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retrieval (Noë
2004
). Perceptual logic is a proposed cognitive mechanism that fi lters
sensory data, identifi es relevant percept-action pairings, and presents these percept-
action pairings as affordances to perception. Perceptual logic performs a similar
role as the “simulator” in Perceptual Symbol Systems (Barsalou
1999
). The simula-
tor activates all the associated neural correlates related to a percept, including the
various ways it can be interacted with based on experiential knowledge and physical
characteristics.
7.3.6.3
Clamping Perception
Research indicates that perception fi lters irrelevant sensory input to reduce distrac-
tions and facilitate everyday cognition (Gaspar and McDonald
2014
). When the
agent is engaged in a routine task and following well-established affordances, sen-
sory data is “clamped” to fi lter out unnecessary details and unconventional ways of
seeing objects (Glenberg
1997
). Everyday cognition is represented in EMC by situ-
ating the awareness rectangle in the center of the spectrum of cognition, creating a
point of equilibrium. Shifting to either the left or right on this spectrum requires the
agent to either concentrate on the details of her mental model or closely inspect
details in the environment. At equilibrium, perception is clamped to a combination
of sensory input and cognitive input that optimizes routine interactions (Glenberg
1997
). When minor problems arise, such as small improvisational adjustments to
the action based on environmental feedback, this equilibrium is slightly perturbed.
The agent could generate various alternative actions by thinking (moving slightly
left on the spectrum) and explore various ideas by interacting with the environment
(moving slightly right on the spectrum).
7.3.6.4
Unclamping Perception
If there is a severe disruption to the current task (e.g., a great new idea, distraction,
or some kind of failure), it might become necessary to disengage from the current
task to reevaluate the situation. When an individual “disengages” from a task, per-
ception becomes “unclamped” and attention shifts to thinking and simulating solu-
tions (moving far left on spectrum) and closely examining the detail of the
environment to discover new affordances (moving far right on the spectrum). The
degree of concentration devoted to thinking about or acting on the environment
determines how far, in either direction, awareness is situated on the spectrum of
cognition. At the extreme left of the continuum (thinking) would be closing one's
eyes to try to think deeply about a topic, which removes most sensory input from
perception altogether. At the extreme right of the continuum (inspecting) would be
an individual fully concentrated on acting skillfully, carefully, and deliberately on
the environment.
