From Signal to Behaviour

Andrew Philippides

WARNING: THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WILL BE AMENDED

Course Overview

The course introduces, from the perspectives of neuroethology and adaptive systems, major models of neural processes at all levels from sensory input to behaviour. Through these models, students will gain an insight into how sensory input generates electrical activity in neurons, how neural activity propagates to become behaviour, and how this behaviour structures sensory input.

At each stage, students will be given the biological detail they need. Students will also be introduced to relevant models of the underlying processes and will be given the opportunity to experiment with them. The merits of these models will be discussed in terms of level of description, scientific worth and engineering utility. Topics will include: active vision, learning, odometry (path integration) and insect navigation.

Course Detail

The course will consist of 1 lecture and 1 seminar per week. A detailed course plan, lecture notes and resources will be added in due course.

Learning Outcomes

        1.    Explain how sensory information is processed and transformed into
            behaviour.

2.    Discuss and contrast models and the levels of modelling and explain how
they contribute to scientific knowledge.

3.      Design a new/modified model inspired by an aspect of sensory processing.

4.      Explain the value of bio-inspired models for engineering purposes.

Suggested Reading

[I am aware that that the last book is out of print, but the list, like the rest of the page, will evolve]

Zupanc, G. Behavioral neurobiology: an integrative approach. Oxford University Press, 2003

Webb, B. Can robots make good models of biological behaviour? Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 24(6): 1033-1050, 2001

 Srinivasan, M. and Venkatesh, S. (Eds). From living eyes to seeing machines. Oxford University Press, 1997