All issues

The main statements and inferences of the Dynamic Theory Information (DTI) are considered. It is shown that DTI provides the possibility two reveal two essentially important types of information: objective (unconventional) and subjective (conventional) informtion. There are two ways of obtaining information: reception (perception of an already existing one) and generation (production of new) information. It is shown that the processes of generation and perception of information should proceed in two different subsystems of the same cognitive system. The main points of the Natural-Constructivist Approach to modeling the cognitive process are discussed. It is shown that any neuromorphic approach faces the problem of Explanatory Gap between the “Brain” and the “Mind”, i. e. the gap between objectively measurable information about the ensemble of neurons (“Brain”) and subjective information about the human consciousness (“Mind”). The Natural-Constructive Cognitive Architecture developed within the framework of this approach is discussed. It is a complex block-hierarchical combination of several neuroprocessors. The main constructive feature of this architecture is splitting the whole system into two linked subsystems, by analogy with the hemispheres of the human brain. One of the subsystems is processing the new information, learning, and creativity, i.e. for the generation of information. Another subsystem is responsible for processing already existing information, i.e. reception of information. It is shown that the lowest (zero) level of the hierarchy is represented by processors that should record images of real objects (distributed memory) as a response to sensory signals, which is objective information (and refers to the “Brain”). The next hierarchy levels are represented by processors containing symbols of the recorded images. It is shown that symbols represent subjective (conventional) information created by the system itself and providing its individuality. The highest hierarchy levels containing the symbols of abstract concepts provide the possibility to interpret the concepts of “consciousness”, “sub-consciousness”, “intuition”, referring to the field of “Mind”, in terms of the ensemble of neurons. Thus, DTI provides an opportunity to build a model that allows us to trace how the “Mind” could emerge basing on the “Brain”.

A new method of statistical analysis of texts is suggested. The frequency distribution of the first significant digits in numerals of English-language texts is considered. We have taken into account cardinal as well as ordinal numerals expressed both in figures, and verbally. To identify the author’s use of numerals, we previously deleted from the text all idiomatic expressions and set phrases accidentally containing numerals, as well as itemizations and page numbers, etc. Benford’s law is found to hold approximately for the frequencies of various first significant digits of compound literary texts by different authors; a marked predominance of the digit 1 is observed. In coherent authorial texts, characteristic deviations from Benford’s law arise which are statistically stable significant author peculiarities that allow, under certain conditions, to consider the problem of authorship and distinguish between texts by different authors. The text should be large enough (at least about 200 kB). At the end of $\{1, 2, \ldots, 9\}$ digits row, the frequency distribution is subject to strong fluctuations and thus unrepresentative for our purpose. The aim of the theoretical explanation of the observed empirical regularity is not intended, which, however, does not preclude the applicability of the proposed methodology for text attribution. The approach suggested and the conclusions are backed by the examples of the computer analysis of works by W.M. Thackeray, M. Twain, R. L. Stevenson, J. Joyce, sisters Bront¨e, and J.Austen. On the basis of technique suggested, we examined the authorship of a text earlier ascribed to L. F. Baum (the result agrees with that obtained by different means). We have shown that the authorship of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” pertains to her, whereas the primary draft, “Go Set a Watchman”, seems to have been written in collaboration with Truman Capote. All results are confirmed on the basis of parametric Pearson’s chi-squared test as well as non-parametric Mann –Whitney U test and Kruskal –Wallis test.