A modular state-space model of human perception, cognition, and decision dynamics
A mathematical blueprint of how people perceive, think, and act in real time
Researchers built a mathematical model that tracks how the human mind moves from sensing the world to making decisions—treating perception, thought, and action as linked gears rather than a black box. The model reveals how attention, memory, and intention each shape behavior in ways that can be measured and understood. In a test with simulated movement therapy, a controller using this model kept people engaged better than simpler approaches.
Systems that adapt to humans—from rehabilitation robots to training software—currently either treat people as mysterious inputs-to-outputs or sacrifice mathematical rigor for interpretability. This framework does both: it lets engineers see *why* someone is making a choice (not just predict what they'll do) and gives them equations they can actually control. That means building assistive devices that adjust in real time based on what someone is actually thinking, not just what they're doing.