Animal Behavior: Learning, Conditioning & Development (Lectures 5–6)

What is ethology?

The study of animal behavior.

What is instinct?

An inherent inclination of a living organism towards a particular behavior.

What is learning?

A process through which experience changes an individual's behavior.

Can learning and instinct influence each other?

Yes, learning can influence instinct and vice versa.

What is habituation?

The waning of a response after repeated presentation of a stimulus.

What is an example of habituation in animals?

A clamworm partially emerges from its tube to filter food but withdraws when sensing danger.

What is the 'Dear Enemy Effect'?

Territorial species reduce aggressive responses toward familiar neighbors but respond aggressively to unfamiliar intruders.

What is classical conditioning?

A type of associative learning where an animal makes an association between two stimuli.

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior learning.

What is operant conditioning?

A form of associative learning where behavior is modified by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.

What is a reinforcer?

A stimulus that increases the probability that an animal will repeat its behavior.

What is shaping in operant conditioning?

A technique where successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced.

What is latent learning?

Learning that occurs without any obvious reward and is not immediately reflected in behavior.

What is vicarious learning?

Learning that occurs by observing the experiences of others.

What is social learning?

Learning that occurs through observing and interacting with other individuals.

What is goal-directed emulation?

Learning from observation to achieve a goal without copying the exact actions of the demonstrator.

What is imitation in learning?

When an observer copies exactly what a demonstrator does.

What is the adaptive value of social learning?

It saves time and energy that might be wasted as an individual learns through trial and error.

What is heritability in the context of learning?

The capacity to learn is heritable and subject to natural selection.

How do species differ in learning ability?

Different species exhibit varying capacities for learning based on their ecological needs.

What evidence suggests cognitive abilities in animals?

Tool use, insight, detours, and understanding abstract concepts like self-awareness.

What is the 'mark test'?

A test to determine if an animal recognizes itself in a mirror.

What are the costs of learning?

Costs include complexity, space limitations, and energetic expenditure.

What is the significance of the human brain's energy consumption?

The human brain is 2% of body weight but consumes 15% of cardiac output and 20% of metabolic budget.

What are the four main types of questions about behavioral development?

1. How does genetic makeup interact with the internal and external environment? 2. How do the nervous and endocrine systems influence behavioral development? 3. How do visual, auditory, or social stimuli affect the development of behaviors? 4. Are early experiences important?

What role do genes play in development?

Genes influence development by determining cell fate based on cell position.

How does the environment affect behavioral development?

The environment plays a role through phenotypic plasticity and reaction norms.

What is the primary control of behavior?

Behavior is primarily controlled by the nervous system.

What happens to neural circuits when a behavior disappears?

Neural circuits can be dismantled or permanently altered.

What is metamorphosis in the context of behavior?

Metamorphosis entails dramatic changes in morphology and behavior, controlled by the nervous system.

Can neural circuitry be modified?

Yes, the disappearance of a behavior may not dismantle its neural circuitry but modify it for other behaviors.

How does prenatal exposure to androgens affect developing animals?

Prenatal exposure to hormones can permanently alter morphology, physiology, and behavior.

What is temperature-dependent sex determination?

In some species, like leopard geckos, environmental temperature during embryonic development determines sex.

What types of play are important for normal behavioral development?

Types of play include social play, locomotor play, and object play.

Do adults engage in play?

Yes, some adults, like dogs and wolves, engage in spontaneous play.

What is a sensitive period in development?

A sensitive period is a time when certain experiences have a greater influence on development than at other stages.

How do sensitive periods differ among species?

Sensitive periods differ in duration, onset, and termination among species, individuals, and systems.

What is Lorenz's imprinting experiment?

Goslings follow the first moving object encountered after hatching, which can be a human, demonstrating learned attachment.

What is sexual imprinting in birds?

Sexual imprinting occurs when early experiences with parents influence sexual preferences in adulthood.

What is developmental homeostasis?

Developmental homeostasis is the ability of individuals to develop normally despite different physical and social conditions.

How does play contribute to behavioral development?

Play improves physical condition, develops social skills and bonds, and helps maintain cognitive skills.

What factors cause the onset of sensitivity during sensitive periods?

Both endogenous (internal) factors, like hormone levels, and exogenous (external) factors interact to start sensitive periods.

What is the significance of maternal attachment?

Maternal attachment requires contact with offspring during sensitive periods immediately after birth.

What behaviors are observed in maternal rats?

Normal maternal behaviors include retrieval, nest building, and hovering.

What is the impact of isolation on primate social behavior?

Isolation can affect adult social behavior, as seen in experiments with infant monkeys.

What is the role of experience in behavioral development?

Experience, including play and social interactions, is vital for normal behavioral development.

What are the implications of behavioral changes during development?

Behavioral changes can arise from development, hormones, and experiences, demonstrating the interaction of various factors.