A Dynamic Field Architecture for the Generation of Hierarchically Organized Sequences

A dilemma arises when sequence generation is implemented on embodied autonomous agents. While achieving an individual action goal, the agent must be in a stable state to link to fluctuating and time-varying sensory inputs. To transition to the next goal, the previous state must be released from stability. A previous proposal of a neural dynamics solved this dilemma by inducing an instability when a “condition of satisfaction” signals that an action goal has been reached. The required structure of dynamic coupling limited the complexity and flexibility of sequence generation, however. We address this limitation by showing how the neural dynamics can be generalized to generate hierarchically structured behaviors. Directed couplings downward in the hierarchy initiate chunks of actions, directed couplings upward in the hierarchy signal their termination. We analyze the mathematical mechanisms and demonstrate the flexibility of the scheme in simulation.