Learning

Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs through experience. It is not behaviour that is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. It is voluntary behaviours and attitudes.

Learning Examples Intentional/active learning –Taking piano lessons Unintentional/passive learning –Listening to someone play the piano Immediate change –Your tennis coach shows you a new serve and you try it Delayed change –You watch a video about serving techniques and try it next time you play Undemonstrated change –Watch a serve technique but never have the opportunity to try it

Behaviours not dependent on learning

Reflex action Automatic and involuntary behaviour or response to a stimulus, which does not require any processing by the brain to occur. It is generally a single or simple response and improves our chance of survival. Reflexes often diminish with age. –Eg, the patella reflex occurs when we kick our foot in response to a tap on the knee.

Reflex action

Fixed-action patterns (FAP) An innate (inbuilt) complex sequence of behaviours that is specific to a particular species and generally relates to mating rituals. All members of the species are genetically programmed to produce an identical response to the same stimuli. Differs from a reflex as it involves a sequence of responses. Fixed-action patterns cannot be changed through learning. The higher-order the animal the less fixed-action patterns. –Eg, the courtship display of male pigeons involves strutting, with tail spread and dragging on the ground, neck fluffed and wings lowered.

Fixed-action patterns (FAP)

Behaviours due to maturation Behaviours that appear automatically at predictable times in the organism’s development (known as critical periods). These behaviours are attributed to physical growth and development rather than learning. The behaviours appear as the organism matures. –Eg, most human babies begin to “roll over” between two and five months of age.