Navigation via Pavlovian conditioning: a robotic bio-constrained model of autoshaping in rats.
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Within the autonomous robotics literature, bio-inspired models of navigation in organ-isms (e.g. rats) usually rely on instrumen-tal conditioning processes based on the learn-ing of associations between places in the en-vironment and navigation actions leading to rewarded goal places. This paper presents a neural-network model capable of solving nav-igation tasks on the basis of Pavlovian condi-tioning processes (‘autoshaping’) which allow transferring innate approaching behaviours from biologically salient stimuli (e.g., food) to neutral stimuli (e.g., a landmark seen from far away and close to the food). The overall ar-chitecture and functioning of the model is bi-ologically constrained on the basis of relevant neuroscientific anatomical and physiological knowledge on amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and ventral tegmental area. The model is tested with a simulated robotic rat engaged in autoshaping and devaluation experiments. The results show that, although the model al-lows solving only simple navigation tasks, it produces fast learning and a flexible sensitiv-ity of behaviour to internal states typical of Pavlovian processes. The model is also im-portant for the investigation of adaptive be-haviour in general as it clarifies the nature of some Pavlovian core mechanisms which play a key role in several forms of learning. 1.
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2965557285