Modelling natural action selection

Action selection is the task of doing the right thing at the right time. It requires the assessment of available alternatives, executing those most appropriate, and resolving conflicts among competing goals and possibilities. Using advanced computational modelling, this book explores cutting-edge research into action selection in nature from a wide range of disciplines, from neuroscience to behavioural ecology, and even political science. It delivers new insights into both detailed and systems-level attributes of natural intelligence and demonstrates advances in methodological practice. Contributions from leading researchers cover issues including whether biological action selection is optimal, neural substrates for action selection in the vertebrate brain, perceptual selection in decision making, and interactions between group and individual action selection. This first integrated review of action selection in nature contains a balance of review and original research material, consolidating current knowledge into a valuable reference for researchers while illustrating potential paths for future studies.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Foreword / Peter M. Todd -- 1. General introduction / Anil K. Seth, Joanna J. Bryson, and Tony J. Prescott -- pt. I. Rational and optimal decision making. 2. Introduction to pt. I : rational and optimal decision making / Anil K. Seth, Tony J. Prescott, and Joanna J. Bryson ; 3. Do we expect natural selection to produce rational behaviour? / Alasdair I. Houston, John M. McNamara, and Mark D. Steer ; 4. Optimised agent-based modelling of action selection / Anil K. Seth ; 5. Compromise strategies for action selection / Frederick L. Crabbe ; 6. Extending a biologically inspired model of choice : multi-alternatives, nonlinearity and value based multidimensional choice / Rafal Bogacz, Marius Usher, Jiaxiang Zhang, and James L. McClelland ; 7. Bayesian approaches to modelling action selection / Max Berniker, Kunlin Wei, and Konrad Kording ; 8. Post-retrieval inhibition in sequential memory search / Eddy J. Davelaar --

pt. II. Computational neuroscience models. 9. Introduction to pt. II : computational neuroscience models / Tony J. Prescott, Joanna J. Bryson, and Anil K. Seth ; 10. Action selection and refinement in subcortical loops through basal ganglia and cerebellum / James C. Houk ;…