Integrated Learning in Rana Computatrix

To survive, organisms must control the interactions between their external and internal worlds and accordingly adapt Iheir behavioral responses to environmental situations and to internal states. We are building a model of the circuitry underlying the mechanisms responsible for most of the different learning capabilities of anuran. One of our goals being the study of systems composed of various structures where different environmental conditions will give place to different adaptational characteristics which must be integrated as a holistic life experience. In particular we simulate the modulation of Innate Releasing mechanisms IRM (approach and avoidance) in the anuran system maintaining as much fidelity as possible to the anatomical and physiological data. One of the central structures in the modulatory loop is the medial pallium (MP). This “plastic” substrate is where the trace of the experience is “imprinted”. In turn it modulates the Tectal/Pretectal pattern recognition system whose integrated action determines whether to approach or to avoid.

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