learning Flashcards
what does learning exclude
changes with time due to
- maturation
- changes in motivation
Which of the following are true of Charnov’s 1976 marginal value theorem?
I. The theorem computes the value of field margins
II. The theorem assumes that an animal maximises its net rate of obtaining energy
III. The theorem predicts when animals should leave patches
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. I and II
e. II and III
c
behaviour is learnt if…
it changes as a result of experience
define innate behaviour
behaviours which do not change as a result of experience
what did behaviorism have to say about learning
everything in the mind was the result of associative learning
if the optimal response is the same in every generation then the behaviour is ______
innate
2 types of associative learning
- classical conditioning
2. operant conditioning
define classical conditioning
animals learn to respond to particular stimuli after experiencing the world around them.
what is operant conditioning also called
‘trail and error’ learning
operant conditioning definition
animals learn to respond to particular stimuli after experiencing the consequences of their actions
conclusion to Bonnie’s experiment
Chimps can and do learn arbitrary conventions from the dominant female in their group
social learning definition
learn by copying others
insight learning
learn through understanding (insight)
behaviour is _____ or _______ in response to environmental cues
innate
controlled by hormones
optimal response to a stimulus may vary predictably with an environmental cue
environmental cue such as day length or the lunar cycle
if behaviour varies due to environmental cue then behaviour is controlled proximally by ______
hormones triggered by an environmental cue
give an example of behaviour triggered by hormones
onset of breeding in birds and horseshoe crabs
does the optimal response to a stimulus vary within or between generations?
yes- only be acquired by learning them
associative learning definition
They learn to associate responses with particular stimuli e.g. food and smell
crocodiles use _____ for hunting
tools e.g. sticks
conclusion to kreb’s experiment
- Great tits sample longer the more similar the reward rates in the two food dispensers.
- The longer the birds are going to forage, the longer they spend sampling before exploiting the better food dispenser.
bonnie’s experiment
2 groups of chimps
- each dominant female was taught to either post a token in a pipe to obtain a banana or Post a token in a letter box to obtain a banana
what did the elephant do to get food out- of- reach overhead?
moved plastic cube into position, stood on it, and obtained the food
insight learning
oystercatchers and their food
social learning
The offspring developed the same skill as their foster parent. So the skill is learnt from the parents.
adults specialise variously in shore crabs or earthworms or mussels
what did female crow do when faced with a straight wire and food at bottom of bucket
bent wire to make a hook
Two optimal foraging hypotheses as to what birds might do:-
- Immediate maximizing.
Birds assume patch reward rates constant during the experiment and maximise total intake during their time in the aviary. So they should sample the feeders first, then exploit whichever is better.
krebs experiment
great tits tested one at a time in an aviary containing two food dispensers paying out on random schedules.
techniques of hunting e.g. . humpback whales whacking water with fluke to concentrate prey prior to bubble feeding is which sort of learning
social
conclusion of krebs experiment
spend time hopping then stop and chose most profitable food dispenser
