Modeling Hydra Behavior Using Methods Founded in Behavior-Based Robotics

Chapter 3Animal behaviorThe aim of this work is to model, using the framework of BBR, the overall behavior of asimple biological organism. The following two chapters introduce the relevant theory forthat approach. In this chapter, some remarks concerning modeling animal behavior willfirst be given, aimed at putting the problem into context. The chapter then continues witha brief introduction to animal behavior. In the next chapter, an introduction to the relevanttheory from BBR for this thesis project will be given.First, it should be noted that modeling behavior in biological organisms (in any butthe simplest cases) concerns modeling a system which is far from completely understood.When modeling biological behavior, not only physical laws apply, but also physiologicalconditions, internal drives, and environmental context [72]. Also complicating the issue isthe interaction between success and survival at the individual and species levels. Hence,inevitably a number of questions arise regarding the purpose and aim of the modeling task.In e.g. [18, 35, 65], behavioral modeling is discussed in more detail. See also e.g. [21] fora more general introduction to the modeling of biological systems. In addition, B. Webbhas addressed the question of modeling biological behavior by defining seven dimensionson which models of biological behavior can differ [70]. While a thorough discussionon aspects of biological behavioral models is beyond the scope of this text, it should bementioned that a behavioral model of a biological organism may aim at describing theorganism on one or more out of several levels. In [1], it is argued that the field of BBRcan gain from the study of at least three such levels, namely neuroscience 1 , psychology 2 ,and ethology (see Chapter 1), as described below.Neuroscience: This level concerns the neural processes underlying behavior, e.g. neuralnetwork properties such as synaptic transmission. See e.g. [30, 44] for the modelingof neural processes.1 The study of the nervous system.2 The study of mind and behavior.7