Evolutionary Robotics Simulation Models in the Study of Human Behaviour and Cognition

proofs of concept and counter-intuitive insights resulting from ER as a tool for thinking in theory-building. All four models have generated valuable contributions to the problem area they address. Furthermore, the models presented in chapters 4, 6 and this chapter have also been value-ed by the experimental researchers working in the field. These findings alone show already that ER modelling is a fruitful method for the investigation of human level behaviour and cognition. Furthermore, concerning my personal research interests, while the model of motor synergies addressed a question that was more ‘low level’ than the questions that most interest me, and the model of value systems was more abstract and remote from scientific practice than I would like to work, the models on perceptual crossing in one and two dimensions directly address intriguing questions of high level human cognition and perceptual experience. These results give reason to be optimistic about the possibilities of joint PS experimental work and ER simulation modelling work as mutual sources of inspiration. The following chapters (8-12) present the results from the interdisciplinary study of adaptation to sensory delays and perceived simultaneity, which I refer to as the second part of my dissertation. It puts to work the framework I propose in section 3.6 to combine experimental, synthetic and experiential methods. Chapter 13 assesses the methodological significance of all the models presented in the scope of this dissertation as concerns their contribution to the study of human behaviour and cognition.