HABITUATION
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1503 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
A very simple form of training through which a living system subjected to repeated stimuli tends to produce diminishing responses (after W.R. ASHBY, 1960, p.189).
Habituation is primarely a property of neural systems. It “consists in the weakening of existing (wired-in) synaptic connections with repeated stimulation” (M. BUNGE, 1979, p.163).
According to ASHBY this behavior “…is to be expected to some degree in all polystable systems when they are subjected to a repetitive stimulus or disturbance” (Ibid).
This of course, is true only if the stimulus or disturbance is non-destructive, or so dangerous that it elicits other types of reactions (as for example fighting or escaping).
It would be interesting to verify if artificial organisms could be trained in this way.