Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

949

Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Computer Science

Committee Chair

Stan Franklin

Committee Member

King-Ip Lin

Committee Member

Vasile Rus

Abstract

This thesis explains how the infant vervet, Chlorocebus pygerthrus, learns the meaning of vervet alarm calls using the Learning Intelligent Distribution Agent's (LIDA) perceptual learning mechanism. We consider an approch of multiple meanings which corresponds to a feeling-based meaning, an action-based meaning, and a referential meaning. The first part of simulations was performed to test the learning of the meaning of these alarm calls while the infant is attached physically to the mother. The second part of simulations was performed to study the infant's understanding of these alarm calls while the infant is detached physically from the mother. The results show that a LIDA-based agent is capable to learn such multiple meanings. The agent learned in sequence the feeling-based meaning, the action-based meaning, and the referential meaning. The LIDA agent achieved a good performance of understanding. This was verified by checking the correct escape action after hearing a specific alarm call.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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