New from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological
Sciences

Modelling natural action selection

Organised and edited by Tony J Prescott, Joanna J Bryson and Anil K Seth

SPECIAL OFFER PRICE TO SSAISB MEMBERS: £47.50/US (usual price:
£59.50/US0)

Action selection, at its simplest, is the problem that every human and
animal faces at each instant of "what to do next?". To scientists this
problem raises a plethora of further questions: How do we know how to do the
right thing? Why is it that we sometimes make poor choices? How do we plan
ahead for complex tasks and remember what we are trying to do as we go
along?  Are there central decision-making mechanisms in the brain or do
actions somehow 'select themselves' through the interaction of many
concurrent brain processes? What happens when different parts of the brain
want to do different things? How do the actions selected by individuals
shape and change the social groups in which they live? 
 
This theme issue addresses these questions by focusing on a particular
strategy for finding scientific explanations - computer modelling.  The
contributions employ state-of-the-art modelling techniques ranging from
large networks of simulated brain cells, through to models of individuals
(people or animals) viewed as agents operating in simulated worlds. The
research has broad applications, from understanding brain disorders such as
Parkinson's disease and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, to
explaining how we choose which political parties we vote for, and how they
adapt to increase their appeal to us.
 
For further information on abstracts or articles or to purchase the print
copy please visit www.publishing.royalsoc.ac.uk/natural-action  
Please quote reference TB1485 to qualify for the discounted rate