Insigneo member Dr Hazem Toutouni, Lecturer in Psychology from the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield will give a talk on 'Can animal learning inspire better machine learning?' on Tuesday 20 February 2024 at 13:00.

Abstract:

Can animal learning inspire better machine learning?

Reinforcement learning theory has been very influential in explaining a wide range of reward-driven adaptive behaviours in many species. Reinforcement learning also spearheaded many of the recent big successes in machine learning and AI. In this talk, I will present data-driven computational accounts of two complex animal reinforcement learning problems: generating the rich sound inventory of birdsong, and rapid learning in complex, volatile environments in rodents and humans. I will argue that uncovering the neural algorithms that underlie complex adaptive behaviours can aid developing stronger, more efficient AI technologies, and provide the foundation for personalised diagnostic tools in psychiatry.