Download Behaviour

Behaviour
A2 Revision
OCR Options module
Mammalian
Physiology and
Behaviour
Learning Outcomes
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explain, with reference to their biological
significance, what is meant by innate
behaviour, instinct and reflex action.
describe one example of a reflex action.
explain that some behaviour can be
interpreted in terms of stereotyped,
automatic responses, and that these can
be modified by environmental stimuli.
behaviour
A2 MPB Revision
Learning Outcomes
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outline the methods and conclusions of the
classic experiments to investigate the
nature of learned behaviour, with
reference to
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the work of Pavlov on classical conditioning,
the work of Skinner on operant conditioning
the work of Kohler on intelligent behaviour in
chimpanzees (insight learning)
behaviour
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Introduction to behaviour
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BEHAVIOUR
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The way organisms respond to the environment,
which enables them to survive and seek out
favourable environments.
Innate – instinctive, automatic trigger
Learned – memory retains information and
modifies response
behaviour
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Glossary
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Ethology
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Psychology
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Study of behaviour
Natural behaviour of animals in their natural environment
Controlled conditions in a lab
Interested in how animals learned new patterns of
behaviour
Behaviouralism
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Study of behavioural events involving stimuli and
response
behaviour
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Nature
vs
“genes”
Nurture
“experiences
during lifetime”
ethologists
Psychologists
behaviouralists
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Innate behaviour (instinctive)
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“Pattern of inherited, pre-set behaviour
that does not require learning or practice”
Examples
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Sign stimulus – digger wasp
Dragon fly
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Nymph crawls out pond, Drags itself up plant stem
Attaches feet firmly, hangs on as skin splits
As emerges, hangs downwards, twists upwards and
grabs stem, rest as wings expand and dry.
behaviour
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Reflex action
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“a relatively rapid, automatic response to
a stimulus”
A reflex arc
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Stretch stimulus
Receptor detects stimulus
Action potentials along sensory neurone
Motor neurone carries action potential to
effector
Effector brings about response (muscle
contraction)
behaviour
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Stereotyped behaviour
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Innate behaviour is often characterised as
being stereotyped.
Examples
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Female ichneumon fly and choice of
caterpillars
Chicks of laughing gulls
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Learned Behaviour
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“behaviour which is acquired and
modified in response to experience”
Habituation
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Learn to ignore stimuli because it is not followed
by reward or punishment
Associative learning
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Association of two or more stimuli
Conditioned reflex (Pavlov),
operant conditioning (skinner)
behaviour
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Learned behaviour
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Latent learning
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Store information while exploring the
environment, and uses it sometime later
Examples – insight learning (Kohler)
Imprinting
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Fixed and not easily adapted
E.g. Lorenz and newly hatched geese
behaviour
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Classical Conditioning
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An example of associative learning is
Pavlov’s dogs
Features of a conditioned reflex
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Association of two stimuli presented together
A temporary condition
Response is involuntary
It is reinforced by repetition
Removal of cerebral cortex causes loss of
response
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Pavlov’s dogs
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Dogs associate sound of the bell with the arrival of
food.
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Unconditioned stimulus
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Conditioned stimulus
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Taste or smell of food
New stimulus (sound of bell) that dog associates with
food
Conditioned reflex
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Whole reflex in response to the new stimulus
behaviour
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Operant Conditioning
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Animal learns to carry out a behaviour that
makes something good happen
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Pavlov’s dogs learned more than intended
Skinner
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Skinner Box – a cage containing a bar or a key
Animals associated behaviour with a reward or
to avoid something unpleasant
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Adaptive value of conditioning
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Associative learning is where behaviour
changes so that the reinforcer is achieved
more often
Learning
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A process which manifests itself by adaptive
changes in individual behaviour as a result of
experience
Example – a young bird “learns” to avoid yellow
and black following an unpleasant experience.
behaviour
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Insight Learning
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Kohler, “the mentality of apes”
Results of experiments indicates relatively
“intelligent” animals
Show
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Inspiration
Reasoning in animals brains
Work out how a pattern of behaviour might
solve a problem
Similar to human problem solving
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Insight Learning
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Problems
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Experiments can not be repeated
Amusing “anecdotes”
Was it by chance
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