Lifelong Learning with the Feedback-loop between Emotions and Actions via Internal Reward

Abstract We propose a cognitive model where an autonomous agent incorporates a cybernetic feedback-loop between emotional states and activity-selection mechanism via internal reward. In our model, emotions play a crucial role in providing motivation for agents to change activities and thereby promote continuous learning. We show that lifelong learning emerges as the emotions of the agent, decide the activity-selection via internal reward. We qualitatively analyze the emotional dynamics, exhibited by the proposed cognitive system in a minimalistic environment.