Title:
Neuronal Networks Working at Multiple Temporal Scales as a Basis for Amphibia’s Prey-Catching Behavior
Neuronal Networks Working at Multiple Temporal Scales as a Basis for Amphibia’s Prey-Catching Behavior
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Author(s)
Arkin, Ronald C.
Flores-Castillo, Luis R.
Cervantes-Pérez, Francisco
Weitzenfeld, Alfredo
Flores-Castillo, Luis R.
Cervantes-Pérez, Francisco
Weitzenfeld, Alfredo
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Abstract
We analyze a model of neuronal mechanisms underlying amphibia’s prey-catching behavior,
integrating hypotheses generated within different areas of Neuroscience and studying how the efficacy of visual prey-like dummies to release toad’s prey-catching actions depends on parallel distributed processes occurring at multiple levels of temporal abstraction. First, in the scale of 100’s of msecs, changes in neuronal activity caused by the stimulus characteristics and its current spatial-temporal relationship with the toad, as well as nervous signals related to actions’ expected consequences (e.g., mouth mechanoreceptors activation after a snapping); second, signals generated during learning events happening at a temporal scale of minutes to hours; third, signals related to the course of actions, within an undetermined time scale that may last for several hours; and fourth, signals generated by changes in motivational factors
(e.g., hunger, daily and yearly cycles) occurring at a much slower time scale. In addition, we analyze how in this knowledge representation, the course of actions (plan) is episodic, goal-oriented and can be modulated by learning, or by changes in the agent’s motivational state.
This modulation is the outcome of accommodating information of new situations (a non catchable prey-like stimulus) into the dynamics of underlying neuronal mechanisms, in order to change the way the toad (agent) normally responds to that domain of interaction (stop
yielding prey-catching behaviors towards that specific stimulus), without affecting its performance when similar situations appear in its immediate surroundings (prey-catching behaviors to real prey remain unchanged).
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Date Issued
2000
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