SENSING&RESPONDING: behaviour change & learning

Question 1

define behavioural potential

Answer 1

a change in behaviour where performance after experience is better than before

Question 2

give 4 reasons why reflex behaviours change

Answer 2

• body injury / muscle fatigue
• change in physical fitness
• internal state / mood
• learning

Question 3

give 2 reasons for decline in vigour of behaviour

Answer 3

• fatigue
• learning

Question 4

define reflex threshold

Answer 4

the lowest strength of the eliciting stimulus that is capable of reliably eliciting the response

Question 5

define reflex habituation

Answer 5

reduced responsiveness of a reflex due to repeated elicitation of a response
- raises threshold

Question 6

define long term habituation

Answer 6

a learning process that produces effects that last for days or months

Question 7

define synaptic depression

Answer 7

reduction of synaptic strength in habituation

Question 8

define synaptic facilitation

Answer 8

increase in the strength of synaptic connections
- sensory receptors are excited and action potentials are transmitted