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I. Introduction and Background
Page 1
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II. The Static Model
Pages 2 - 3
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III. The Dynamic Model
Pages 4 - 5 - 6
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IV. Future Work
Page 7
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Figures 1-6
Pages 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13
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References
Page 14
The dynamic operation of the offense motivational system during a strong attack is shown in Figure 3. Such a strong attack might be made by a wild territorial male against an unfamiliar male intruder. The wild territorial male rat has a high androgen level (3-1) and, therefore, responds strongly to the male odor of its opponent (3-2). Furthermore, wild animal odors are greatly differentiated (in contrast to laboratory animals that all share the same odors), and the odor of an unfamiliar opponent is very unfamiliar (3-2). Under these conditions, the offense motivational mechanism is quickly and strongly activated (3-3) and it, in turn, rapidly and strongly reinforces its input sensory analyzers (3-4). Given the high level of motivation, the presence of appropriate visual and/or auditory releasing stimuli from the opponent produces a rapid strong approach locomotion (3-4). The attacking animal leaps upon the opponent which, in turn, produces a new set of releasing stimuli consisting of vibrissal and ventral tactile contact with the body of the opponent (3-5). Immediately a bite-and-kick attack is released which is compatible with the simultaneous motor patterns of approach and full aggressive posture (3-6). As a result of the bite-and-kick attack, the animals are briefly separated and there is a negative feedback from the motor patterning mechanism to the offense motivational mechanism (3-7). Motivational inputs are so strong, however, that they overwhelm the negative feedback and the subsequent approach again produces the releasing stimuli from body contact with the opponent (3-8). Thus, the sequence of bite-and-kick attack is repeated (3-9), and the entire sequence will be continued over and over until the opponent runs away.
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