Classifier generalist

Classifiers that contain many symbols in their condition part are known as generalists, as they will be satisfied by a wide variety of different input messages. The first classifier given above is the supreme generalist, since any message turns it on. By contrast, classifiers whose condition part contains... 

The distinction between specialist and generalist classifiers is quantified by the classifier specificity. The specificity of a classifier is determined by the number of symbols that it contains thus, it is a function of the form of the classifier. The specificity is larger the greater the number of Os and Is in the string, and is equal to the ratio of the total number of Os and Is, b to the total length of the string,... 

In a complex environment, an effective set of classifiers will contain both specialists and generalists. Figure 9.6 illustrates how these rules can work together to control the environment. 

Since generalists have low specificity, their bids for a given classifier strength will be lower than bids from specialists and they may fail in their bids unless they are of very general utility, so often receive a reward and, thus, have high strength. Notice that the generalist /action has a specificity of zero, so if this classifier is a member of the classifier list, any bid it makes cannot succeed. 

By means of intracellular recording and staining methods, we have examined the responses of AL neurons to stimulation of the ipsilateral antenna with each of the sex pheromone components as well as partial and complete blends (75). In accordance with results of behavioral and sensory-receptor studies, components A and B are the most effective and potent sex pheromone components for eliciting physiological responses in the male-specific AL neurons. On the basis of these responses, we classified the neurons into two broad categories pheromone generalists and pheromone specialists (76). Pheromone generalists are neurons that respond similarly to stimulation of either the component A input channel or the component B input channel and do not respond differently when the complete, natural pheromone blend is presented to the antenna. In contrast, pheromone specialists are neurons that can discriminate between antennal stimulation with component A and stimulation with component B. There are several types of pheromone specialists. Some... 

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