1. E.3.1 Distinguish between innate and learned behavior.
Innate behavior - an instinctive response that is developmentally fixed (i.e. independent of environmental context) Learned behavior – behavior that is modified by experience Innate or learned???

2. E.3.1 Distinguish between innate and learned behavior.

3. E.3.2 Design experiments to investigate innate behavior in invertebrates, including either a taxis or a kinesis.

4. E.3.2 Design experiments to investigate innate behavior in invertebrates, including either a taxis or a kinesis.
Here’s a good taxis experiment.
Euglena is a photosynthetic unicellular organism that requires light as a source of energy
Step 1: Place Euglena in a petri dish with appropriate environmental conditions
Step 2: Cover dish with aluminum foil, excluding a few small exposed sections
Step 3: With a light source placed above, Euglena should aggregate towards holes

5. E.3.2 Design experiments to investigate innate behavior in invertebrates, including either a taxis or a kinesis.
Kinesis is a change in activity rate in response to a stimulus
Woodlice have gills for respiration that will tend to dry out in dry conditions
Step 1: Place a woodlouse in a dry petri dish and mark its movements every 30 seconds
Step 2: Repeat for a second woodlouse placed in moist conditions
Step 3: Compare the rate of movement for the two woodlice (should be more in dry dish)

6. E.3.3 Analyze data from invertebrate behavior experiments in terms of the effect on chances of survival and reproduction.
The Euglena Experiment The Euglena should display positive phototaxis (movement towards light) Moving towards light will increase the rate of photosynthesis needed for energy production

7. E.3.3 Analyze data from invertebrate behavior experiments in terms of the effect on chances of survival and reproduction.
The Woodlice Experiment The woodlice should display more random movement (kinesis) in a dry environment. Woodlice are prone to dehydration (of gills) and will move faster and turn more to improve chances of leaving dry areas

8. E.3.4 Discuss how the process of learning can improve the chance of survival.
Learning involves acquiring information from past experiences to adapt to new situations
Organisms capable of learning can modify their behaviors in response to environmental change in order to survive
Example:
Animals learn how to avoid dangerous situations and predators
Goslings learn who their mother is (imprinting) and stay close to avoid predators

9. E.3.4 Discuss how the process of learning can improve the chance of survival.

10. E.3.5 Outline Pavlov’s experiments into conditioning of dogs.
Pavlov was a Russian Physiologist carrying out experiments on digestion.
When Pavlov presented food (UCS) to the dogs they salivated (UCR) in anticipation of being fed.
Next, Pavlov rang a bell (CS) each time he fed the dogs.
Then when Pavlov rang the bell only, the dogs began to salivate (CR).

11. E.3.5 Outline Pavlov’s experiments into conditioning of dogs.
Pavlov described this as a conditioned reflex, in other words the stimuli that produces the response has been changed.
In this example the reflex of salivation had the stimuli changed from the smell of food to the ringing of a bell.
This provides the animal with a flexible behavior which will allows the modification of the behavior which can improve survival chances

12. E.3.6 Outline the role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong in young birds.
Male birds use song as a means of communication whether singing to attract the attention of females or signaling their territorial boundaries.
Bird song has been studied to determine the role of genetics (inheritance) and the environment (learning) in the development of this important communication method by birds.
The study of bird song has a long history but was greatly advanced with the introduction of the sound spectrograph. might be drawn:
The sonograms produced allow analysis of song such that the following conclusions

13. E.3.6 Outline the role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong in young birds.
Bird song is species specific.
For a few birds the ability to sign the right song is completely inherited.
Most birds however are born with a ‘template song’ which is a crude version of the adult song
The immature bird hatches with a template song.
There are sensitive periods in which exposure to the adult song is required
There are silent ‘listening’ phases in the immature bird
Immature bird develops song through practice

14. E.4.1 State that some presynaptic neurons excite postsynaptic transmission and others inhibit postsynaptic transmission.
Presynaptic neurons release neurotransmitters into the synapse to create graded potentials in postsynaptic neurons Some presynaptic neurons generate excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) while others generate inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs)
If the combination of signals reaches a threshold level, an action potential will be generated in the postsynaptic neuron

