Principles of behavioural development

Question 1

what are Tinbergen’s 4 questions

Answer 1

-mechanism/causation
-Ontogeny/development
-adaptive value/function
-phylogeny/ evolution

Question 2

what does mechanism/causation refer to

Answer 2

What causes the behaviour right now

Question 3

what does ontogeny/development

Answer 3

How does the behaviour develop in the individual

Question 4

what is adaptive value/function

Answer 4

The function or adaptive value of the behaviour

Question 5

what does phylogeny/evolution

Answer 5

Evolutionary history of the behaviour across species

Question 6

define maturation

Answer 6

Changes in behaviour due to physical changes in neural and muscular systems e.g. baby crawl to walk

Question 7

evidence of maturation in gulls (Hailman 1969)

Answer 7

Increased pecking accuracy in first two days
- Improvement even in dark-reared chicks indicates - improvement is due to maturation not learning

Question 8

evidence of maturation in mouse

Answer 8

Fox- identified periods of time in which different behaviours developed because of maturation in physiology.

Question 9

what happens when maturation is delayed

Answer 9

behaviour is delayed

Question 10

define plasticity

Answer 10

the ability of the organism to alter its phenotype in response to environmental input.

Question 11

what is plasticity dependent on

Answer 11

natural selection, and is dependent on genes.

Question 12

what does plasticity allow

Answer 12

the same genotype to produce different environments .

Question 13

what is a false dichotomy

Answer 13

Deep seated tendency to divide into bio/psych, nature/nurture, genes/environment

Question 14

what are the different types of plasticity

Answer 14

• Developmental induction
• Imprinting (filial, sexual)
• Learning - discrimination and generalization

Question 15

what is developmental induction

Answer 15

Path is decided early in life dependent upon something within the environment

Question 16

example of developmental induction

Answer 16

locusts
Best grouping behaviour depends upon local population density
Two morphs (solitary, gregarious)
Which morph develops depends on number of collisions in early life

Question 17

what is filial imprinting

Answer 17

• For some species it is important to be able to identify caregiver asap
  -caregivers will look different from one generation to the next
  Solution - A plastic mechanism solves this – Imprint on whatever moving object is around you in the first 36hrs of life e.g. Lorenz - goslings

Question 18

what is sexual imprinting

Answer 18

Individuals vary - not helpful to have one fixed idea of a good mate

Question 19

example of sexual imprinting in birds

Answer 19

Mannikins choose a mate with crest when parents shared the same crest but not if parent did not

Question 20

what is learning - discrimination

Answer 20

Narrowing the range of stimuli that elicit a response

Question 20

example of sexual imprinting in humans

Answer 20

• Observers most likely to match photo of woman to father rather than husband - may suggest using father as a template for mate choice

Question 21

example of learning- discrimination

Answer 21

• 4-6 month infants: respond to subtle phonetic (=sound) differences between syllables in unfamiliar languages and own language
• 10–12 months: discrimination narrowed with experience: responds differently only to different sounds commonly used in own language

Question 22

define learning- generalisation

Answer 22

Broadening the range of stimuli that elicit a response

Question 23

example of generalisation in polecats

Answer 23

Polecats attack a stationary rat only after experience with a moving rat

Question 24

example of generalisation in frogs

Answer 24

- Aposematism- coloration/markings serving as a warning - Areas without experience of frogs - attacked all -Areas with experience - willing to eat plain frogs but not patterned - generalised that all coloured or patterned frogs posed a danger

Question 25

what is genetic assimiliation

Answer 25

where learned behaviours gradually become entrenched through genetic evolution

Question 26

situations with minimal requirements for learning

Answer 26

Early, short life span, lack of flexibility required

Question 27

situations not important for learning

Answer 27

Later, long life, requires flexibility to environment

Question 28

what is a sensitive period

Answer 28

Some early experiences must occur within a time window to influence development e.g. imprinting in ducks required in few days

Question 29

sensitive period in language development

Answer 29

Sensitive period for first exposure to language, in order for it to develop normally - Up to age of 6 After this, ability declines

Question 30

what are the causes of sensitive periods

Answer 30

synaptic pruning brain circuity is plastic in childhood

Question 31

what is synaptic pruning

Answer 31

process of synapse elimination that occurs between early childhood and the onset of puberty in many mammals, including humans

Question 32

example of brain circuity in childhood

Answer 32

capability of removing left hemisphere and language abilities can recover

Question 33

what are the functions of sensitive periods

Answer 33

Synaptic pruning - After acquisition save metabolic cost by reducing neural tissue - Adult brain uses 20% of the body’s energy -Infant brain uses 60% of the body’s energy

Question 34

what are epigenetics

Answer 34

change in organism caused by modification or gene expression rather than alteration of genetic code

Question 35

what is channelling

Answer 35

- Possible routes for development are increasingly constrained over time

Question 36

what is self regulation

Answer 36

Modifying behaviour to compensate for environmental change

Question 37

example of self regulation in rats

Answer 37

-rats show comparable weights until one group is malnourished. -Their weight initially drops, and when they are then given access to food they increase their eating until they reach their optimum weight again

Question 38

example of self regulation in kittens

Answer 38

- Early weaning (by removal from mother) increases later play in kittens Compensating for loss of social contact

Question 39

define equifinality

Answer 39

Many developmental routes to the same end (mechanisms: plasticity, self-regulation)

Question 40

Principles of development applied to birdsong

Answer 40

- Predisposition - neural template - Experience - infant hearing song and adult hears themselves - Plasticity - only recognise sounds close to own - Sensitive period - song must be heard in first few months Equifinality - many patterns of experiencing produce the normal song