Table of Contents

Preface vii Chapter 1. Understanding Animal Behavior 1 1.1 The causes of behavior 2 1.2 A framework for models of behavior 4 1.3 The structure of behavior models 7 1.4 Neural network models 18 Chapter 2. Fundamentals of Neural Network Models 31 2.1 Network nodes 31 2.2 Network architectures 39 2.3 Achieving specific input-output mappings 45 2.4 Organizing networks without specific guidance 57 2.5 Working with your own models 58 Chapter 3. Mechanisms of Behavior 67 3.1 Analysis of behavior systems 67 3.2 Building neural network models 70 3.3 Reactions to stimuli 75 3.4 Sensory processing 89 3.5 Temporal patterns 96 3.6 Many sources of information and messy information 99 3.7 Central mechanisms of decision making 100 3.8 Motor control 115 3.9 Consequences of damage to nervous systems 123 Chapter 4. Learning and Ontogeny 129 4.1 What are learning and ontogeny? 129 4.2 General aspects of learning 130 4.3 Network models of general learning phenomena 141 4.4 Behaviorally silent learning 151 4.5 Comparison with animal learning theory 155 4.6 Training animals versus training networks 159 4.7 Ontogeny 160 4.8 Conclusions 170 Chapter 5. Evolution 173 5.1 The evolution of behavior systems 173 5.2 Requirements for evolving behavior mechanisms 175 5.3 The material basis of behavioral evolution 178 5.4 Exploring evolution with neural network models 186 5.5 Conclusions 202 Chapter 6. Conclusions 205 6.1 Are neural networks good models of behavior? 205 6.2 Do we use too simple network models? 208 6.3 Comparisons with other models 208 6.4 Neural networks and animal cognition 210 6.5 Final words 218 Bibliography 219 Index 249

Promotional Information

This book will make a major contribution to the field of animal behavior. The explanations are clear and the math transparent. Anyone who viewed artificial neural networks as mysterious black boxes will have their minds changed. -- Michael J. Ryan, University of Texas, Austin This book shows how neural net models can improve our understanding of animal behavior. It offers an accessible introduction to the general approach while covering a wide range of topics. -- Alasdair Houston, University of Bristol

About the Author

Magnus Enquist is Professor of Ethology in the Department of Zoology at Stockholm University. Stefano Ghirlanda is Researcher of General Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Bologna.

Reviews

"Neural Networks and Animal Behavior will interest students of animal behavior, cognitive scientists, engineers, and anyone working with neural networks. In a real way, this book is a bridge across the disciplines, constructing connections between animal behavior theories to other modes of understanding."--Biology Digest "This is a timely contribution to the field that should mark a turning point in the use of neural networks in animal behavior research."--Richard Peters, Animal Behaviour