15. E.4.2 Explain how decision-making in the CNS can result from the interaction between the activities of excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic neurons at synapses.
Decision making in the CNS involves the integration of multiple nerve impulses at various synaptic junctions Some presynaptic neurons are excitatory (cause depolarization) while others are inhibitory (cause hyperpolarization) Excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic neurons function by releasing different neurotransmitters The net effect of these signals are generally summative (either spatial or temporal) Summation can lead to the selection of alternative neuronal pathways in the frontal cortex of the brain involved in decision making processes

16. E.4.2 Explain how decision-making in the CNS can result from the interaction between the activities of excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic neurons at synapses.
Spatial Summation Different pre-synaptic neurons ‘add together’ their local depolarization's to reach threshold. In this example, a + b + c allows the neuron to be depolarized past the threshold.

17. E.4.2 Explain how decision-making in the CNS can result from the interaction between the activities of excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic neurons at synapses.
Temporal Summation The same pre-synaptic has a high frequency of action potentials arriving at the synapse. This sends a number of waves of neurotransmitter to depolarize the post synaptic membrane. The waves of depolarization are added together to reach threshold Notice that (a) the wave of depolarization comes from one neuron only

18. E.4.2 Explain how decision-making in the CNS can result from the interaction between the activities of excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic neurons at synapses.
Temporal Summation

19. E.4.2 Explain how decision-making in the CNS can result from the interaction between the activities of excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic neurons at synapses.

20. E.4.3 Explain how psychoactive drugs affect the brain and personality by either increasing or decreasing postsynaptic transmission.

21. E.4.3 Explain how psychoactive drugs affect the brain and personality by either increasing or decreasing postsynaptic transmission.

22. E.4.4 List three examples of excitatory and three examples of inhibitory psychoactive drugs.

23. E.4.5 Explain the effects of THC and cocaine in terms of their action at synapses in the brain.

24. E.4.5 Explain the effects of THC and cocaine in terms of their action at synapses in the brain.

25. E.4.6 Discuss the causes of addiction, including genetic predisposition, social factors and dopamine secretion.
Addiction - a dependence on a substance or activity resulting in its repeated and compulsive use
Stopping is very difficult and can cause severe physical and mental reactions (withdrawal symptoms)
There are many suggested causes for drug addiction, including:
genetic predisposition
social factors
dopamine secretion

26. E.4.6 Discuss the causes of addiction, including genetic predisposition, social factors and dopamine secretion.
Genetic Predisposition Predisposition may be determined by polygenic inheritance Environmental factors (such as social influences) will play a significant role

27. E.4.6 Discuss the causes of addiction, including genetic predisposition, social factors and dopamine secretion.
Socialand Psychosocial Factors
Individuals raised in environments with prevalent substance abuse (parental influence or peer pressure) are at a higher risk
Individuals who have been treated with neglect (child abuse) or suffered significant personal trauma are at a higher risk
Certain cultures have a higher incidence of addictions (may be genetic or due to demographic influences / marketing)
Addictive drug use can lead to lower work or school performance and encourage criminal behaviour to fund habit

28. E.4.6 Discuss the causes of addiction, including genetic predisposition, social factors and dopamine secretion.
Social and Psychosocial Factors
Individuals raised in environments with prevalent substance abuse (parental influence or peer pressure) are at a higher risk
Individuals who have been treated with neglect (child abuse) or suffered significant personal trauma are at a higher risk
Certain cultures have a higher incidence of addictions (may be genetic or due to demographic influences / marketing)
Addictive drug use can lead to lower work or school performance and encourage criminal behaviour to fund habit

29. E.4.6 Discuss the causes of addiction, including genetic predisposition, social factors and dopamine secretion.
Dopamine Secretion
Dopamine is released in response to reward (activates pleasure pathways of the brain)
Some drugs enhance dopamine activity (e.g. cocaine, heroin)
Abuse of drugs hypothesized to lead to down-regulation of dopamine receptors, requiring higher doses to achieve same effect (habituation)