Abstract

1.
We argue that cortical areas, particularly frontal areas, are involved in the selection and control of routine action which originates in the basal ganglia.

2.
Cortical areas initiate routine action, and monitor and terminate it.

3.
Normally, there will be an interleaving of creative cortical action and routine action.

4.
We model routine action via the basal ganglia, which learn association connections among source areas and target areas.

5.
We outline examples of routinization and interleaving for the Tower of Hanoi problem, for routinization of motor control, of problem solving action, and of eye movement.

6.
We argue that the connections among the basal ganglia, thalamus and cortex provide a basis for real time control and monitoring of a stream of routine actions generated by the basal ganglia.


For basic papers on our approach, see
Alan H. Bond. An Information-processing Analysis of the Functional Architecture of the Primate Neocortex, Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol 227, pp. 51-79, 2004.
Alan H. Bond. A Computational Model for the Primate Brain based on its Functional Architecture, Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol 227, pp. 81-102, 2004.