Book review of Arnold Trehub

Arnold Trehub:
THE COGNITIVE BRAIN (MIT Press, 1991)

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The American psychologist Arnold Trehub offers models of cognition that lend themselves to computational simulation. He begins by assuming that long-term memory is implemented through the axon transfer factor (ATF) and the dendrite transfer factor (DTF), whereas short-term memory is implemented through autaptic cells, i.e. neurons capable of positive feedback. Trehub envisions a synaptic matrix as the structure capable of creating and maintaining associative memory thanks to the mechanisms (ATF and DTF) for long-term memory, and a retinoid as the structure capable of dynamic buffering thanks to the mechanism (autaptic cells) for short-term memory. Trehub then proceeds to formulate models for learning, planning, pattern recognition, scene assembly, narrative comprehension, etc.