There is growing recognition that fundamental issues in basic research in the health sciences must develop increasingly powerful theoretical approaches for both understanding and controlling complex systems at multiple levels of organization. The proposed research addresses this problem by extending, theoretically, methodologically, and conceptually, the use on individual-based modeling to the study of individual, social and group behavior. The proposed research is unique in that one of its central aims is to evolve models (e.g., using simulated annealing or genetic algorithms) from data, resulting in surrogate individuals that behave like the complex organisms studied. The goals of the proposed research will be achieved by using infant Norway rat pups to study (i) group dynamics, (ii) sex preferences, (iii) group and individual behavior on thermogradients, (iv) group and individual behavior on illumination gradients, and (v) the interaction of thermo- and illumination gradients. Finally, these models will be used to develop Monte Carlo statistical approaches for studying the behavioral development of complex adaptive systems. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH065555-01A2
Application #
6681144
Study Section
Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes 3 (BBBP)
Program Officer
Brandon, Susan
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2008-05-31
Budget Start
2003-07-01
Budget End
2004-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$100,238
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Schank, Jeffrey C; Koehnle, Thomas J (2009) Pseudoreplication is a pseudoproblem. J Comp Psychol 123:421-33
Schank, Jeffrey C (2009) Early locomotor and social effects in vasopressin deficient neonatal rats. Behav Brain Res 197:166-77
Schank, Jeffrey C (2008) The development of locomotor kinematics in neonatal rats: an agent-based modeling analysis in group and individual contexts. J Theor Biol 254:826-42