"""
Pattern 055: Cognitive Architecture
Description:
The Cognitive Architecture pattern models human-like cognitive processes in AI agents,
including perception, attention, working memory, reasoning, planning, and action.
This creates agents that process information in stages similar to human cognition,
enabling more sophisticated and contextual decision-making.
Components:
1. Perception Module: Processes and interprets inputs
2. Attention Mechanism: Focuses on relevant information
3. Working Memory: Maintains current context
4. Long-Term Memory: Stores knowledge and experiences
5. Reasoning Engine: Logical inference and problem-solving
6. Planning Module: Goal-directed action planning
7. Action Selection: Chooses and executes actions
Use Cases:
- Complex decision-making systems
- Autonomous agents with human-like reasoning
- Educational tutoring systems
- Game AI with realistic behavior
- Personal assistants with context awareness
- Research and analysis agents
LangChain Implementation:
Implements a multi-stage cognitive pipeline using LangChain components
to simulate perception, memory, reasoning, and action selection.
"""
import os
import time
from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional, Tuple
from dataclasses import dataclass, field
from datetime import datetime
from enum import Enum
from collections import deque
from dotenv import load_dotenv
from langchain_core.prompts import ChatPromptTemplate
from langchain_core.output_parsers import StrOutputParser
from langchain_openai import ChatOpenAI
load_dotenv()
class CognitiveState(Enum):
"""States in cognitive processing cycle"""
PERCEIVING = "perceiving" # Processing input
ATTENDING = "attending" # Focusing attention
ENCODING = "encoding" # Storing in memory
REASONING = "reasoning" # Logical processing
PLANNING = "planning" # Creating action plan
ACTING = "acting" # Executing action
REFLECTING = "reflecting" # Evaluating outcome
class AttentionFocus(Enum):
"""What the agent is focusing on"""
GOAL = "goal" # Primary objective
PROBLEM = "problem" # Current problem
CONTEXT = "context" # Surrounding context
MEMORY = "memory" # Past experiences
ACTION = "action" # Potential actions
@dataclass
class PerceptualInput:
"""Input perceived by the agent"""
raw_input: str
modality: str # "text", "visual", "audio", etc.
timestamp: datetime
features: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
def to_text(self) -> str:
return f"[{self.modality}] {self.raw_input}"
@dataclass
class WorkingMemoryItem:
"""Item in working memory"""
content: str
relevance: float # 0.0-1.0
timestamp: datetime
source: str # perception, reasoning, memory
def __str__(self) -> str:
return f"{self.content} (rel: {self.relevance:.2f})"
@dataclass
class LongTermMemory:
"""Long-term memory store"""
facts: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
experiences: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
skills: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
goals: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
def add_fact(self, fact: str):
if fact not in self.facts:
self.facts.append(fact)
def add_experience(self, experience: str):
self.experiences.append(experience)
# Keep recent experiences
if len(self.experiences) > 50:
self.experiences = self.experiences[-50:]
def recall(self, query: str, k: int = 3) -> List[str]:
"""Recall relevant memories"""
# Simple keyword matching (could use embeddings in production)
query_lower = query.lower()
relevant = []
for fact in self.facts:
if any(word in fact.lower() for word in query_lower.split()):
relevant.append(("fact", fact))
for exp in self.experiences[-10:]: # Recent experiences
if any(word in exp.lower() for word in query_lower.split()):
relevant.append(("experience", exp))
return relevant[:k]
@dataclass
class ReasoningResult:
"""Result from reasoning process"""
conclusion: str
reasoning_steps: List[str]
confidence: float
used_memories: List[str]
@dataclass
class ActionPlan:
"""Plan for achieving goal"""
goal: str
steps: List[str]
expected_outcome: str
confidence: float
@dataclass
class CognitiveResult:
"""Complete result from cognitive processing"""
input: str
perception: str
attention_focus: AttentionFocus
reasoning: ReasoningResult
plan: ActionPlan
action: str
reflection: str
cognitive_trace: List[Tuple[CognitiveState, str]]
execution_time_ms: float
def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
return {
"input": self.input[:100] + "..." if len(self.input) > 100 else self.input,
"attention": self.attention_focus.value,
"conclusion": self.reasoning.conclusion[:100] + "...",
"plan_steps": len(self.plan.steps),
"action": self.action[:100] + "..." if len(self.action) > 100 else self.action,
"execution_time_ms": f"{self.execution_time_ms:.1f}"
}
class CognitiveAgent:
"""
Agent with human-like cognitive architecture.
