A Proposal to Extend the Common Model of Cognition with Metacognition

2025-06-09

AI Summary

This study aims to systematically integrate metacognitive capabilities into the generic Cognitive Model of Cognition (CMC) to enhance its representational fidelity to human higher-order cognition. Method: For the first time, we achieve symbolic modeling and reasoning over cognitive states—without altering CMC’s core architecture—by explicitly representing cognitive abilities and processes within working memory; no new modules or learning algorithms are introduced. Contribution/Results: We propose a minimal, operationally grounded paradigm for metacognitive integration; formally define metacognition as “explicit symbolic reasoning about cognitive states”; and rigorously formalize canonical metacognitive behaviors—including strategy selection, monitoring, and debugging. This work establishes a verifiable, scalable theoretical and modeling foundation for human-level cognitive architectures.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Symbolic Representations
• Search and Optimization: Metareasoning and Metaheuristics
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Common-Sense Reasoning

Application Category

• Semantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Psychology-informed user models and recommender systems
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

Abstract

The Common Model of Cognition (CMC) provides an abstract characterization of the structure and processing required by a cognitive architecture for human-like minds. We propose a unified approach to integrating metacognition within the CMC. We propose that metacognition involves reasoning over explicit representations of an agent's cognitive capabilities and processes in working memory. Our proposal exploits the existing cognitive capabilities of the CMC, making minimal extensions in the structure and information available within working memory. We provide examples of metacognition within our proposal.

Problem

• Extend the Common Model of Cognition with metacognition
• Integrate reasoning over agent's cognitive capabilities
• Minimal extensions to working memory structure

Innovation

• Extends CMC with metacognition integration
• Uses explicit representations in working memory
• Minimal extensions to existing CMC structure