Lecture 3: Instinct and Learning Flashcards
What is instinct?
A highly stereotyped behavior more complex than the simplest reflexes that appears in a fully functional form the first time it is performed; instinct is intelligent adaptive behavior.
What is instinct?
A highly stereotyped behavior more complex than the simplest reflexes that appears in a fully functional form the first time it is performed.
Is instinct purely genetic?
often thought to be but not necessarily there are definitely learned components though.
Instinct vs. Learning
no clear cut dichotomy but many instincts are modified by learning experiences; instinct involves the egg and goose experiment (See pg 9)
In Lorenz and Tinbergen’s experiment, what happened when the egg was removed after the goose extended its neck?
The goose performed same motion as though the egg was present.
In Lorenz and Tinbergen’s experiment, what happened when the egg was replaced with a rounded object such as a baseball of beer can?
The goose performed same motion as though the egg was present.
In Lorenz and Tinbergen’s experiment, when the goose was presented with the choice between its own egg and a volleyball, which did the goose prefer?
the volleyball
In Lorenz and Tinbergen’s experiment, what ultimately happened to foreign objects in the nest?
The goose later recognized and discarded items but this behavior is a separate program of behavior unit with its own special cues and motor responses.
What are the 4 components of instinct?
- FAP, 2. IRM 3. releaser as a sign of stimulus 4. supernormal stimuli
What is a FAP?
Fixed action pattern: innate and stereotyped coordination and patterning of several muscle movements which when released proceed to completion without requiring further sensory input. Ex) egg rolling response of goose
What is an IRM?
Innate releasing mechanism: innate and highly schematic filter (recognition threshold)
What is an IRM?
Innate releasing mechanism: innate and highly schematic filter (recognition threshold) which, when stimulated releases the FAP ex) goose has innate filter which automatically recognizes an egg like object
What is a releaser and what does it signify?
Releaser= sign stimulus; the feathers of a stimulus (ie. cues) required to trigger an innate releasing mechanism (which then produces a FAP) ex) rounded edges of round like object
What are supernormal stimuli?
Stimuli that are perceived as being of greater value (ie. larger or more potent than normal stimuli) For example, when the goose preferred larger egg like objects.
What is motivation?
Relatively short term ability of animals to switch their behavioral priorities
Give examples of short term behavioral changes.
hunger, thirst, fight/flight, circadian rhythms like sleep, mating
What are the 3 characteristics of mating?
- vigor may decrease, 2. strength or quality of releaser required for FAP which rises with repeated stimulation 3. strength or quality of releaser required to elicit FAP decreases with time in absence of stimulation
What are the 4 parts of Lorenz’s hydraulic model or motivation?
- motivational energy required 2. releaser 3. innate releasing mechanism 4. FAP
When is the FAP or consumatory response strongest in Lorenz’s hydraulic model of motivation? When would you get grace intensity?
When more liquid accumulates or when stimulus is strongest
What is drive?
relatively long term ability of animals to switch their behavioral priorities
What are some examples of long-term behavioral changes?
circannual rhythms, territoriality, food storage, hibernation, migration, fat storage, breeding, courtship,
What are the consequences of supernormal stimuli?
- Selection should favor genes promoting production of more potent releasers such as egg shaped thing
- selection should favor optimum quantity such as size or quality such as color that represents a balance between conflicting demands ie. more than one selective pressures that do not stand in line with each other (quality really matters!!)
(Review Pg 10-11)
What are some examples of supernormal stimuli?
bright colors, conspicuous ornaments, loud fancy songs, elaborate courtship displays, combat structures (used to withstand resistance).
What is a code breaker and an example of it?
Species which break the code of communication of another species and exploit their fixed action patters ie. rove beetle, cowbird,
Why did releasers evolve?
Many advantages (6 total) to having releasers and they continue adapting and evolving over time. (see pg. 11)
Taking advantage of supernormal stimuli of other species is a mark of what species?
Cowbird or any code breaker
Why do insects fly toward the light?
They think it is the moon.
How do hatchlings know how to be fed?
Hatch with two innate releasing mechanisms for pecking at food 1) red spot 2) horizontally moving vertical bar (bill)
When is a flower’s color learned?
during final seconds of approach before landing at food source.
Which is learned more quickly color or odor?
odor
When is odor learned?
only while at food
Taking advantage of supernormal stimuli of other species is a mark of what species?
Cowbird or any code breaker… ARE YOU AWAKE STILL? YOU NEED TO DO WELL SO YOU CAN BECOME A DENTIST!!!
When are landmarks learned?
only as they fly away from the food
-bees apparently relearn the landmarks around the hive each morning as they leave the hive.
What are the relative rates of sensory learning in bees?
odor, colors, landmarks, time
What are the 6 types of learning?
- habituation, 2. associative learning, 3. spatial learning, 4. imprinting, 5. observational learning 6. innovative learning and cultural transmission
What is habituation?
decline of a response resulting from the repeated occurrence of a specific stimulus without reinforcement
What is classical conditioning?
a form of associative learning; a normal
What is classical conditioning?
a form of associative learning; a normal response to a stimulus becomes associated with a new different stimulus, which elicits the conditional response.
Is a tiny roundworm 1mm long with only 302 neurons capable of associative learning?
yes it associates food with sodium or chloride ions in a solution of food.
What is operant conditioning?
Behaviors of animal rewarded or punished after performing a behavior discovered by chance.
What is spatial learning?
learning where objects are located in space
True or false. Sexual imprinting is irreversible if the available stimuli are controlled throughout the full length of critical period and no choice is offered until it is over.
True
True or false. In Zebra finches males are raised with closely related Bengalese Finches during entire critical period.
True
True or false. Imprinting of young by adults is more common among adults of social species.
True
What are the potential adaptations of sibling recognition?
Avoid aggressive encounters and avoid mating with closely related individuals.
What is observational learning?
Imitations of a behavior after observing another animal perform the behavior.
What is innovative learning and cultural transmission?
Behaviors learned to solve a unique problem and passed from one individual to another.
Innovative learning means behaviors learned to solve unique problems. How is it passed through generations?
I ASKED THIS QUESTION HORRIBLY BUT THE ANSWER IS: it is passed from one individual to another.
True or false. Young subdominant individuals seem more eager to experiment or innovate.
True
