# A Biologically Plausible Parser

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.02189 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.02189/

## Key facts

- Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 1 of its 45 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 4 Aug 2021.

## Builds on (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Finding Syntax in Human Encephalography with Beam Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1806.04127/) (2018)

## Built on by (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Assemblies of neurons learn to classify well-separated distributions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.03171/) (2021)
- [Center-Embedding and Constituency in the Brain and a New Characterization of Context-Free Languages](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.13217/) (2022)
- [Computation with Sequences in a Model of the Brain](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.03812/) (2023)
- [Planning with Biological Neurons and Synapses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.08186/) (2021)
- [The Architecture of a Biologically Plausible Language Organ](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.15364/) (2023)
- [A Bionic Natural Language Parser Equivalent to a Pushdown Automaton](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.17343/) (2024)
- [Simulated Language Acquisition in a Biologically Realistic Model of the Brain](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.11788/) (2025)
- [Causal Learning with Neural Assemblies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.26919/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We describe a parser of English effectuated by biologically plausible neurons and synapses, and implemented through the Assembly Calculus, a recently proposed computational framework for cognitive function. We demonstrate that this device is capable of correctly parsing reasonably nontrivial sentences. While our experiments entail rather simple sentences in English, our results suggest that the parser can be extended beyond what we have implemented, to several directions encompassing much of language. For example, we present a simple Russian version of the parser, and discuss how to handle recursion, embedding, and polysemy.