Behavioral and neural Darwinism: selectionist function and mechanism in adaptive behavior dynamics

Behavioural Processes
J J McDowell

Abstract

An evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics and a theory of neuronal group selection share a common selectionist framework. The theory of behavior dynamics instantiates abstractly the idea that behavior is selected by its consequences. It implements Darwinian principles of selection, reproduction, and mutation to generate adaptive behavior in virtual organisms. The behavior generated by the theory has been shown to be quantitatively indistinguishable from that of live organisms. The theory of neuronal group selection suggests a mechanism whereby the abstract principles of the evolutionary theory may be implemented in the nervous systems of biological organisms. According to this theory, groups of neurons subserving behavior may be selected by synaptic modifications that occur when the consequences of behavior activate value systems in the brain. Together, these theories constitute a framework for a comprehensive account of adaptive behavior that extends from brain function to the behavior of whole organisms in quantitative detail.

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Citations

Apr 8, 2011·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Constantine A Manthous, Andrea B Hollingshead
Mar 24, 2016·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·Andrei Popa, J J McDowell
Feb 15, 2015·Behavioural Processes·J J McDowell, Nicholas T Calvin
Sep 9, 2018·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·J J McDowell, Bryan Klapes
Jan 19, 2019·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·J J McDowell
Sep 26, 2012·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·J J McDowellNicholas T Calvin
Dec 2, 2010·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·J J McDowell, Marcia L Caron
Apr 1, 2011·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·J J McDowell, Andrei Popa
Jul 18, 2020·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·S P SergeevaZ Sh Manasova
Sep 4, 2012·The Behavior Analyst·J J McDowell
Oct 1, 2013·The Behavior Analyst·J J McDowell
Aug 13, 2021·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·J J McDowell, Shubhang Arashanapalli

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