Chapter 3: Genetics, Learning, Development

Question 1

Reflexes

Answer 1

Innate involuntary stimulus response (stimulus driven)

Question 2

Examples of reflexes in human adults:

Answer 2

breathing
shivering
eyeblink
hand withdrawal
startled response
knee jerk
salivation

Question 3

Routing and suckling

infant reflex

Answer 3

for breastfeeding, as soon as roof of mouth is touched baby starts sucking

Question 4

Babinski reflex

Answer 4

Stroke bottom of foot, to sprawl out and then go back in (motor sensory)

Question 5

Startle reflex

infant reflex

Answer 5

scared=throw arms out wide, neck stretch

Question 6

Palmar Grasp

infant reflex

Answer 6

stroke inside of their palm, hand will close around

Question 7

Stepping

infant reflex

Answer 7

when put weight on feet, legs will move in walking-motion

Question 8

Tonic Neck reflex

infant reflex

Answer 8

turn head to side, arm will stretch out

Question 9

Fixed Action Patterns

Answer 9

More complex coordinated patterns of instinctive behavior

Question 10

Examples of Fixed Action Patterns:

Answer 10

Grooming behavior –cats/rabbits lick hand and move to areas where mouth cannot reach
Nest building –occurs in rodents, mothers will know how to build nest without being taught
Swimming –shown coordinated muscle movements
Rage response in cats –spike their back up
Sleep circling –dogs circle before nestling down to sleep

Question 11

Stereotyped

1/4 properties of Fixed Action Patterns

Answer 11

Fixed nature of response

Similar expression across individuals and time, specifically within a species/genus

Question 12

Independence from immediate external control

2/4 properties of Fixed Action Patterns

Answer 12

Sequence of muscular contractions comprising a fixed action pattern occurs
irrespective of changes in external conditions (external environment does not have any impact)

Once the fixed action pattern is initiated, it will continue until completion
regardless of whether the external environment has changed

Behaviours not classified as fixed action patterns if directed by external conditions

Question 13

Spontaneous

3/4 properties of Fixed Action Patterns

Answer 13

Responds due to internal factors as well as stimuli

Fluctuations in the threshold of a fixed action pattern occurring are independent
of changes in external conditions (maturation/hormones, etc.)

Longer it has been, the more likely they will perform behaviour at any given time

Question 14

Independence from individual learning

4/4 properties of Fixed Action Patterns

Answer 14

Many instinctive behavioural patterns occur without any opportunity to learn them

Fluctuations in environmental conditions during development do not alter the
fixed action pattern, assuming the organism is healthy

Question 15

Whitney (1969)

mice vocalization

Answer 15

Squeaking in mice is an example of a simple trait governed by a single dominant gene

C57 mice rarely vocalize whereas JK mice 2/3 (67%) vocalize
- When C57 & JK mated (F1), 56% vocalizing (reduction from JK alone)
o Breed this (F1) with C57 –26%
o Breed this (F1) with JK –62%
o F2 (intermediate) –46%

Single dominant gene controlling vocalization

Question 16

Van Abeelen (1967)
(dancing mice)

Answer 16

Dancing in mice is an example of a simple trait governed by a single recessive gene

Waltzer mice (male and female) observed to dance (100%), Normal mice do not dance 
-	Breed normal with Waltzer mice (F1) --none dance (0%)
o	Breed two of these (F1xF1) =27% dancing 

Single recessive gene

Question 17

Lagerspetz (1964)

aggression

Answer 17

Male mice are selectively bred for aggression over 7 gen.

• Aggressive males and sisters of aggressive males were mated =more aggressive
• Lower line selected against aggression (less aggressive individuals)

Question 18

DeFries (1978)

exploration

Answer 18

Tendency to explore can be amplified or minimized thru breeding in successive generations of mice

• Box: can stay by edges or go into middle out in the open
• Trade off: new food sources, but unprotected in the open
• Can mate 2 mice that have high exploration rate –increase time in the open in new generations

Question 19

Plomin (1994)

twins

Answer 19

Twin comparisons b/w monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins on several traits
Concordance b/w behaviour/personality traits with 100% or 50% of the same genetics

Question 20

Tellegen (1988)

twin comparisons

Answer 20

Twin comparisons between monozygotic and dizygotic twins on several traits combined with being raised either together or apart (put up for adoption)
- Looking at environment
- MZA=monozygotic twins raised apart; MZT=raised together
o Achievement very different, traditionalism similar
o Social potency: interact/play with others –mono higher than dizygotic

Question 21

R-Selected Species

Answer 21

Produce large quantities of offspring but invest very little in them
- Insects, fish, small mammals

Question 22

K-Selected Species

Answer 22

Invest heavily in small number of offspring
- Humans, apex predators, large animals
Learning greatest in K-selection species

Question 23

Habituation

Answer 23

repeated exposure to a stimulus tends to lead to reduce responses to that stimulus

Question 24

Sensitization

Answer 24

when repeated exposure to stimulus produces enhanced responses to the stimulus

Question 25

Classical Conditioning

Answer 25

When a neutral stimulus (CS) is repeatedly paired with a stimulus (US) that elicits a response (UR), the neutral stimulus can come to elicit or response (CR) on its own

Question 26

Positive

Answer 26

stimulus introduced following a response

Question 27

Negative

Answer 27

stimulus withdrawn following a response

Question 28

Reinforcement

Answer 28

consequence that causes the frequency of a response to increase

Question 29

Punishment

Answer 29

consequence that causes the frequency of a response to decrease

Question 30

Extinction

Answer 30

if a response is no longer followed by a consequence, the frequency of that response will decrease until it eventually no longer occurs

Question 31

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 31

Response followed by introduction of an appetitive (positive) stimulus
Frequency of response will increase

Question 32

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 32

Response followed by withdrawal of an aversive (negative) stimulus (remove something bad)
Frequency of response will increase

Question 33

Positive Punishment

Answer 33

Response followed by introduction of an aversive stimulus (electric shock)
Frequency of response will decrease

Question 34

Negative Punishment

Answer 34

Response followed by withdrawal of an appetitive stimulus

Frequency of response will decrease

Question 35

Mice experiment explaining conditioning may not override fixed action patterns

Answer 35

Mice can learn to avoid foot shock by running to other side of cage when light predicts shock (run away from light)
Mice will run to safety when light is behind them
Mice will not run towards light when it is above safe zone (will not run towards stimuli to avoid danger)

Question 36

Breland & Breland (1961)

raccoons/pigs

Answer 36

Attempted to train raccoons & pigs to deposit coin into piggy bank

• Raccoons would constantly rub coins despite no reinforcement to do so (do the same with food innately)
• Pigs would constantly drop coin and “root” despite no reinforcement to do so (do this to find their food underground)
• Genetic behaviours so strong cannot be overridden by learning

Question 37

Vicarious Learning

Answer 37

Include social learning (imitation, observation & learning)

Question 38

Incentives/Disincentives

Answer 38

Does not require direct experience with rewards and punishments
A cognitive representation of potential rewards and punishments can motivate