 sets the direction through WLOM — in Leontiev's terms this is the level of activity (deyatelnost).

2. •

   OP23 develops the plan through KLOM — the level of action (deystvie).

3. •

   OP13 executes through BLOM — the level of operation (operatsiya).

4. •

   SERN realizes the physical processes — the level of physiology.

With a weak w-vector the symbolic «I» works idle — without a directing impulse from above. With a weak symbolic «I» the conceptual one cannot embody its will: the will has no one to dictate the plan to.

6. 7. Summary table of the loops

6. 8. Connection with the bidirectionality of GTR

The three loops of thinking are the architectural expression of the bidirectionality of the transformations, described in the book GNSS.

Loop 1 (OP13) is the inner loop of GTR1. Convolution works fully (world → MP10 → MP11 → behavior) through the senses and the SLGW mechanism. Deconvolution acts only internally (behavior → MP11 → MP10) — this is precisely spatial thinking. But an organism of the GTR1 level cannot deconvolve the content outward, into the environment, as an information structure.

Loop 2 (OP23) is the bidirectionality of GTR2. Imagination deconvolves the symbolic content through the objective into the spatial. This is the first full deconvolution from a higher level downward.

Loop 3 (OP33) is the bidirectionality of GTR3. Will as an act launches the deconvolution of the conceptual content through all the lower levels down to a change of the external world. Only the human is capable of a full deconvolution from concept to material reality — this is precisely the full closure of the circle (H4).

6. 9. Conclusions

1. •

   Thinking is imagination: an iterative loop of building a plan, compiling down, reverse convolution up, evaluation, and correction.

2. •

   There exist three isomorphic loops: spatial (OP13), symbolic — imagination (OP23), and conceptual — volition (OP33).

3. •

   The roles of the devices are separated: the «I» of the loop is the operational network OP (holds the cycle, evaluates, corrects); the semantic predictor PRD computes the variant of the plan; MTV sets the vector; TRL stores the experience.

4. •

   The spatial map MP10 is filled by the SLAM mechanism within the gateway SLGW (the map MP00/MP10 is one, read from two sides). SLGW is not a loop of thinking, but their common prerequisite. The neural correlate is the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex.

5. •

   The interface MP13 → SERN requires an additional deconvolution: the discrete b-vectors are deconvolved into continuous motor signals.

6. •

   Each loop has its own «I»: OP13 the acting, OP23 the thinking, OP33 the willing. The three «I»s compete for one motor system; the relation is hierarchical (activity → action → operation, after Leontiev).

7. •

   The three loops are the architectural expression of the bidirectionality of GTR: the inner deconvolution of GTR1, the imagination of GTR2, will as an act of GTR3. The full deconvolution from concept to the material environment is available only to the human.