Skip to main content

Developmental Neural Networks for Agents

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2801))

Abstract

A system for generating neural networks to control simulated agents is described. The networks develop during the lifetime of the agents in a process guided by the genotype and affected by the agent’s experience. Evolution was used to generate effective controllers of this kind for orientation and discrimination tasks as introduced by Beer. This scheme allows these behaviours to be generated quickly and effectively and may offer insights into the effects of developmental processes on cognition. For example, development may allow environmental regularities to be recognised without genetic prespecification. Possible future research into the abilities of these controllers to adapt to radical changes and to undertake widely varying tasks with a single genotype is described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Beer, R.D.: Toward the evolution of dynamical neural networks for minimally cognitive behavior. In: SAB4 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Di Paolo, E.A.: Homeostatic adaptation to inversion of the visual field and other sensorimotor disruptions. In: Proc. of SAB 2000 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Elliot, T., Shadbolt, N.: Growth and repair: Instantiating a biologically inspired model of neuronal development on the Khepera robot. Robotics and Autonomous Systems 36, 149–169 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Elman, J.: Learning and development in neural networks: The importance of starting small. Cognition 48, 71–99 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Floreano, D., Mondada, F.: Evolution of plastic neurocontrollers for situated agent. In: SAB4 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Floreano, D., Mondada, F.: Evolutionary neurocontrollers for autonomous mobile robots. Neural Networks 11, 1461–1478 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gruau, F., Whitley, D.: Adding learning to the cellular development of neural networks: Evolution and the Baldwin effect. Evolutionary Computation 1, 213–234 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gruau, F.: Neural Network Synthesis Using Cellular Encoding and the Genetic Algorithm PhD. Thesis, Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, LPIMAG (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gruau, F.: Automatic Definition of Modular Neural Networks. Adaptive Behaviour 3(2), 151–183 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Held, R.: Plasticity in sensory-motor systems. Scientific American 213(5), 84–94 (1965)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ivanco, T., Greenough, W.: Physiological consequences of morphologically detectable synaptic plasticity: potential uses for examining recovery following damage. Neuropharmacology 39, 765–776 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jakobi, N.: Harnessing Morphogenesis Technical Report School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences, University of Sussex (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Karmiloff-Smith, A.: Beyond Modularity: A Developmental Perspective on Cognitive Science. MIT Press, Cambridge (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kolb, B., Forgie, M., Gibb, R., Gorny, G., Rowntree, S.: Age, Experience and the Changing Brain. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews 22(2), 143–159 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nolfi, S., Miglino, O., Parisi, D.: Phenotypic plasticity in evolving neural networks. In: Proceedings of the International Conference From Perception to Action pp. 146–157 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Quartz, S., Sejnowski, T.: The neural basis of cognitive development: a constructivist manifesto. Behavioural and Brain Sciences 20, 537–596 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Quartz, S.: The constructivist brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 3(2), 48–57 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Quinlan, P.: Structural change and development in real and artificial neural networks. Neural Networks 11, 577–599 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Slocum, A., Downey, D., Beer, R.: Further Experiments in the Evolution of Minimally Cognitive Behaviour. In: SAB6 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  20. van Praag, H., et al.: Functional neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. Nature 415, 1030–1034 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Balaam, A. (2003). Developmental Neural Networks for Agents. In: Banzhaf, W., Ziegler, J., Christaller, T., Dittrich, P., Kim, J.T. (eds) Advances in Artificial Life. ECAL 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2801. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-39432-7_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-39432-7_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-20057-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-39432-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics