Modeling Complex Adaptive Social Behavior

描述（由申请人提供）：越来越多的人认识到，健康科学基础研究中的基本问题必须发展出越来越强大的理论方法，以理解和控制多层次组织的复杂系统。本研究通过从理论上、方法上和概念上将基于个体的建模扩展到个人、社会和群体行为的研究中来解决这个问题。这项研究的独特之处在于，它的中心目标之一是从数据中进化模型（例如，使用模拟退火或遗传算法），从而产生行为像所研究的复杂生物体一样的替代个体。拟议研究的目标将通过使用挪威大鼠幼崽来研究(i)群体动力学，（ii）性别偏好，（iii）温度梯度下的群体和个体行为，（iv）照明梯度下的群体和个体行为，以及(v)温度和照明梯度的相互作用来实现。最后，这些模型将用于开发蒙特卡罗统计方法来研究复杂自适应系统的行为发展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There is growing recognition that fundamental issues in basic research in the health sciences must develop increasingly powerful theoretical approaches for both understanding and controlling complex systems at multiple levels of organization. The proposed research addresses this problem by extending, theoretically, methodologically, and conceptually, the use on individual-based modeling to the study of individual, social and group behavior. The proposed research is unique in that one of its central aims is to evolve models (e.g., using simulated annealing or genetic algorithms) from data, resulting in surrogate individuals that behave like the complex organisms studied. The goals of the proposed research will be achieved by using infant Norway rat pups to study (i) group dynamics, (ii) sex preferences, (iii) group and individual behavior on thermogradients, (iv) group and individual behavior on illumination gradients, and (v) the interaction of thermo- and illumination gradients. Finally, these models will be used to develop Monte Carlo statistical approaches for studying the behavioral development of complex adaptive systems.