Modeling Modulatory Aspects in Association Processes

Abstract

It is thought that the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex are involved in learning and memory systems and that groups of cholinergic and adrenergic neurons may function as modulators in the activity of those systems [9]. It is also believed that association learning is very important in the control of motivational and emotional behaviours [8]. Furthermore, it has been suggested that neurons involved in homeostatic regulation mechanisms (evolutionarily old structures in the brain) are related to neocortical neurons (evolutionarily modem sectors) via emotion [3]. On the other hand, modularity has been often considered in systems simulating brain activity [5, 1]. In this work, we propose a modular system with a particular module able to evaluate some variables reflecting the own system functions, in order to simulate internal states. According to that, this module has a modulatory role on the other modules’ computations. Our aim is to show the properties of the system proposed under the influence of this particular module.