Neuronal oscillations, information dynamics, and behaviour: an evolutionary robotics study

Oscillatory neural activity is closely related to cognition and behaviour, with synchronisation mechanisms playing a key role in the integration and functional organization of different cortical areas. Nevertheless, its informational content and relationship with behaviour - and hence cognition - are still to be fully understood. This thesis is concerned with better understanding the role of neuronal oscillations and information dynamics towards the generation of embodied cognitive behaviours and with investigating the efficacy of such systems as practical robot controllers. To this end, we develop a novel model based on the Kuramoto model of coupled phase oscillators and perform three minimally cognitive evolutionary robotics experiments. The analyses focus both on a behavioural level description, investigating the robot’s trajectories, and on a mechanism level description, exploring the variables’ dynamics and the information transfer properties within and between the agent’s body and the environment. The first experiment demonstrates that in an active categorical perception task under normal and inverted vision, networks with a definite, but not too strong, propensity for synchronisation are more able to reconfigure, to organise themselves functionally, and to adapt to different behavioural conditions. The second experiment relates assembly constitution and phase reorganisation dynamics to performance in supervised and unsupervised learning tasks. We demonstrate that assembly dynamics facilitate the evolutionary process, can account for varying degrees of stimuli modulation of the sensorimotor interactions, and can contribute to solving different tasks leaving aside other plasticity mechanisms. The third experiment explores an associative learning task considering a more realistic connectivity pattern between neurons. We demonstrate that networks with travelling waves as a default solution perform poorly compared to networks that are normally synchronised in the absence of stimuli. Overall, this thesis shows that neural synchronisation dynamics, when suitably flexible and reconfigurable, produce an asymmetric flow of information and can generate minimally cognitive embodied behaviours

Synchronisation effects on the behavioural performance and information dynamics of a simulated minimally cognitive robotic agent

Oscillatory activity is ubiquitous in nervous systems, with solid evidence that synchronisation mechanisms underpin cognitive processes. Nevertheless, its informational content and relationship with behaviour are still to be fully understood. In addition, cognitive systems cannot be properly appreciated without taking into account brain–body– environment interactions. In this paper, we developed a model based on the Kuramoto Model of coupled phase oscillators to explore the role of neural synchronisation in the performance of a simulated robotic agent in two different minimally cognitive tasks. We show that there is a statistically significant difference in performance and evolvability depending on the synchronisation regime of the network. In both tasks, a combination of information flow and dynamical analyses show that networks with a definite, but not too strong, propensity for synchronisation are more able to reconfigure, to organise themselves functionally and to adapt to different behavioural conditions. The results highlight the asymmetry of information flow and its behavioural correspondence. Importantly, it also shows that neural synchronisation dynamics, when suitably flexible and reconfigurable, can generate minimally cognitive embodied behaviour

Evolutionary robotics and neuroscience

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On cognition, adaptation and homeostasis : analysis and synthesis of bio-inspired computational tools applied to robot autonomous navigation

Orientadores: Fernando Jose Von Zuben, Patricia Amancio VargasDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: Este trabalho tem como objetivos principais estudar, desenvolver e aplicar duas ferramentas computacionais bio-inspiradas em navegação autônoma de robôs. A primeira delas é representada pelos Sistemas Classificadores com Aprendizado, sendo que utilizou-se uma versão da proposta original, baseada em energia, e uma versão baseada em precisão. Adicionalmente, apresenta-se uma análise do processo de evolução das regras de inferência e da população final obtida. A segunda ferramenta trata de um modelo denominado sistema homeostático artificial evolutivo, composto por duas redes neurais artificiais recorrentes do tipo NSGasNets e um sistema endócrino artificial. O ajuste dos parâmetros do sistema é feito por meio de evolução, reduzindo-se a necessidade de codificação e parametrização a priori. São feitas análises de suas peculiaridades e de sua capacidade de adaptação. A motivação das duas propostas está no emprego conjunto de evolução e aprendizado, etapas consideradas fundamentais para a síntese de sistemas complexos adaptativos e modelagem computacional de processos cognitivos. Os experimentos visando validar as propostas envolvem simulação computacional em ambientes virtuais e implementações em um robô real do tipo Khepera II.Abstract: The objectives of this work are to study, develop and apply two bio-inspired computational tools in robot autonomous navigation. The first tool is represented by Learning Classifier Systems, using the strength-based and the accuracy-based models. Additionally, the rule evolution mechanisms and the final evolved populations are analyzed. The second tool is a model called evolutionary artificial homeostatic system, composed of two NSGasNet recurrent artificial neural networks and an artificial endocrine system. The parameters adjustment is made by means of evolution, reducing the necessity of a priori coding and parametrization. Analysis of the system's peculiarities and its adaptation capability are made. The motivation of both proposals is on the concurrent use of evolution and learning, steps considered fundamental for the synthesis of complex adaptive systems and the computational modeling of cognitive processes. The experiments, which aim to validate both proposals, involve computational simulation in virtual environments and implementations on real Khepera II robots.MestradoEngenharia de ComputaçãoMestre em Engenharia Elétric

Method for positioning and rehabilitation training with the ExoAtlet® powered exoskeleton

Exoskeletons for locomotion, support, or other uses are becoming more common. An increasing number of studies are demonstrating relevant results in rehabilitation. Here we describe the steps required to properly place and train patients in ExoAtlet ® powered exoskeletons (Moscow, Russia), for which there is currently limited information available. These steps combine actions related to the hardware, software, as well as safety, rehabilitation, and psycho-emotional state of the subject. Training starts with a general preparation of the environment, the equipment, and the patient. When the actual training program begins, the patient needs to gradually learn to perform the different actions that will be required to control the exoskeleton. Initially, training requires transferring weight between legs to guarantee adequate equilibrium control. Then, actions assisted by computer-controlled motors begin, namely: standing up, walking in place, moving small distances and sitting down. As the patient becomes comfortable with the exoskeleton and the cardiovascular system becomes adjusted to the upright position, training can then include walking over longer distances, inclined planes, opening doors, and climbing stairs.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Neuronal assembly dynamics in supervised and unsupervised learning scenarios

The dynamic formation of groups of neurons—neuronal assemblies—is believed to mediate cognitive phenomena at many levels, but their detailed operation and mechanisms of interaction are still to be uncovered. One hypothesis suggests that synchronized oscillations underpin their formation and functioning, with a focus on the temporal structure of neuronal signals. In this context, we investigate neuronal assembly dynamics in two complementary scenarios: the first, a supervised spike pattern classification task, in which noisy variations of a collection of spikes have to be correctly labeled; the second, an unsupervised, minimally cognitive evolutionary robotics tasks, in which an evolved agent has to cope with multiple, possibly conflicting, objectives. In both cases, the more traditional dynamical analysis of the system’s variables is paired with information-theoretic techniques in order to get a broader picture of the ongoing interactions with and within the network. The neural network model is inspired by the Kuramoto model of coupled phase oscillators and allows one to fine-tune the network synchronization dynamics and assembly configuration. The experiments explore the computational power, redundancy, and generalization capability of neuronal circuits, demonstrating that performance depends nonlinearly on the number of assemblies and neurons in the network and showing that the framework can be exploited to generate minimally cognitive behaviors, with dynamic assembly formation accounting for varying degrees of stimuli modulation of the sensorimotor interactions