Modeling Episodic Memory in Cognitive Architectures
A Comparative Study of Soar and Xapagy
H. Xie (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
C. Hao – Mentor (TU Delft - Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics)
Bernd Dudzik – Mentor (TU Delft - Pattern Recognition and Bioinformatics)
Catharine Oertel – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Interactive Intelligence)
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Abstract
Episodic memory (EM) -- the capacity to recall past experiences situated in time and context -- is a critical component of intelligent behavior. Although several cognitive architectures (CAs) have incorporated mechanisms inspired by episodic memory, implementations vary widely in structure, mechanisms, and integration with other cognitive functions. While prior work has reviewed episodic memory across a range of architectures in a high-level manner, detailed, structured comparisons among specific systems remain lacking. This study presents a focused comparative analysis of modeling episodic memory in two contrasting cognitive architectures: Soar, a symbolic, rule-based, general-purpose system, and Xapagy, a system designed specifically for narrative reasoning, relying on direct, unprocessed recordings of autobiographical events. By analyzing the representations, structures, and mechanisms of episodic memory in these two systems, this study highlights important design trade-offs and distinct assumptions about the role of episodic memory in cognition and its modeling approaches in CAs.