Brain and behavior

neurotransmission

“passage, crossing, send, let through” synaptic transmission

5-HT

serotonin

NA

noradrenaline or norepinephrine

ACh

acetylcholine

DA

dopamine

hormones

chemical substances, formed in a specialized gland or group of cells, released into the blood that affect target cells in another organ

neurotransmitters

substances released by neurons that are received by adjacent neurons and alter their membrane potential

pheromones

substances released by an individual as scent signals for another

physiological effects of hormones

reproduction, pair-bonding, aggression, hunger/thirst drives, metabolism

anatomical substrate

cellular and molecular setting

physiological substrate

organs and systems

innate behavior

fixed action pattern, inflexible, genetically programed

learned behavior

behavior that is more or less permanently altered

innate behavior terminology

heritable, intrinsic, stereotypic, inflexible, consummate

heritable

encoded in DNA and passed from generation to generation

intrinsic

present in animals raised in isolation from others

sterotypic

performed in the same way each time by each individual

inflexible

not modified by development or experience

consummate

fully developed or expressed at first performance

supernormal stimuli

given a choice, animals respond to a larger stimuli over a normalized stimulus. Pitfalls

learned behavior

non-heritable, extrinsic, permutable, adaptable, progressive

non-heritable

acquired only through observation or experience

extrinsic

absent in animals raised in isolation from others

permutable

pattern or sequence may change over time

adaptable

capable of modification to suit changing conditions

progressive

subject to improvement or refinement through practice

kinesis

muscle activity or locomotive function, patterns of action, and movement

reactivity

how the animal responds as the first line of defense or how it responds to some challenges

defensive/aggressive behavior

to protect resources food/mates/offspring, including territories, from other animals

sound

a signal that can reach many animals over a large area

chemicals

pheromones

sight

the “waggle dance” in bees, ruffle feathers, show teeth

touch

grooming

territory

an area that is occupied by one animal or a group of animals that do not allow other members of the same species to enter

biological clock

migration, hibernation, estivation

social behavior

the interaction among animals of the same species

communication

to find food, to warn others of danger, to identify family members, to frighten predators, to find mates