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Behavior Manipulation (behavior + manipulation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Psychology	50%

Selected Abstracts

Through Neural Stimulation to Behavior Manipulation: A Novel Method for Analyzing Dynamical Cognitive Models

COGNITIVE SCIENCE - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010
Thomas Hope
Abstract The dynamical systems' approach to cognition (Dynamicism) promises computational models that effectively embed cognitive processing within its more natural behavioral context. Dynamical cognitive models also pose difficult, analytical challenges, which motivate the development of new analytical methodology. We start by illustrating the challenge by applying two conventional analytical methods to a well-known Dynamicist model of categorical perception. We then introduce our own analysis, which works by analogy with neural stimulation methods, and which yields some novel insights into the way the model works. We then extend and apply the method to a second Dynamicist model, which captures the key psychophysical trends that emerge when humans and animals compare two numbers. The results of the analysis,which reveals units with tuning functions that are monotonically related to the magnitudes of the numbers that the agents must compare,offer a clear contribution to the contentious debate concerning the way number information is encoded in the brain. [source]

Why pest management needs behavioral ecology and vice versa

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007
Bernard D. ROITBERG
Abstract Behavior manipulation is becoming an accepted tactic in pest management, however, there are many ways in which the approach can be improved. In this review, I explain how and why insect behavioral response to various stimuli can vary dramatically under different conditions and that it is this variable response that must be understood before behavior manipulation becomes widely accepted in pest management programs. I propose that entomologists use concepts from behavioral ecology to manipulate pest behavior in a predictable manner. The key is to study behaviors that maximize fitness in natural environments and then exploit these behaviors in agriculture. I provide examples from a range of behavior manipulation tactics, including use of attracticides, kairomone-mediated biological control, use of marking pheromones, and push-pull manipulation. [source]

Experimentally manipulated change in children's proactive and reactive aggressive behavior

AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 3 2003
Nancy C. Phillips
Abstract The current study assessed the effectiveness of two behavior manipulations created to differentially lower aggressive responses in a laboratory task. It was hypothesized that the reactive anger manipulation would have the greatest effect for reactive aggressive behavior and the instrumental manipulation would significantly affect proactive aggressive behavior and slightly affect the reactive behavior. Fifty participants played pinball in competition for points against an unknown peer, whose responses were actually controlled by the experimenter. Participants could push a noise button, sending the peer an annoying noise; a tilt button, interfering with the opponent's game; or a no answer button, offering a pro-social alternative to aggression. After playing four rounds, participants were randomly assigned to either a reactive anger or a positive instrumental manipulation group; they then played pinball again for four rounds. Results indicate that the instrumental manipulation significantly lowered aggressive responses for both reactive and proactive behavior. The reactive manipulation effected aggressive responses only for use of the noise button and produced significantly lower levels of anger. Aggr. Behav. 29:215,227, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]