biology chapter 13

Question 1

reflexes

Answer 1

are simple, automatic responses to simple stimuli

Question 2

simple reflex

Answer 2

is controlled at the spinal cord

Question 3

complex reflex patterns

Answer 3

involve neural integration at a higher level– the brainstem or even the cerebrum

Question 4

fixed action patterns

Answer 4

are complex, coordinated, innate behavioral responses to specific patterns of stimulation in the environment

Question 5

releaser

Answer 5

the stimulus that elicits the behavior

Question 6

circadian rhythms

Answer 6

daily cycles of behavior

Question 7

habituation

Answer 7

is one of the simplest learning patterns, involving the suppression of the normal startle responses to stimuli

Question 8

classical conditioning (pavlovian)

Answer 8

involves the association of a normally autonomic or visceral response with an environmental stimulus

Question 9

pseudoconditioning

Answer 9

is a phenomenon which can be confused with true classical conditioning. The so called “neutral” stimulus is able to elicit the response even before conditioning, and hence is not really a neutral stimulus

Question 10

positive reinforcement

Answer 10

includes providing food, light, or electrical stimulation of the animal’s brain “pleasure centers”

Question 11

negative reinforcement

Answer 11

involves stimulating the brain’s pleasure centers. Links a certain behavior to the ceasation of an aversive stimulus

Question 12

punishment

Answer 12

involves conditioning an organism so that it will stop exhibiting a given behavior pattern. After, the organism is less likely to repeat the behavioral response

Question 13

extinction

Answer 13

is the gradual elimination of conditioned responses in the absence of reinforcement, ie the “unlearning” of the response pattern

Question 14

stimulus generalization

Answer 14

is the ability of a conditioned organism to respond to stimuli which are similar, but not identical, to the original conditioned stimulus

Question 15

stimulus discrimination

Answer 15

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

Question 16

stimulus generalization gradient

Answer 16

is established after the organism has been conditioned, whereby stimuli further and further away from the original conditioned stimulus elicit responses with decreasing magnitude

Question 17

imprinting

Answer 17

is a process in which environmental patterns or objects presented to a developing organism during a brief “critical period” in early life, become accepted permanently as an element of their behavioral environment, ie “stamped in” and included in an animal’s behavioral response

Question 18

critical periods

Answer 18

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

Question 19

intraspecific interactions

Answer 19

are interactions that occur as a means of communication between members of a species

Question 20

reproductive displays

Answer 20

are specific behaviors found in all animals including humans. Many animals have evolved a variety of complex actions that function as signals in preparation for mating

Question 21

agonistic displays

Answer 21

are such things as dog’s display of appeasement when it wags its tail or the dog’s antagonistic behavior when it directs its face straight and raises its body

Question 22

territoriality

Answer 22

serves the adaptive function of distributing members of the species so that the environmental resources are not depleted in a small region; furthermore, intraspecific competition is reduced

Question 23

pheromones

Answer 23

animals secrete this substance that influence the behavior of other members of the same species

Question 24

releaser pheromones

Answer 24

trigger a reversible behavioral change in the recipient. For example, sex attractant pheromones, but also, releaser pheromones are secreted as alarm and toxic defensive substances

Question 25

primer pheromones

Answer 25

produce long term behavioral and physiological alterations in recipient animals. They regulate role determination and reproductive capabilities