RCT-7 Mental Model
7 Genome subsystems that define AI personality and behavior — a cognitive architecture for building AI that thinks, not just computes.
What Is the RCT-7 Mental Model?
The RCT-7 Mental Model is a cognitive framework that defines how AI systems should think, not just compute. Inspired by cognitive science research, it decomposes intelligence into seven fundamental capabilities. Each is implemented as a genome subsystem within the RCT Ecosystem.
Traditional AI systems excel at pattern matching but lack a coherent cognitive architecture. The RCT-7 model addresses this gap — Perception feeds data to Reasoning, Ethics constrains Execution, and Evolution improves all subsystems over time through meta-learning.
This model maps to the 7 Genome System and integrates with the 10-Layer Architecture at Layer 5 (Reasoning Core) and Layer 10 (Self-Evolving Orchestrator). By tuning genome weights, developers create AI personalities optimized for specific use cases — from empathetic customer agents to rigorous analytical systems.
7 Genome Subsystems
Each genome represents a fundamental cognitive capability — together they form a complete AI mind.
Perception
How the AI perceives and interprets incoming information — sensory processing, pattern recognition, and environmental awareness.
Empathy
Emotional intelligence and user understanding — tone matching, sentiment analysis, and contextual sensitivity.
Reasoning
Logical inference and analytical thinking — chain-of-thought processing, hypothesis testing, and deductive reasoning.
Creativity
Novel solution generation and lateral thinking — combining existing knowledge in new ways to produce innovative outputs.
Ethics
Moral reasoning and safety guardrails — bias detection, fairness assessment, and responsible AI decision-making.
Execution
Task planning and action execution — breaking complex goals into steps, resource allocation, and quality assurance.
Evolution
Self-improvement and adaptation — learning from outcomes, updating mental models, and evolving capabilities over time.