Memory as a Computational Resource

Ishita Dasgupta; Samuel J Gershman

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2020.12.008

Memory as a Computational Resource

Trends Cogn Sci. 2021 Mar;25(3):240-251. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.12.008. Epub 2021 Jan 13.

Authors

Ishita Dasgupta¹, Samuel J Gershman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NY, USA. Electronic address: idg@google.com.
² Department of Psychology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.

PMID: 33454217
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.12.008

Abstract

Computer scientists have long recognized that naive implementations of algorithms often result in a paralyzing degree of redundant computation. More sophisticated implementations harness the power of memory by storing computational results and reusing them later. We review the application of these ideas to cognitive science, in four case studies (mental arithmetic, mental imagery, planning, and probabilistic inference). Despite their superficial differences, these cognitive processes share a common reliance on memory that enables efficient computation.

Keywords: amortization; inference; memory; mental arithmetic; mental imagery; planning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Algorithms*
Humans
Memory*