ch 15- animal behaviour Flashcards
reflex arcs
controlled by a neural circuit
simple reflex- most rapid, stimulus to CNS, synapse with efferent motor neurons travel from CNS to muscle
complex reflex- slower, peripheral nerves separated by interneuron
fixed action patterns
Hardwired actions initiated by a specific stimulus (releaser or sign stimuli) and are considered the simplest form of an instinct.
Once initiated, they will continue to completion even if the stimulus is removed during the behavior.
Leads to predictable and appropriate behaviors that do not need to be learned. (E.g., goose rolling egg back into nest, male insects attacking red bellied males). Fixed action patterns are not flexible or adaptable.
imprinting
An innate way that animals learn
behaviors that will NEVER be forgotten. Occurs
during the critical period or critical imprinting
stage (E.g., ducklings treating a moving object as
their mother & following it).
learned behaviours
INCREASE animals fitness
adapting to unexpected events
stimulus generalization gradient
The more a
stimulus differs from the original
conditioned stimulus, the smaller the
conditioned response
operant conditioning
Learning to associate a
behavior with a reward (increases behavior) or a
punishment (decreases behavior).
what increases stimulus response efficiency
Associative learning: Learning that two things
are connected to each other. Increases stimulus
response efficiency. Can be forgotten
(extinction) or remembered via re-association
(recovery)
spacial learning
assocating response with specific location
spontaneous recovery
stimulusis absent for period of time and reintroduced allowing behavoiur to occur
observational learning
Learning by
watching another animal perform the same
behavior.
The animal learns WITHOUT
reinforcement and INCREASES EFFICIENCY
insight
Learning in a new situation. NO
reinforcement required.
what are the types of non associative learning
sensitization - stimulus occurs more, response increases
habituation- decreasing response due to repetitive meaningless stimulus
kinesis
Changing speed in random directions -
no target (Favorable environment → reduce
speed; Unfavorable environment → increase
speed). E.g., flatworm escaping when exposed to
light.
taxis
Movement with a specific direction,
towards (positive taxis) or away (negative taxis)
from a stimulus. Light stimulus is phototaxis;
chemical stimulus is chemotaxis.
migration
Long-distance movement from one
area to another due to instinct, often seasonal.
releaser and primer phermones
releaser- immediate and reversible
primer- long term behaviours
