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Avoidance Behavior Controlled by a Model of Vertebrate Midbrain Mechanisms

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Mechanisms, Symbols, and Models Underlying Cognition (IWINAC 2005)

Abstract

A mobile animat is simulated with a steering controller modeled on vertebrate midbrain mechanisms. As in the brain, the model optic tectum receives direct input from the eyes and is reciprocally connected to the two nucleus isthmi (NI) which respond selectively to looming objects. NI activity feeds back to tectum which controls turning movements. The animat is tested in a 3-D field of obstacles. It discriminates objects at different distances and it avoids “predators” and collision with stationary obstacles.

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© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Northmore, D.P.M., Graham, B.J. (2005). Avoidance Behavior Controlled by a Model of Vertebrate Midbrain Mechanisms. In: Mira, J., Álvarez, J.R. (eds) Mechanisms, Symbols, and Models Underlying Cognition. IWINAC 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3561. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11499220_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11499220_35

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-26298-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31672-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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