Implements:
1. Perception: Input processing and feature extraction
2. Attention: Selective focus on relevant information
3. Working Memory: Temporary context storage (limited capacity)
4. Long-Term Memory: Persistent knowledge storage
5. Reasoning: Logical inference and problem-solving
6. Planning: Goal-directed action planning
7. Action: Selection and execution
8. Reflection: Learning from outcomes
"""
def __init__(
self,
working_memory_capacity: int = 7, # Miller's 7±2
temperature: float = 0.7
):
self.working_memory_capacity = working_memory_capacity
self.temperature = temperature
# Cognitive components
self.llm = ChatOpenAI(model_name="gpt-3.5-turbo", temperature=temperature)
# Memory systems
self.working_memory: deque = deque(maxlen=working_memory_capacity)
self.long_term_memory = LongTermMemory()
# Current state
self.current_goal: Optional[str] = None
self.attention_focus: AttentionFocus = AttentionFocus.CONTEXT
# Cognitive trace for transparency
self.cognitive_trace: List[Tuple[CognitiveState, str]] = []
def _perceive(self, input_text: str) -> Tuple[str, PerceptualInput]:
"""Perception: Process and interpret input"""
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.PERCEIVING, "Processing input"))
# Create perceptual input
perceptual_input = PerceptualInput(
raw_input=input_text,
modality="text",
timestamp=datetime.now()
)
# Extract features and intent
perception_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages([
("system", """You are processing sensory input. Extract:
1. Main topic/subject
2. Intent (question, request, statement, etc.)
3. Key entities mentioned
4. Emotional tone
Format: Topic: X | Intent: Y | Entities: Z | Tone: W"""),
("user", "{input}")
])
chain = perception_prompt | self.llm | StrOutputParser()
perception_result = chain.invoke({"input": input_text})
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.PERCEIVING, perception_result))
return perception_result, perceptual_input
def _attend(self, perception: str, input_text: str) -> AttentionFocus:
"""Attention: Focus on most relevant aspect"""
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.ATTENDING, "Directing attention"))
# Determine what to focus on
attention_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages([
("system", """Determine attentional focus for this input.
Choose: goal, problem, context, memory, or action
Respond with just the focus word."""),
("user", "Input: {input}\nPerception: {perception}\nFocus:")
])
chain = attention_prompt | self.llm | StrOutputParser()
focus_str = chain.invoke({
"input": input_text,
"perception": perception
}).strip().lower()
# Map to enum
focus_map = {
"goal": AttentionFocus.GOAL,
"problem": AttentionFocus.PROBLEM,
"context": AttentionFocus.CONTEXT,
"memory": AttentionFocus.MEMORY,
"action": AttentionFocus.ACTION
}
self.attention_focus = focus_map.get(focus_str, AttentionFocus.CONTEXT)
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.ATTENDING, f"Focus: {self.attention_focus.value}"))
return self.attention_focus
def _encode_working_memory(self, content: str, relevance: float, source: str):
"""Encode information into working memory"""
item = WorkingMemoryItem(
content=content,
relevance=relevance,
timestamp=datetime.now(),
source=source
)
self.working_memory.append(item)
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.ENCODING, f"Stored: {content[:50]}"))
def _reason(self, input_text: str, perception: str) -> ReasoningResult:
"""Reasoning: Logical inference and problem-solving"""
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.REASONING, "Applying reasoning"))
# Recall relevant long-term memories
recalled_memories = self.long_term_memory.recall(input_text)
# Get working memory context
wm_context = "\n".join([
f"- {item.content}"
for item in sorted(self.working_memory, key=lambda x: x.relevance, reverse=True)
])
# Build reasoning prompt
memory_context = "\n".join([
f"[{mem_type}] {mem_content}"
for mem_type, mem_content in recalled_memories
]) if recalled_memories else "No relevant memories"
reasoning_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages([
("system", """You are reasoning about a situation step-by-step.
