Memory for Goals: An Activation-Based Model

Goal-directed cognition is often discussed in terms of specialized memory structures like the "goal stack." The "goal-activation" model presented here analyzes goal-directed cognition in terms of the general memory constructs of activation and associative priming. The model embodies three predictive constraints: (1) the interference level, which arises from residual memory for old goals; (2) the strengthening constraint, which makes predictions about time to encode a new goal; and (3) the priming constraint, which makes predictions about the role of cues in retrieving pending goals. These constraints are formulated algebraically and tested through simulation of latency and error data from the Tower of Hanoi, a means-ends puzzle that depends heavily on suspension and resumption of goals. Implications of the model for understanding intention superiority, post-completion error, and effects of task interruption are discussed.
Pub. in Cognitive Science, v26, p39-83, 2002. Prepared in cooperation with Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Sponsored in part by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Arlington, VA. Portions of this work were presented at the meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (21st) held in Vancouver, Canada, in Aug 1999.