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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wang, Louis
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.11027
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author Wang, Louis
author_facet Wang, Louis
contents We explore a functionalist approach to emotion by employing an ansatz -- an initial set of assumptions -- that a hypothetical concept generation model incorporates unproven but biologically plausible traits. From these traits, we mathematically construct a theoretical reinforcement learning framework grounded in functionalist principles and examine how the resulting utility function aligns with emotional valence in biological systems. Our focus is on structuring the functionalist perspective through a conceptual network, particularly emphasizing the construction of the utility function, not to provide an exhaustive explanation of emotions. The primary emphasis is not of planning or action execution, but such factors are addressed when pertinent. Finally, we apply the framework to psychological phenomena such as humor, psychopathy, and advertising, demonstrating its breadth of explanatory power.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_11027
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Functionalist Emotion Modeling in Biomimetic Reinforcement Learning
Wang, Louis
Neurons and Cognition
We explore a functionalist approach to emotion by employing an ansatz -- an initial set of assumptions -- that a hypothetical concept generation model incorporates unproven but biologically plausible traits. From these traits, we mathematically construct a theoretical reinforcement learning framework grounded in functionalist principles and examine how the resulting utility function aligns with emotional valence in biological systems. Our focus is on structuring the functionalist perspective through a conceptual network, particularly emphasizing the construction of the utility function, not to provide an exhaustive explanation of emotions. The primary emphasis is not of planning or action execution, but such factors are addressed when pertinent. Finally, we apply the framework to psychological phenomena such as humor, psychopathy, and advertising, demonstrating its breadth of explanatory power.
title Functionalist Emotion Modeling in Biomimetic Reinforcement Learning
topic Neurons and Cognition
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.11027