lab vocab

Question 1

ethology

Answer 1

the study of proximate and ultimate causes of behavior

Question 2

instinct

Answer 2

a behavior that can be performed without prior experience

Question 3

fixed action pattern

Answer 3

an instinctive sequence of behavior that usually runs to completion once initiated

Question 4

sign stimulus (aka releaser)

Answer 4

a specific feature of a stimulus that is necessary in order to elicit a response

Question 5

innate releasing mechanism

Answer 5

the neural mechanism that enables the detection of the sign stimulus and the initiation of the fixed action pattern

Question 6

super stimulus

Answer 6

a stimulus that can elicit a stronger response than the stimulus for which it evolved

Question 7

gaba

Answer 7

inhibitory neurons: let more negative ions in. more negative and less likely to respond to stimuli. LES SENSITIVE

Question 8

glutamate

Answer 8

excitatory neurons: lets more positive ions in. More likely to generate electrical impulses. MORE SENSITIVE