A Coupled Hidden Markov Model framework for measuring the dynamics of categorization

We introduce a new framework for measuring the dynamics of category learning using Coupled Hidden Markov Models (CHMMs). The key assumptions of the framework are that people maintain a latent assignment of every stimulus to a category, and that they can update the assignments for all stimuli whenever they encounter any stimulus. These assumptions contrast with many existing accounts of category learning, which either do not allow for what is learned about one stimulus to influence the category association of others, or allow only for indirect influence. The CHMM framework allows tailored models to be developed for specific category learning tasks, taking as input the stimulus sequence and category responses people make, and producing as output inferences about the underlying dynamics of category assignments and the mechanics of the response processes. We demonstrate the framework by applying it to a categorization task considered by Lee and Navarro (2002), showing how the model measures the change in participants’ latent category assignments as they learn the category structure. We conclude by discussing potential applications of the CHMM framework to category learning situations involving prior knowledge, changing category structures, and category learning tasks that involve the consideration of multiple stimuli at one time.