A VR-Based System and Architecture for Computational Modeling of Minds

Computational modeling of natural cognition is a crucial step towards achieving the grand goal of human-level computational intelligence. Successful ideas from existing models, and possibly newer ones, could be assembled to create a unified computational framework (eg. the Standard Model of the Mind, which attempts to unify three leading cognitive architectures) - this would be of great use in AI, robotics, neuroscience and cognitive science. This short position paper proposes the following: a VR-based system provides the most expedient, scalable and visually verifiable way to implement, test and refine a cognitive mind model (which would always be embodied in a character in a virtual world). Such a setup is discussed in the paper, including advantages and drawbacks over alternative implementations.