The misbehavior of value and the discipline of the will

Publication Year
2006

Type

Journal Article
Abstract
Most reinforcement learning models of animal conditioning operate under the convenient, though fictive, assumption that Pavlovian conditioning concerns prediction learning whereas instrumental conditioning concerns action learning. However, it is only through Pavlovian responses that Pavlovian prediction learning is evident, and these responses can act against the instrumental interests of the subjects. This can be seen in both experimental and natural circumstances. In this paper we study the consequences of importing this competition into a reinforcement learning context, and demonstrate the resulting effects in an omission schedule and a maze navigation task. The misbehavior created by Pavlovian values can be quite debilitating; we discuss how it may be disciplined. ©2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Journal
Neural Networks
Volume
19
Issue
8
Pages
1153–1160
ISSN Number
08936080
ISBN
0893-6080 (Print)\$\backslash\$n0893-6080 (Linking)
URL