Control in living systems : an exploration of the cybernetic properties of interactive behaviour
Date
2013
Authors
Bell, Heather C.
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscience
Abstract
Many types of animal behaviour, especially seemingly complex social interactions,
have been attributed to the existence of complex cognitive mechanisms, underpinned
by stimulus-response (S-R) rules. Indeed, as speci c behaviours are analyzed in
greater and greater detail, the increasing number of minor variations observed, even
under tightly-controlled experimental conditions, seem to necessitate the operation of
increasingly powerful computational devices. An alternate view, inspired by cybernetic
theory, is that what is important is not the speci c behaviours used by animals,
but the goal of the organism in a particular context. In this thesis, a closed-loop
cybernetic methodology for understanding behaviour is developed and implemented.
Evidence is presented that, not only do at least some behaviours of animals function
like engineered control systems, but also that this type of architecture is widespread
in phylogenetic terms, relatively robust to interference, and able to be arti cially reproduced.
Implications for the study of the behaviour of all organisms are discussed.
Description
xii, 127 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm
Keywords
behavioural variability , cybernetic model , robbing and dodging , animal behaviour , Decision making in animals -- Research , Motivation in animals -- Research , Cybernetics , Learning, Psychology of