sensing , responding and learning Flashcards
stimulus elicited behaviour
involuntary and relatively immediate consequence of sensory stimulation
response to a stimulus
eliciting stimulus
any stimulus that is effective at evoking a particular behavioural response
animals do things by
contracting their muscles and move their bodies - examples of motor behaviours
behaviours must be
initiated in some way
how are behaviours initiated
internally initiated behaviour
stimulus elicited behaviour
internally initiated
by something happening within the nervous system - act of will - voluntary
reflex
stimulus elicited behaviour elicited by proximal stimulation
involuntary response to an eliciting stimulus
example of reflex
pupillary light reflex - pupils dilate in responses ti a decrease in light levels and constrict a response to an increase
autonomic reflex
one mediated by the ANS
controls smooth muscles , glands and cardiac muscle
skeletomotor reflex
not autonomic - involves miles that move the skeleton
what distinguishes a reflex from other types of stimulus elicited behaviour
it depends on the type of stimulus - proximal and distal
proximal stimulus
energy that stimulates sensory receptors
eg light energy stimulating receptors in the eye
distal stimulus
objects , events , states of affairs in the world
a perceived object are the sources
eg- mechanical forces distort tissues
The NS does not need to
identify , recognise or obtain any info about a distal
if the behaviour response is elicited by a distal stimulus
then the behaviour is NOT a REFLEX
two basic roles that stimulus can play in the elicitation of behavioural responses
releasing mode of elicitation
driving mode of elicitation
releasing mode of elicitation
the stimulus TRIGGERS the response in a discrete fashion- response is stored beforehand and the stimulus releases it
driving mode of elicitation
the stimulus DRIVES the response in a continuous fashion
stimulus released responses are independent of
independent of the intensity - response is the same size regardless of strength
driving mode strong -
strong/ intense = large response
size of response is dependent of the strength
driven mode duration
if the eliciting stimulus persists the resins persists
driving mode amplitude
if the eliciting stimulus is intense/ strong , response is larger
variation driving mode
if the eliciting stimulus strength increases and decreases response vigour increases and decreases
releasing mode size of response
all or nothing principle
