Download A.4A.6 notes (2)

Option A.4
Innate & Learned
Behavior
Innate Behavior
• Genetically programmed (Inherited) behavior that
develops independently of previous experience in
the environment.
o Helps species survive pressures of natural selection
o Examples: Spinning webs or building a nest
Learned Behavior
• Behavior that develops based on environmental
experiences and is not genetically programmed.
o Process of gaining new knowledge or skills
o Developed through trial and error
o Individuals can show variation
Reflex conditioning
• Learning to associate one stimulus with another
previously unrelated stimulus
• Pavlov (classical conditioning)
o
o
o
o
Unconditioned stimulus: food
Unconditioned response: salivation
Conditioned stimulus: ringing bell
Conditioned response: Salivation due to bell ringing
Pavlov’s Classical
Conditioning
Learning and Inheritance
in Birdsong
• Species specific behavior used by male birds to
attract females for mates
• Innately know how to sing the song of their species
• Young birds only sing a rudimentary version
• Young birds learn to sing better by listening to older
birds
• This is both innate and learned behavior
Imprinting behavior
• Combination of learned and innate behavior
• Learning that occurs at a specific programmed
time or stage of development
• Learning is rapid
Operant Conditioning
• A form of learning which consists of trial and error
• Uses positive and negative reinforcement
Operant Conditioning
• Skinner Box
• Used to test both operant and classical
conditioning
Learning
• The acquisition of skill or knowledge
• Changes can occur throughout a lifetime
• Degree of learning dependent on
o Longevity
o Neural capacity
• Walking
• Talking
• Playing an instrument
Memory
• The process of encoding, storing and accessing
information
• Memory higher order function
• Encoding process of converting information into a
form in which it can be stored by the brain
• Accessing
o Short term memory
o Long term memory
• Different parts of the brain have a role in encoding,
storage and accessing memory
Taxis & Kinesis
• Taxis: directional movement
o Chemotaxis
o phototaxis
• Kinesis: Non directional response to stimuli
Reflexes
• Animals sense and respond to stimuli in order to
maintain homeostasis
• Automatic and involuntary
• A typical reflex response involves the following:
o 1. receptors detect the presence of stimuli
o 2. sensory neurons send impulses (action potentials) to
relay neurons in the CNS
o 3. Relay neurons send messages from the sensory neuron to
the motor neuron
o 4. Motor neurons send impulses (action potentials) to the
muscle cells to contract
Pain Reflex Arc
Pain receptors
• Cells detect the pain
• Message is sent to the sensory neuron
• Sensory neuron sends the message to the relay
neuron in the spinal cord
o Grey matter: consists mainly of dendrites of neurons
o White matter: consists mainly of axons of neurons
o Dorsal root: composed of sensory neurons entering the
spinal cord (afferent)
o Ventral root: composed of motor neurons leaving the
spinal cord (efferent)
Option A.6
Ethology
Ethology
• Is the study of animal behaviors in natural conditions
• Natural selection can change the frequency of
observed behaviors
• Select behaviors help survival while others can be
lost
• Best to do research in an animals natural habitat as
behavior will change when in captivity
Animal response due to
Natural Selection
Animal
Behavior response
Evolutionary advantage
European Blackcap bird
Migratory pattern
• Shorter distance to
travel
• Warmer weather
• More food availability
California Garter snake
Foraging behavior
(new food source)
• Ability to inhabit new
niche
• High protein
provided by eating
banana slugs
Altruism
• Behavior in which one helps another with no
apparent benefit to oneself.
o Unselfish behavior
o Kin Selection (helping closely related individuals)
• Honeybees
• Naked mole rats
• Vampire bats
• Defending the heard
• Surrogate Cows et.