1. A2 Revision OCR Options module Mammalian Physiology and Behaviour

2. Learning Outcomes
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
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3. Learning Outcomes
outline the methods and conclusions of the classic experiments to investigate the nature of learned behaviour, with reference to
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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4. Introduction to behaviour
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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5. Glossary Ethology Psychology Behaviouralism Study of behaviour
Natural behaviour of animals in their natural environment
Psychology
Controlled conditions in a lab
Interested in how animals learned new patterns of behaviour
Behaviouralism
Study of behavioural events involving stimuli and response
behaviour
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6. “experiences during lifetime”
Nature vs Nurture
“genes”
ethologists
“experiences during lifetime”
Psychologists
behaviouralists
behaviour
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7. Innate behaviour (instinctive)
“Pattern of inherited, pre-set behaviour that does not require learning or practice”
Examples
Sign stimulus – digger wasp
Dragon fly
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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8. Reflex action “a relatively rapid, automatic response to a stimulus”
A reflex arc
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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9. Stereotyped behaviour
Innate behaviour is often characterised as being stereotyped.
Examples
Female ichneumon fly and choice of caterpillars
Chicks of laughing gulls
behaviour
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10. Learned Behaviour
“behaviour which is acquired and modified in response to experience”
Habituation
Learn to ignore stimuli because it is not followed by reward or punishment
Associative learning
Association of two or more stimuli
Conditioned reflex (Pavlov),
operant conditioning (skinner)
behaviour
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11. Learned behaviour Latent learning Imprinting
Store information while exploring the environment, and uses it sometime later
Examples – insight learning (Kohler)
Imprinting
Fixed and not easily adapted
E.g. Lorenz and newly hatched geese
behaviour
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12. Classical Conditioning
An example of associative learning is Pavlov’s dogs
Features of a conditioned reflex
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
behaviour
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13. Pavlov’s dogs
Dogs associate sound of the bell with the arrival of food.
Unconditioned stimulus
Taste or smell of food
Conditioned stimulus
New stimulus (sound of bell) that dog associates with food
Conditioned reflex
Whole reflex in response to the new stimulus
behaviour
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14. Operant Conditioning
Animal learns to carry out a behaviour that makes something good happen
Pavlov’s dogs learned more than intended
Skinner
Skinner Box – a cage containing a bar or a key
Animals associated behaviour with a reward or to avoid something unpleasant
behaviour
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15. Adaptive value of conditioning
Associative learning is where behaviour changes so that the reinforcer is achieved more often
Learning
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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16. Insight Learning Kohler, “the mentality of apes”
Results of experiments indicates relatively “intelligent” animals
Show
Inspiration
Reasoning in animals brains
Work out how a pattern of behaviour might solve a problem
Similar to human problem solving
behaviour
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17. Insight Learning Problems Experiments can not be repeated
Amusing “anecdotes”
Was it by chance
behaviour
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