Minimalist Social-Affective Value for Use in Joint Action: A Neural-Computational Hypothesis

Abstract

Joint Action is typically described as social interaction that requires coordination among two or more co-actors in order to achieve a common goal. In this article, we put forward a hypothesis for the existence of a neural-computational mechanism of affective valuation that may be critically exploited in Joint Action. Such a mechanism would serve to facilitate coordination between co-actors permitting a reduction of required information. Our hypothesized affective mechanism provides a value function based implementation of Associative Two-Process (ATP) theory that entails the classification of external stimuli according to outcome expectancies. This approach has been used to describe animal and human action that concerns differential outcome expectancies. Until now it has not been applied to social interaction. We describe our Affective ATP model as applied to social learning consistent with an "extended common currency" perspective in the social neuroscience literature. We contrast this to an alternative mechanism that provides an example implementation of the so-called social-specific value perspective. In brief, our Social-Affective ATP mechanism builds upon established formalisms for reinforcement learning (temporal difference learning models) nuanced to accommodate expectations (consistent with ATP theory) and extended to integrate non-social and social cues for use in Joint Action.

Re-enacting the Bodily Self on Stage: Embodied Cognition Meets Psychoanalysis

“…As far as motor resonance is concerned, a subject of discussion is whether, in some contexts, mirroring the observed action can be disadvantageous, as when we have to perform a joint action. Both physical and social cues affording non-identical complementary actions have been identified (Sartori et al., 2012; Scorolli et al., 2014, 2018; Sacheli et al., 2015; Vesper et al., 2017), but little is yet known about actions and contexts affectively connoted (Bastiaansen et al., 2009; Kuhbandner et al., 2010; Costantini and Ferri, 2013; Lowe et al., 2016; on group membership, see Iani et al., 2011; on motivations for joint actions, see Godman, 2013). Through a specific re-framing or re-adaptation of psychodramatic method, these challenging issues seem feasible to be tackled.…”

A social differential outcomes learning task: Performance, EEG, and questionnaire data

“…(For the theory underlying the design, see Lowe et al. [3] and for interpretation of the data, see Rittmo et al. [4] .)…”

Bridging Connectionism and Relational Cognition through Bi-directional Affective-Associative Processing

“…appear as though they are semantically constituted. In humans, associative learning based models have been used to explain data from hitherto explored animal learning based paradigms (Delameter et al 2012(Delameter et al , 2017Lowe et al 2016. However, humans may variably use associative, but alternatively, other cognitive strategies in order to complete such tasks.…”

“…The Affective Associative Two-Process model that we developed Lowe et al 2016; merges Associative Mediational Theory (Overmier & Laury 1979;Kruse & Overmier 1982) and Associative Two-Process theory (Trapold 1970;Trapold & Overmier 1982). It does so by modelling the differential expectancies of ATP ("E") in terms of differential reinforcement outcomes.…”