A capacity limited, cognitive constructionist model of virtual presence

Abstract

The capacity Limited, Cognitive Constructionist (CLCC) model of presence is proposed as an information processing model of presence, which is demonstrated to have more theoretical power than extant models. The CLCC model defines information processing paths between attention, working memory, declarative memory and procedural memory, which operate to create and maintain a semantic context or bias. Bottom-up information entering the sensory cortices is filtered by attention into working memory where it forms temporary structures encoding the subject's experience of the VE. These structures also receive top-down information, which arises in declarative memory. This interaction of top-down and bottom and bottom-up data gives the entire model a semantic bias which attempts to keep the subject's construction of the environment semantically coherent. This allows for inferences and decision making, which translates into high presence.