TY - BOOK ID - 77898206 TI - Neural networks and animal behavior AU - Enquist, Magnus AU - Ghirlanda, Stefano PY - 2005 SN - 1400850789 9781400850785 0691096325 9780691096322 0691096333 9780691096339 9870691096322 9870691096339 PB - Princeton DB - UniCat KW - Animal behavior -- Computer simulation. KW - Behavior, Animal. KW - Neural networks (Computer science). UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:77898206 AB - How can we make better sense of animal behavior by using what we know about the brain? This is the first book that attempts to answer this important question by applying neural network theory. Scientists create Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to make models of the brain. These networks mimic the architecture of a nervous system by connecting elementary neuron-like units into networks in which they stimulate or inhibit each other's activity in much the same way neurons do. This book shows how scientists can employ ANNs to analyze animal behavior, explore the general principles of the nervous systems, and test potential generalizations among species. The authors focus on simple neural networks to show how ANNs can be investigated by math and by computers. They demonstrate intuitive concepts that make the operation of neural networks more accessible to nonspecialists. The first chapter introduces various approaches to animal behavior and provides an informal introduction to neural networks, their history, and their potential advantages. The second chapter reviews artificial neural networks, including biological foundations, techniques, and applications. The following three chapters apply neural networks to such topics as learning and development, classical instrumental condition, and the role of genes in building brain networks. The book concludes by comparing neural networks to other approaches. It will appeal to students of animal behavior in many disciplines. It will also interest neurobiologists, cognitive scientists, and those from other fields who wish to learn more about animal behavior. ER -