The TOTE Unit in Human Cognition
The self-control mechanisms in human tasking are explained in terms of both operations and monitoring processes. Each recurring operation would be associated to a monitoring process, to test if the intended control was met or not.
Its premise is that a common algorithm for solving non-deterministic problems in a complex system, is to test where the system is currently, then perform some operation that makes a change, then retest again, and to repeat this until the answer is satisfactory, at which point the process is complete and ends (or exits).
The generic TOTE structure is:
- Test to obtain some representation of the problem state
- Operate - intervene in some way
- Test again to see if the desired result has been achieved. If it has not, loop back to operate. If it has:
- Exit - problem solved
TOTEs are often nested within other TOTEs, since as a means to meet a goal, they are applicable to sub-goals too.
TOTE units commonly used in many disciplines where iterative methods are applicable, such as engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybernetics. In psychology, it is explicitly used as a key strategy within neuro-linguistic programming.
Central to the concept of the TOTE unit are the following principles:
- Planning, consisting of TOTE units, is essential in cognitive process.
- Control of behavior exposes a set of chunks and TOTE units
However, one weakness of this model is that it is fixed and static. There is no dynamic in it. Your act on the environment is always according to the same plan. This creates an infinite loop indeed.
Read more about this topic: T.O.T.E.
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