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What is behavior?

An observable, coordinated response to
an environmental stimulus

Behavior can be seen in all Kingdoms;
 Plants can respond to a change in light by
growing in a different direction
 Fungi respond to limited resources by
producing spores
 Bacteria can move towards a source of
carbon dioxide
Are behaviors genetically based?

Genes code for proteins – how may
proteins relate to behaviors?
Protein Receptors

Proteins on the surface of cells interact
with the environment in a number of
ways.
 Photoreceptors – produce a chemical
response to light
 Thigmoreceptors – usually attached to a
cilia, produce chemical response to touch or
movement.
 Chemoreceptors – produce a chemical
response to a chemical stimulus
Animals
Have organs like eyes and ears made
up of specialized cells with these protein
receptors.
 These organs are integrated with the
rest of the body by the nervous and
endocrine (hormone) system.

Instincts
Certain stimuli – called “sign stimuli”
cause the same response, regardless of
how many times the organism
experiences the stimulus.
 These responses that occur without
learning are called INSTINCTS.
 Generally, the response that is produced
is called a FIXED-ACTION PATTERN.
This is a response that requires no
feedback from the environment.

Examples of Instincts

All Mammals (including humans) –
 Suckling – the response to a nipple by a
newborn

Cats – burying their waste
Learned Behavior
Learning is unique to animals
 Learning is when a behavior is changed as
a result of processing and integrating
experiences from the environment.

Types of Learned Behaviors

Imprinting – described by Konrad
Lorenz; a time-dependent learning
triggered by the exposure of sign stimuli
during a sensitive period when the
animal is young.
Classical Conditioning
Described by Ivan Pavlov; the
association of a novel stimulus with
something that will cause an instinctual
response.
 Pavlov’s dogs were taught to salivate at
the sound of a bell by ringing a bell
every time they were presented with
food. Eventually the food was removed
but salivation still occurred.

Operant Conditioning

An animal learns to associate a
voluntary activity with its consequences.
Communication

Communication is a combination of
instinctual and learned behaviors. You
have the ability to communicate with
facial expressions as a newborn, but
you must learn language.
Types of Displays

Threat display – unambiguous
announcement that a signaler is
planning on attacking.
Courtship Display

A ritualized display, often based on
behaviors valued by the species (nest
making, strength, etc), that are used to
attract a mate.
Tactile Display

A signaler touches the receiver in a
ritualized way.
Evolutionary Basis of Behavior

Many behaviors increase the individual’s
chance of surviving. One type that is
difficult to understand is Altruistic
behavior.
 Self-sacrificing behavior for the benefit of
others despite lowering the likelihood of
one’s own reproductive success.