Taxes Behaviors: Simple Signals, Complex Behaviors

This lecture explores taxes behaviors, which involve organisms responding to environmental signals. Starting with the concept of taxes and its origins in robotics, the instructor discusses how simple algorithms can lead to complex behaviors. By examining the work of William Gray Walter and Valentino Braitenberg, the lecture delves into the idea that even seemingly intricate behaviors can be explained by basic algorithms. The discussion extends to the application of taxes behaviors in neuroscience and psychology, highlighting the importance of starting with simple systems to understand complex behaviors. Through examples like line following in robotics and active sensing in biological systems, the lecture illustrates how organisms navigate gradients and make decisions based on sensory inputs. The session concludes with a preview of studies on olfactory taxes in humans and radio taxes in fish, showcasing how different organisms exhibit taxes behaviors.