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SUMMARY:In search of adaptability - Alireza Soltani (Dartmouth College)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20220118T140000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20220118T150000Z
UID:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/a5690e15-67da-4a4b-a477-85a3234c8cbc/
DESCRIPTION:While changing on many timescales\, the world around us looks 
 rather still at any point in time because how our perception works. To be 
 successful\, however\, living organisms should be able to adapt their beha
 vioural responses according to timescales of regularities and changes in t
 he environment. Identifying these timescales can be beneficial in at least
  two ways: (1) to adopt a proper response\; for example\, foraging at the 
 right time of the day\; (2) to use deviation from what is predicted to det
 ect drastic environmental changes to adjust response\, for example\, by mo
 ving to a new location when the environment is no longer rewarding. Import
 antly\, the brain possesses multiple mechanisms for responding to and proc
 essing information at different timescales\, allowing us to learn and pred
 ict regularities of the environment and to detect its changes. But is it p
 ossible to benefit from both unboundedly?  \n\nIn this talk\, I argue that
  this is not possible due to a general tradeoff in learning: precision in 
 learning regularities of the environment limits flexibility in adjusting w
 hat is learned and vice versa. On a brighter note\, I will share some of o
 ur findings about different sources of flexibility in learning and choice 
 behaviour. Specifically\, I will use computational methods and experimenta
 l data across multiple species to address: (1) how is the amount or speed 
 of learning determined and adjusted? (2) how are learning strategies deter
 mined and adjusted? (3) how are different sources of information combined 
 to allow flexibility? and (4) how are such adjustments reflected in timesc
 ales of neural responses?  Addressing these questions is more important th
 an ever when facing multiple global challenges\, because adaptability is w
 hat made us a successful species and can save us too.\nSpeakers:\nAlireza 
 Soltani (Dartmouth College)
LOCATION:Venue to be announced
TZID:Europe/London
URL:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/a5690e15-67da-4a4b-a477-85a3234c8cbc/
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DESCRIPTION:Talk:In search of adaptability - Alireza Soltani (Dartmouth Co
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