Counting on ACT-R to Represent Time

Abstract

Temporal issues consistently factor into decisions, yet surprisingly few research studies have explored how to model temporal cognition. We developed an Adaptive Control of Thought — Rational (ACT-R, e.g., Anderson & Lebiere, 1998) model to help account for how people estimate time, one of many issues in temporal cognition. According to the model, people adjust the lengths of words through abbreviation or extension and produce the words at a rate in tune with the rate of environmental events. This procedure allows an individual to synchronize with regular intervals of time in the environment and produce just-in-time responses to events. This type of approach incorporates a behavioral aspect to time estimation and an ACT-R model of temporal cognition that requires no changes to the architecture of ACT-R.

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