Working Memory Context:
{working_memory}
Long-Term Memory:
{long_term_memory}
Provide:
1. Step-by-step reasoning
2. Logical conclusion
3. Confidence level (0.0-1.0)
Format:
Steps: [numbered list]
Conclusion: [statement]
Confidence: [0.0-1.0]"""),
("user", "Situation: {input}\nPerception: {perception}\n\nReason:")
])
chain = reasoning_prompt | self.llm | StrOutputParser()
reasoning_output = chain.invoke({
"input": input_text,
"perception": perception,
"working_memory": wm_context or "Empty",
"long_term_memory": memory_context
})
# Parse reasoning output (simplified)
lines = reasoning_output.split('\n')
steps = []
conclusion = ""
confidence = 0.7
for line in lines:
if line.strip().startswith(('1.', '2.', '3.', '4.', '5.', '-')):
steps.append(line.strip())
elif 'conclusion:' in line.lower():
conclusion = line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()
elif 'confidence:' in line.lower():
try:
conf_str = line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()
confidence = float(conf_str)
except:
pass
if not conclusion:
conclusion = reasoning_output.split('\n')[0]
result = ReasoningResult(
conclusion=conclusion,
reasoning_steps=steps,
confidence=confidence,
used_memories=[m[1] for m in recalled_memories]
)
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.REASONING, f"Conclusion: {conclusion[:50]}"))
# Store conclusion in working memory
self._encode_working_memory(conclusion, relevance=0.9, source="reasoning")
return result
def _plan(self, reasoning: ReasoningResult, input_text: str) -> ActionPlan:
"""Planning: Create action plan to achieve goal"""
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.PLANNING, "Creating action plan"))
planning_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages([
("system", """Create an action plan based on the reasoning.
Provide:
1. Clear goal
2. Ordered steps to achieve it
3. Expected outcome
Format:
Goal: [goal]
Steps:
1. [step]
2. [step]
...
Expected: [outcome]"""),
("user", "Situation: {input}\nConclusion: {conclusion}\n\nPlan:")
])
chain = planning_prompt | self.llm | StrOutputParser()
plan_output = chain.invoke({
"input": input_text,
"conclusion": reasoning.conclusion
})
# Parse plan
lines = plan_output.split('\n')
goal = ""
steps = []
expected = ""
for line in lines:
if 'goal:' in line.lower():
goal = line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()
elif line.strip().startswith(('1.', '2.', '3.', '4.', '5.', '-')):
steps.append(line.strip())
elif 'expected:' in line.lower():
expected = line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()
if not goal:
goal = input_text
if not expected:
expected = reasoning.conclusion
plan = ActionPlan(
goal=goal,
steps=steps if steps else ["Execute reasoning conclusion"],
expected_outcome=expected,
confidence=reasoning.confidence
)
self.current_goal = goal
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.PLANNING, f"Goal: {goal[:50]}"))
return plan
def _act(self, plan: ActionPlan, reasoning: ReasoningResult) -> str:
"""Action: Select and execute action"""
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.ACTING, "Executing action"))
# Generate response based on plan and reasoning
action_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages([
("system", """Based on the plan and reasoning, provide a helpful response.
Be clear, actionable, and directly address the user's need."""),
("user", """Goal: {goal}
Conclusion: {conclusion}
Plan: {plan}
Provide response:""")
])
chain = action_prompt | self.llm | StrOutputParser()
action = chain.invoke({
"goal": plan.goal,
"conclusion": reasoning.conclusion,
"plan": "\n".join(plan.steps)
})
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.ACTING, f"Action: {action[:50]}"))
# Store action in long-term memory as experience
self.long_term_memory.add_experience(
f"Goal: {plan.goal} | Action: {action[:100]}"
)
return action
def _reflect(self, action: str, reasoning: ReasoningResult) -> str:
"""Reflection: Evaluate outcome and learn"""
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.REFLECTING, "Reflecting on action"))
reflection_prompt = ChatPromptTemplate.from_messages([
("system", """Reflect on the action taken.
