[From Bruce Abbott (941216.1940 EST)]
Bill, I was beginning to wonder if you got stuck at the Mall--I hadn't heard
from you in two days. Your post (indicated below) arrived here in only around
four hours (allowing for the change in time zones).
Bill Powers (941216.1330 MST)
Bruce Abbott (941214.1730 EST)
Bill, a reminder: you were going to have something to say regarding my
post on RC flying. Also, I've had no reply to my question about
saccharine-motivated learning and reorganization...
My reply about RC flying was about as far as I care to go: you can
explain the switch either as an internal perceptual coordinate rotation
(you imagine yourself in the approaching airplane looking back toward
your body) or as a higher-level system reversing the sign of an output
function at a lower level. I suppose some people might do it one way and
others another way. And of course there are ways I haven't thought of.
Finding out how a specific person accomplishes the required reversal
would call for a pretty extended research program.
In fact, novice pilots are usually told by their trainers to try to picture
themselves "in" the aircraft, and I suppose some are able to do so. My
solution involved your second approach: reversing the sign. But more
generally, how does a higher-level system detect that the lower-level's output
function sign needs to be reversed (or the gain changed)? And how,
physically, does it accomplish this reversal? Is this reorganization? If
not, what is it?
I also replied to the saccharine-and-reorganization question, and don't
have anything more intelligent to say. I'll have to look up your post
and see if I left anything hanging. Remind me. Maybe you said some
things I haven't seen yet, which are traveling via Pluto.
Yes, you said that the saccharine is being in some sense "mistaken" for a
nutrient sugar. But saccharine, while sweet and attractive to rats, does
nothing to correct an intrinsic reference level, if by that you mean something
needed for survival. And the rats will work for saccharine even when they
have become satiated on actual nutrient foods. So what triggers the
reorganization necessary for the rat to acquire lever-pressing in this
situation? Put another way, is reorganization theory a kind of "drive
reduction" explanation for learning?
Approval for my research protocol arrived this morning, so I am clear to order
some rats. However, another roadblock has appeared: Physical Plant wants to
overhaul the ventilation system in the animal care facility, a project they
anticipate will take around 90 days to complete. We are meeting Monday to
discuss when would be the best time to do this, as all research will have to
be suspended for the duration. If they decide that sooner is better, we may
have to postpone getting started on the PCT operant project. I'll keep you
posted, of course.
Another thing to mention is that our two aging VAX computers are being
replaced over the holiday break, thus disrupting our internet communication
link, which is handled by one of the VAXes. The good news is that you will
get a break from my incessant questioning, complaining, and other annoyances.
I'll try to make up for it when I get back. (:-> Meanwhile, we've still got a
few days, so how about that program you've been working on?
Regards,
Bruce