Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society

Networks composed of layers of adaptive elements provide a rigorous explanation for complex associative learning phenomena. In particular, a network composed of three adaptive elements can explain previously intractable phenomena, namely the rapid rate of reacquisitions, learning-to-learn, spontaneous configuration, and negative patterning (the exclusive-OR problem). This paper will compare the results of computer simulations to the behavioral results of classical conditioning experiments using the rabbit's nictitating membrane response.