biology chapter 13 Flashcards
reflexes
are simple, automatic responses to simple stimuli
simple reflex
is controlled at the spinal cord
complex reflex patterns
involve neural integration at a higher level– the brainstem or even the cerebrum
fixed action patterns
are complex, coordinated, innate behavioral responses to specific patterns of stimulation in the environment
releaser
the stimulus that elicits the behavior
circadian rhythms
daily cycles of behavior
habituation
is one of the simplest learning patterns, involving the suppression of the normal startle responses to stimuli
classical conditioning (pavlovian)
involves the association of a normally autonomic or visceral response with an environmental stimulus
pseudoconditioning
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
positive reinforcement
includes providing food, light, or electrical stimulation of the animal’s brain “pleasure centers”
negative reinforcement
involves stimulating the brain’s pleasure centers. Links a certain behavior to the ceasation of an aversive stimulus
punishment
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
extinction
is the gradual elimination of conditioned responses in the absence of reinforcement, ie the “unlearning” of the response pattern
stimulus generalization
is the ability of a conditioned organism to respond to stimuli which are similar, but not identical, to the original conditioned stimulus
stimulus discrimination
involves the ability of the learning organism to differentially respond to slightly different stimuli
stimulus generalization gradient
is established after the organism has been conditioned, whereby stimuli further and further away from the original conditioned stimulus elicit responses with decreasing magnitude
imprinting
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
critical periods
are specific time periods during an animal’s early development when it is physiologically able to develop specific behavioral patterns
intraspecific interactions
are interactions that occur as a means of communication between members of a species
reproductive displays
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
agonistic displays
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
territoriality
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
pheromones
animals secrete this substance that influence the behavior of other members of the same species
releaser pheromones
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
primer pheromones
produce long term behavioral and physiological alterations in recipient animals. They regulate role determination and reproductive capabilities
