Yes and No: Match/Mismatch Function in Cognitive Robots

Associative match, mismatch and novelty detection is an essential function in human and artificial cognition and is related to perception, reasoning and emotion. In the human brain, match/mismatch-related and novelty-detection-related signals and states can be detected by EEG and more advanced imaging technologies. Match, mismatch and novelty detection should also be present in artificial cognitive architectures that seek to provide a framework for artificial cognition, especially for autonomous robots. Here, the functions of match, mismatch and novelty are discussed, their implementation in one artificial cognitive architecture (HCA) is described and their application in the robot XCR-1 is given as a practical example.