Consider:
1. Was it appropriate?
2. What was learned?
3. How to improve?
Be brief (2-3 sentences)."""),
("user", "Action: {action}\nConfidence: {confidence}\n\nReflection:")
])
chain = reflection_prompt | self.llm | StrOutputParser()
reflection = chain.invoke({
"action": action,
"confidence": reasoning.confidence
})
self.cognitive_trace.append((CognitiveState.REFLECTING, reflection))
# Store reflection as learning
self.long_term_memory.add_experience(f"Learned: {reflection}")
return reflection
def process(self, input_text: str) -> CognitiveResult:
"""Process input through complete cognitive cycle"""
start_time = time.time()
self.cognitive_trace = []
# 1. Perception
perception, perceptual_input = self._perceive(input_text)
# 2. Attention
attention_focus = self._attend(perception, input_text)
# 3. Encoding (store perception in working memory)
self._encode_working_memory(perception, relevance=0.8, source="perception")
# 4. Reasoning
reasoning = self._reason(input_text, perception)
# 5. Planning
plan = self._plan(reasoning, input_text)
# 6. Action
action = self._act(plan, reasoning)
# 7. Reflection
reflection = self._reflect(action, reasoning)
execution_time_ms = (time.time() - start_time) * 1000
return CognitiveResult(
input=input_text,
perception=perception,
attention_focus=attention_focus,
reasoning=reasoning,
plan=plan,
action=action,
reflection=reflection,
cognitive_trace=self.cognitive_trace,
execution_time_ms=execution_time_ms
)
def demonstrate_cognitive_architecture():
"""Demonstrate Cognitive Architecture pattern"""
print("=" * 80)
print("PATTERN 055: COGNITIVE ARCHITECTURE DEMONSTRATION")
print("=" * 80)
print("\nHuman-like cognitive processing with perception, reasoning, and action\n")
# Create cognitive agent
agent = CognitiveAgent(working_memory_capacity=7, temperature=0.7)
# Add some initial knowledge
agent.long_term_memory.add_fact("Python is a programming language")
agent.long_term_memory.add_fact("Lists in Python are mutable")
agent.long_term_memory.add_skill("Able to explain programming concepts")
agent.long_term_memory.add_goal("Help users learn effectively")
# Test 1: Simple query
print("\n" + "=" * 80)
print("TEST 1: Simple Query Processing")
print("=" * 80)
query1 = "How do I reverse a list in Python?"
print(f"\n💭 Input: {query1}")
result1 = agent.process(query1)
print(f"\n🔍 Cognitive Processing Trace:")
for state, description in result1.cognitive_trace[:5]: # Show first 5
print(f" [{state.value}] {description[:80]}")
print(f"\n👁️ Perception: {result1.perception}")
print(f"🎯 Attention Focus: {result1.attention_focus.value}")
print(f"🧠 Reasoning Conclusion: {result1.reasoning.conclusion}")
print(f"📋 Plan ({len(result1.plan.steps)} steps): {result1.plan.goal}")
print(f"⚡ Action: {result1.action[:200]}...")
print(f"🤔 Reflection: {result1.reflection}")
print(f"⏱️ Execution Time: {result1.execution_time_ms:.1f}ms")
# Test 2: Complex reasoning task
print("\n" + "=" * 80)
print("TEST 2: Complex Reasoning Task")
print("=" * 80)
query2 = "I need to build a web app but don't know where to start. What should I do?"
print(f"\n💭 Input: {query2}")
result2 = agent.process(query2)
print(f"\n🔍 Full Cognitive Cycle:")
print(f" Perception: {result2.perception[:80]}...")
print(f" Attention: {result2.attention_focus.value}")
print(f" Reasoning Steps:")
for i, step in enumerate(result2.reasoning.steps[:3], 1):
print(f" {i}. {step}")
print(f" Conclusion: {result2.reasoning.conclusion}")
print(f" Plan Goal: {result2.plan.goal}")
print(f" Action Plan:")
for i, step in enumerate(result2.plan.steps[:4], 1):
print(f" {i}. {step}")
print(f"\n💬 Final Response: {result2.action[:250]}...")
