The system of behavior [B] consists of those transactional interrelationships between organism [O] and environment [E] that govern their commerce. The biological significance of such [O]-[E] interrelationships, their truing through learning, as well as those systems involved in the subordinate and superordinate regulation of behavior, are clear when life, itself, is seen as an emergent property of the [O]-[E] complex. In addition, a systems view of these hierarchically organized complexities suggests that they adaptively self-stabilize and self-organize, over time, as they participate in [L], the organism-environment complex. Such a transactional analysis of biobehavioral systems resonates well with the most basic axioms of Pavlov's paradigm.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Brain dynamics, psychophysiological uncertainty and behavioral learning.

The present paper takes a first step toward the integration of recent findings on brain dynamics and learning into established fields of psychophysiological science. Leading-edge studies of brain dynamics have shown that the brain manifests an inherent variability and that, when new stimuli (i.e., "problems") are presented to the organism, brain chaos increases. Similarly, many previous studies using a wide variety of physiological and behavioral measures have shown that "psychophysiological uncertainty" is associated with novel stimuli, novice behavioral performance, and new stimulus-stimulus and response-stimulus contingencies. Such uncertainty may ultimately be resolved through some form of learning. Along with the general changes in physiological and behavioral activity, increases in brain chaos may usher the organism into an exploratory mode which serves as a catalyst for learning.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A systems view of the orienting reflex.

According to Pavlov's observations, the orienting reflex is a specific response to a specific stimulus, bound together in a cause and effect relationship, and having the capacity to specifically inhibit or suppress weaker, conditional reflexes. Contemporary psychophysiological research has added to the definition the well-replicated fact that the total reaction to a novel stimulus is a highly generalized increase in variability that temporarily appears in many basic and vital physiological functions--"organismic uncertainty." A systems view of the orienting reflex may be used to complement Pavlov's understanding.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biological differentiation. Implications for models of nervous control.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Behavior↗