Learning in individual organisms, genes, machines, and groups: A new way of defining and relating learning in different systems

titleLearning in individual organisms, genes, machines, and groups: A new way of defining and relating learning in different systems
start_date2023/11/08
schedule14h
onlineno
location_infoSalle Duyckaerts – B32 & Virtual
summaryLearning is a central concept in many scientific disciplines. Communication about research on learning is, however, hampered by the fact that different researchers define learning in different ways. In this paper, we introduce the extended functional definition of learning that can be used across scientific disciplines. We provide examples of how the definition can be applied to individual organisms, genes, machines, and groups. Using the extended functional definition (a) reveals a heuristic framework for research that can be applied across scientific disciplines, (b) allows researchers to engage in intersystem analyses that relate the behavior and learning of different systems, and (c) clarifies how learning differs from other phenomena such as (changes in) behavior, damaging systems, and programming systems
responsiblesGrégoire