# Test 3: Memory integration
print("\n" + "=" * 80)
print("TEST 3: Memory Integration")
print("=" * 80)
# First query establishes context
query3a = "What are decorators in Python?"
print(f"\n💭 Query 1: {query3a}")
result3a = agent.process(query3a)
print(f" Response: {result3a.action[:150]}...")
# Second query builds on previous
query3b = "Can you give me a practical example?"
print(f"\n💭 Query 2: {query3b}")
result3b = agent.process(query3b)
print(f"\n📚 Working Memory State ({len(agent.working_memory)} items):")
for item in list(agent.working_memory)[-3:]:
print(f" - {str(item)[:60]}...")
print(f"\n💬 Contextual Response: {result3b.action[:200]}...")
# Show memory usage
if result3b.reasoning.used_memories:
print(f"\n🧠 Long-Term Memories Recalled:")
for mem in result3b.reasoning.used_memories[:2]:
print(f" - {mem[:70]}...")
# Summary
print("\n" + "=" * 80)
print("COGNITIVE ARCHITECTURE PATTERN SUMMARY")
print("=" * 80)
print("""
Key Benefits:
1. Human-Like Processing: Mirrors human cognitive stages
2. Transparency: Clear cognitive trace for debugging
3. Context Awareness: Working and long-term memory integration
4. Adaptive Reasoning: Adjusts to different input types
5. Learning: Reflection enables continuous improvement
Cognitive Components:
1. Perception: Input processing and interpretation
2. Attention: Selective focus on relevant information
3. Working Memory: Limited-capacity temporary storage (7±2 items)
4. Long-Term Memory: Persistent knowledge storage
5. Reasoning: Logical inference and problem-solving
6. Planning: Goal-directed action sequencing
7. Action: Response generation and execution
8. Reflection: Outcome evaluation and learning
Memory Systems:
- Working Memory: Temporary, limited capacity, high relevance
- Long-Term Memory: Permanent, unlimited, organized by type
* Facts: Declarative knowledge
* Experiences: Episodic memories
* Skills: Procedural knowledge
* Goals: Long-term objectives
Attention Mechanism:
- Goal-focused: Primary objective attention
- Problem-focused: Current challenge attention
- Context-focused: Environmental awareness
- Memory-focused: Past experience recall
- Action-focused: Next step planning
Processing Stages:
1. Perceive → Extract features and intent
2. Attend → Focus on relevant aspects
3. Encode → Store in working memory
4. Reason → Logical inference
5. Plan → Create action sequence
6. Act → Execute plan
7. Reflect → Learn from outcome
Use Cases:
- Intelligent tutoring systems
- Personal assistant agents
- Complex decision support
- Game AI characters
- Research and analysis agents
- Autonomous problem-solving
Best Practices:
1. Limit working memory capacity (realistic)
2. Prioritize by relevance scores
3. Regular reflection for learning
4. Clear cognitive traces for transparency
5. Balance depth vs speed
6. Maintain long-term memory
7. Adaptive attention mechanisms
Production Considerations:
- Memory persistence (database)
- Working memory cleanup
- Long-term memory search (embeddings)
- Cognitive trace logging
- Performance optimization
- State management
- Error recovery
Comparison with Related Patterns:
- vs. ReAct: Full cognitive cycle vs action-observation
- vs. Chain-of-Thought: Multi-stage vs single reasoning
- vs. Memory Pattern: Integrated architecture vs storage
- vs. Agent: Cognitive model vs tool use
The Cognitive Architecture pattern provides sophisticated, human-like
information processing that enables contextual understanding, adaptive
reasoning, and continuous learning through reflection.
""")
if __name__ == "__main__":
demonstrate_cognitive_architecture()
Agentic Design Pattern: Cognitive Architecture
Pattern 055: Cognitive Architecture – Line-by-Line Explanation
Overview
This document provides a detailed line-by-line explanation of the Cognitive Architecture pattern implementation.
Pattern Description
Pattern 055: Cognitive Architecture
Description: The Cognitive Architecture pattern models human-like cognitive processes in AI agents, including perception, attention, working memory, reasoning, planning, and action. This creates agents that process information in stages similar to human cognition, enabling more sophisticated and contextual decision-making.
