Animal Behaviour

Question 1

Reflexes

Answer 1

Automatic responses to simple stimuli and are recognized as reliable behavioural responses following a given environmental stimulus

Question 2

Simple reflex

Answer 2

Controlled at the spinal cord, connecting a 2-neuron pathway from the receptor (afferent neuron) to the motor (efferent neuron)
The efferent nerve innervates the effector

Question 3

Complex reflex

Answer 3

Involve neural integration at a higher level of the brainstem or cerebrum

Question 4

Fixed-action patterns

Answer 4

Complex, coordinated, innate behavioural responses to specific patterns of stimulation in the environment
Relatively unlikely to be modified by learning.
The particular stimuli are more readily modified, provided certain cues or elements of the stimuli are maintained

Question 5

Releaser

Answer 5

The stimulus that elicits fixed-action patterns

Question 6

Circadian rhythms

Answer 6

Daily cycles of behaviour

Initiated intrinsically but modified by external factors

Question 7

Environmental stimuli

Answer 7

Periodic stimuli that stimulate established and maintained patterns of behaviour

Question 8

Learning

Answer 8

Complex phenomenon that involves adaptive responses to the environment
Capacity for learning adaptive responses is closely correlated with the degree of neurologic development

Question 9

Habituation

Answer 9

One of the simplest learning patterns involving the suppression of the normal start response to stimuli
Repeated stimulation results in decreased responsiveness to that stimulus

Question 10

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 10

If a stimulus is no longer regularly applied, the response tends to recover over time

Question 11

Classical conditioning

Answer 11

Pavolvian
The association of a normally autonomic or visceral response with an environmental stimulus
Conditioned reflex
The normal, innate stimulus for a reflex is replaced by one chosen by the experimenter

Question 12

Pavlov’s experiments

Answer 12

Salivation reflex in dogs to a bell
If a dog was presented with an arbitrary stimulus (bell) and then presented with food, it would eventually salivate on hearing the bell alone

Question 13

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 13

An established (innate) reflex

Question 14

Unconditioned response

Answer 14

The response that is naturally elicited

Question 15

Neutral stimulus

Answer 15

A stimulus that will not by itself elicits the response prior to conditioning

Question 16

Conditioned stimulus

Answer 16

The neutral stimulus is able to elicit the response in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus

Question 17

Conditioned reflex

Answer 17

The product of the conditioning experience

Question 18

Conditioning

Answer 18

The establishment of a new reflex by the addition of a new, previously neutral stimulus to the set of stimuli that are already capable of triggering the response

Question 19

Pseudoconditioning

Answer 19

The ‘neutral’ stimulus is able to elicit the response even before conditioning and is not really a neutral stimulus

Question 20

Operant/instrumental conditioning

Answer 20

Involves conditioning responses to stimuli with the use of reward or reinforcement that increases the likelihood that the behaviour will appear

Question 21

Positive reinforcement

Answer 21

Includes providing food, light, or electrical stimulation of the animal’s brain “pleasure centers”
The animal becomes more likely to repeat the desired behavioural response
Poistive connection between the action and reward

Question 22

Negative reinforcement

Answer 22

Involves stimulating the brain’s pleasure centers but links the lack of certain behaviour with a reward
Negative connection between action and reward

Question 23

Punishment

Answer 23

Stop exhibiting a given behaviour pattern
The organism is less likely to repeat the behavioural response
Negative connection between the stimulus and response

Question 24

Habit family hierarchy

Answer 24

A stimulus is usually associated with several possible responses, each response having a different probability of occurrence.
Reward strengthens a specific behavioural response and raises its order in the hierarchy

Question 25

Extinction

Answer 25

The gradual elimination of conditioned responses in the absence of reinforcement

Question 26

Instrumental conditioning extinction

Answer 26

The response is diminished and eliminated in the absence of reinforcement
The response will rapidly reappear if the reinforcement is returned

Question 27

Classical conditioning extinction

Answer 27

When the unconditioned stimulus is removed or was never sufficiently paired with the conditioned stimulus

Question 28

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 28

The recovery of the conditioned response after extinction

Question 29

Stimulus generalization

Answer 29

The ability of a conditioned organism to respond to stimuli that are similar but not identical to the original conditioned stimulus

Question 30

Stimulus discrimination

Answer 30

The ability of the learning organism to respond differentially to slightly different stimuli

Question 31

Stimulus generalization gradient

Answer 31

Established after the organism has been conditioned

Stimuli further away from the original conditioned stimulus elicit responses with decreasing magnitude

Question 32

Imprinting

Answer 32

Environmental patterns or objects presented to a developing organism during a brief critical period in early life become accepted permanently as an element of its behavioural environment

Question 33

Critical period

Answer 33

Specific time periods during an animal’s early development when it is physiologically able to develop specific behavioural patterns

Question 34

Intraspecific interactions

Answer 34

Means of communication between members of a species

Question 35

Behavioural Display

Answer 35

An innate behaviour that has evolved as a signal for communication between members of the same species

Question 36

Reproductive displays

Answer 36

Specific behaviours that function as signals in preparation for mating

Question 37

Agonistic displays

Answer 37

Sequences of actions in response to conflict with other organisms

Question 38

Pecking order

Answer 38

Social hierarchy

Minimizes violent intraspecific aggressions by defining stable relationships among members of the group

Question 39

Territoriality

Answer 39

A limited area from intrusion by other members of the species
Adaptive functions of distributing members of the species so the environmental resources are not depleted in a small region and reduce intraspecific competition

Question 40

Pheromones

Answer 40

Influence the behaviour of other members of the same species

Question 41

Releaser pheromones

Answer 41

Trigger a reversible behavioural change in the recipient

Sex-attractants, alarm or toxic defensive substances

Question 42

Primer pheromones

Answer 42

Produce long-term behavioural and physiological alterations in receiving animals
Limit sexual reproduction in areas of high animal density
Important in social insects where they regulate role determination and reproductive capacities