Two sets of connectionist simulations of children's acquisition of distance (d), time (t), and velocity (v) concepts using a generative algorithm, cascade-correlation (Fahlman & Lebiere, 1990), are reported. Pure condition simulations represent a situation in which memory demands across the concepts are equal. The limited memory condition explores the effects of differing memory demands. / It was found that the rules that correlated most highly with network responses during training were consistent with the developmental course of children's concepts (Wilkening, 1981; 1982). Networks integrated the defining dimensions of the concepts first by identity rules (e.g., v = d), then additive rules (e.g., v = d-t), and finally multiplicative rules (e.g., v = d $ div$ t). / The results are discussed in terms of similarity to children's development, the effects of memory demands, the contribution of connectionism to cognitive development, and directions for future research. It is argued that cascade-correlation provides an explicit mechanism of developmental change--weight adjustment and hidden unit recruitment.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.68076 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Buckingham, David, 1962- |
| Contributors | Shultz, Thomas R. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Arts (Department of Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001421248, proquestno: AAIMM94323, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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