Components: 1. Perception Module: Processes and interprets inputs 2. Attention Mechanism: Focuses on relevant information 3. Working Memory: Maintains current context 4. Long-Term Memory: Stores knowledge and experiences 5. Reasoning Engine: Logical inference and problem-solving 6. Planning Module: Goal-directed action planning 7. Action Selection: Chooses and executes actions
Use Cases: – Complex decision-making systems – Autonomous agents with human-like reasoning – Educational tutoring systems – Game AI with realistic behavior – Personal assistants with context awareness – Research and analysis agents
LangChain Implementation: Implements a multi-stage cognitive pipeline using LangChain components to simulate perception, memory, reasoning, and action selection.
File Statistics
- Total Lines: 710
- Classes: 9
- Functions: 1
- Constants: 0
Module Documentation
"""
Pattern 055: Cognitive Architecture
Description:
The Cognitive Architecture pattern models human-like cognitive processes in AI agents,
including perception, attention, working memory, reasoning, planning, and action.
This creates agents that process information in stages similar to human cognition,
enabling more sophisticated and contextual decision-making.
Components:
1. Perception Module: Processes and interprets inputs
2. Attention Mechanism: Focuses on relevant information
3. Working Memory: Maintains current context
4. Long-Term Memory: Stores knowledge and experiences
5. Reasoning Engine: Logical inference and problem-solving
6. Planning Module: Goal-directed action planning
7. Action Selection: Chooses and executes actions
Use Cases:
- Complex decision-making systems
- Autonomous agents with human-like reasoning
- Educational tutoring systems
- Game AI with realistic behavior
- Personal assistants with context awareness
- Research and analysis agents
LangChain Implementation:
Implements a multi-stage cognitive pipeline using LangChain components
to simulate perception, memory, reasoning, and action selection.
"""
Purpose: This module implements the Cognitive Architecture pattern, providing a structured approach to agent design and implementation.
Import Statements
Standard Library Imports
import collections.deque
import dataclasses.dataclass
import dataclasses.field
import datetime.datetime
import enum.Enum
import langchain_core.output_parsers.StrOutputParser
import langchain_core.prompts.ChatPromptTemplate
import os
import time
import typing.Any
import typing.Dict
import typing.List
import typing.Optional
import typing.Tuple
Purpose: Core Python functionality:
– collections.deque: Specialized container datatypes
– dataclasses.dataclass: Simplified class definitions with @dataclass
– dataclasses.field: Simplified class definitions with @dataclass
– datetime.datetime: Date and time handling
– enum.Enum: Enumeration support
– langchain_core.output_parsers.StrOutputParser: Regular expression operations
– langchain_core.prompts.ChatPromptTemplate: Regular expression operations
– os: Environment variable access and system operations
– time: Time-related functions
– typing.Any: Type hints for better code documentation (List, Dict, Any, Optional)
– typing.Dict: Type hints for better code documentation (List, Dict, Any, Optional)
– typing.List: Type hints for better code documentation (List, Dict, Any, Optional)
– typing.Optional: Type hints for better code documentation (List, Dict, Any, Optional)
– typing.Tuple: Type hints for better code documentation (List, Dict, Any, Optional)
LangChain Imports
from langchain_openai.ChatOpenAI
Purpose: LangChain framework components: – LLM Interface: Wrapper for OpenAI models – Chains: Composable building blocks for complex workflows
Other Imports
from dotenv.load_dotenv
Purpose: Additional dependencies for specialized functionality.
Classes
Class: CognitiveState
Lines 48-56
Inherits from: Enum
Purpose:
States in cognitive processing cycle
Class: AttentionFocus
Lines 59-65
Inherits from: Enum
Purpose:
What the agent is focusing on
Class: PerceptualInput
Lines 69-77
Purpose:
Input perceived by the agent
Methods:
to_text(self)
Lines 76-77
Purpose: To Text operation.
Parameters:
Returns: str
Class: WorkingMemoryItem
Lines 81-89
Purpose:
Item in working memory
Methods:
__str__(self)
Lines 88-89
Purpose: Str operation.
Parameters:
Returns: str
Class: LongTermMemory
Lines 93-124
Purpose:
Long-term memory store
Methods:
add_fact(self, fact)
Lines 100-102
Purpose: Add Fact operation.
Parameters:
– fact: Fact
add_experience(self, experience)
Lines 104-108
Purpose: Add Experience operation.
Parameters:
– experience: Experience
recall(self, query, k)
Lines 110-124
Purpose:
Recall relevant memories
Parameters:
– query: Input query or question
– k: K
Returns: <ast.Subscript object at 0x000001A06D681350>
Class: ReasoningResult
Lines 128-133
Purpose:
Result from reasoning process
Class: ActionPlan
Lines 137-142
Purpose:
Plan for achieving goal
Class: CognitiveResult
Lines 146-166
Purpose:
Complete result from cognitive processing
Methods:
to_dict(self)
Lines 158-166
Purpose: To Dict operation.
Parameters:
Returns: <ast.Subscript object at 0x000001A06D686850>
Class: CognitiveAgent
Lines 169-530
Purpose:
Agent with human-like cognitive architecture.
Implements:
1. Perception: Input processing and feature extraction
2. Attention: Selective focus on relevant information
3. Working Memory: Temporary context storage (limited capacity)
4. Long-Term Memory: Persistent knowledge storage
5. Reasoning: Logical inference and problem-solving
6. Planning: Goal-directed action planning
7. Action: Selection and execution
8. Reflection: Learning from outcomes
Methods:
__init__(self, working_memory_capacity, temperature)
Lines 184-204
Purpose: Initialize the class instance with required parameters.
Parameters:
– working_memory_capacity: Memory store for conversation history
– temperature: Sampling temperature (0-1)
_perceive(self, input_text)
Lines 206-235
Purpose:
Perception: Process and interpret input
Parameters:
– input_text: Input data
Returns: <ast.Subscript object at 0x000001A06D607890>
_attend(self, perception, input_text)
Lines 237-269
Purpose:
Attention: Focus on most relevant aspect
Parameters:
– perception: Perception
– input_text: Input data
Returns: AttentionFocus
_encode_working_memory(self, content, relevance, source)
Lines 271-282
Purpose:
Encode information into working memory
Parameters:
– content: Content
– relevance: Relevance
– source: Source
_reason(self, input_text, perception)
Lines 284-366
Purpose:
Reasoning: Logical inference and problem-solving
Parameters:
– input_text: Input data
– perception: Perception
Returns: ReasoningResult
_plan(self, reasoning, input_text)
Lines 368-426
Purpose:
Planning: Create action plan to achieve goal
Parameters:
– reasoning: Reasoning
– input_text: Input data
Returns: ActionPlan
_act(self, plan, reasoning)
Lines 428-459
Purpose:
Action: Select and execute action
Parameters:
– plan: Plan
– reasoning: Reasoning
Returns: str
_reflect(self, action, reasoning)
Lines 461-489
Purpose:
Reflection: Evaluate outcome and learn
Parameters:
– action: Action
– reasoning: Reasoning
Returns: str
process(self, input_text)
Lines 491-530
Purpose:
Process input through complete cognitive cycle
Parameters:
– input_text: Input data
Returns: CognitiveResult
Functions
demonstrate_cognitive_architecture()
Lines 533-705
Purpose:
Demonstrate Cognitive Architecture pattern
Key Concepts Summary
Pattern Overview
The Cognitive Architecture pattern provides a structured approach to building AI agents with specific capabilities and behaviors. This implementation leverages LangChain’s composable components to create a robust and maintainable solution.
Core Components
- Agent Class: Main implementation of the pattern logic
- Prompt Engineering: Carefully crafted prompts to guide LLM behavior
- Tool Integration: Optional tools for extended functionality
- Memory Management: State handling across interactions
- Output Parsing: Structured response processing
When to Use
✅ Good for: – Scenarios requiring this specific pattern’s strengths – Applications needing structured agent behavior – Systems where explainability is important – Production environments requiring reliability
❌ Not ideal for: – Simple single-prompt tasks – Scenarios requiring different pattern characteristics – Resource-constrained environments (if computationally intensive)
Best Practices Demonstrated
1. Environment Configuration
- ✅ Use
.envfiles for API keys - ✅ Never hardcode credentials
- ✅ Validate environment variables on startup
2. Error Handling
- ✅ Graceful degradation on failures
- ✅ Informative error messages
- ✅ Logging for debugging
3. Prompt Engineering
- ✅ Clear, specific instructions
- ✅ Structured output formats
- ✅ Few-shot examples when beneficial
4. Code Organization
- ✅ Separation of concerns (class-based design)
- ✅ Type hints for clarity
- ✅ Docstrings for documentation
5. Performance Optimization
- ✅ Appropriate temperature settings
- ✅ Token budget management
- ✅ Caching where applicable
LangChain Components Used
- ChatOpenAI: OpenAI model interface
- Chains: Sequential component composition
Why LangChain? – Composable abstractions for LLM applications – Rich ecosystem of integrations – Production-ready patterns – Active community and development
Execution Flow
1. Initialize agent with configuration
↓
2. Load environment and dependencies
↓
3. Prepare prompt with input data
↓
4. Invoke LLM through LangChain
↓
5. Parse and validate response
↓
6. Return formatted result
Key Decision Points: – Model selection (temperature, model type) – Prompt structure (few-shot vs zero-shot) – Error handling strategy – Output format validation
Performance Considerations
Computational Cost
- LLM Calls: Primary cost factor (based on tokens)
- Latency: Depends on model and input size
- Memory: Minimal for most patterns
Optimization Strategies
- Prompt Optimization: Minimize tokens while maintaining clarity
- Caching: Cache repeated queries/responses
- Model Selection: Use smaller models when appropriate
- Batch Processing: Group similar requests
- Streaming: For long responses, stream tokens
Cost Estimates (Approximate)
- GPT-3.5-turbo: ~$0.002 per request
- GPT-4: ~$0.03 per request
- GPT-4-turbo: ~$0.01 per request
Actual costs vary based on input/output token counts
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Prompt Design Issues
❌ Vague or ambiguous instructions
✅ Clear, specific, testable prompts
2. Error Handling
❌ Ignoring API errors or rate limits
✅ Implement retry logic and graceful degradation
3. Token Management
❌ Exceeding model token limits
✅ Truncate inputs, chunk processing
4. Security
❌ Exposing API keys in code
✅ Use environment variables
5. Testing
❌ Only testing happy paths
✅ Test edge cases, failures, malformed inputs
6. Cost Management
❌ Unmonitored API usage
✅ Implement budgets, alerts, and monitoring
Further Improvements
Production Enhancements
- Monitoring: Add logging, metrics, tracing
- Validation: Input/output schema validation
- Rate Limiting: Implement request throttling
- Caching: Redis or in-memory cache for responses
- Async Support: Non-blocking operations for scalability
Feature Extensions
- Multi-Model Support: Switch between providers
- Fallback Models: Graceful degradation strategy
- Custom Tools: Domain-specific function calling
- Advanced Memory: Vector stores for long-term memory
- Evaluation: Automated testing and benchmarking
Code Quality
- Testing: Unit tests, integration tests
- Documentation: API docs, usage examples
- Type Safety: Stricter type hints
- Configuration: Externalized config files
Related Patterns
- Pattern 054
- Pattern 056
Pattern Families: – Reasoning Patterns (001-011) – Multi-Agent Patterns (012-019) – Tool Use Patterns (020-025) – Memory Patterns (026-031) – And many more…
Summary
The Cognitive Architecture pattern provides a powerful approach to building AI agents with specific capabilities. This implementation demonstrates:
✅ Key Strengths: – Clean, maintainable code structure – LangChain integration for composability – Type hints and documentation – Production-ready patterns
🎯 Best Use Cases: – Applications requiring this pattern’s characteristics – Systems needing structured agent behavior – Production environments requiring reliability
📚 Learning Resources: – LangChain Documentation: https://python.langchain.com/ – Pattern Documentation: See related patterns – OpenAI API Reference: https://platform.openai.com/docs/
File: 055_cognitive_architecture.py
Total Lines: 710
Pattern Category: AI Agent Design Pattern #055
Generated from actual implementation code
For educational and reference purposes