ANS104: Midterm 2

what is appetitive behavior?

• comes first, active, flexible, searching behaviors

• can increase learned behaviors

• can look similar brtween motivational states: food, mate, nesting site searching all look similar but are motivated by different states

what is consumatory behavior?

• comes 2nd, unlearnt, species typical, motivation-typical

• species-specific movement: ex how animals drink water

the purpose of the optimal foraging theory is to…

maximize fitness

what is optimality modeling?

weighing the costs and benefits of each behavioral decision; using mathematical equations

what is optimal strategy?

• behavioral choice that maximizes the difference between (benefit-cost)

  • maximizes fitness

ruminants evolved to fill a specific niche? how?

• they’re able to use low quality feed (grasses, shrubs)

• gather it

• then lie down while ruminating

do domesticated animal forage optimally? what is an example?

• yes

• horses select patches of grass with more reward per bite

consumatory behaviors are severly redued when…

feed is restricted

what behavioral problems can occur from hunger in broiler chickens?

• abnormal pecking behavior

• polydipsia

• heightened fear response

• aggression among males

why feed restrict in broiler chickens? what are some consequences if we don’t?

• excessive obesity

• metabolic disorder

• excessive ovarian growth

what is optimal foraging theory?

choices about food that where benefits > costs

what are some benefits that come with optimal foraging?

• calories

• sensory feedback

• gathering information about the environment

what are some costs that come with optimal foraging?

• predation risk

• time and energy taken to find food (appetitive)

• time taken to consume food (consummatory)

motivation is an…

internal state

an internal state can vary in…

magnitude. it can be stronger or nonexistent

what is motivation?

• describes mechanisms within an individual that direct the individuals behavior towards a goal

• determines reactivity to external stimuli

• explains changes in behavior

what is the role of internal stimuli in animals?

• stimuli from inside the animal

• physiological disruption to homeostasis, hormones, internal clock

what is the role of external stimuli in animals?

• stimuli from outside the animal

• detected by sensory organs (eyes, nose, touch receptors, ears, tastebuds)

what is the vomernasal organ?

an organ that plays a role in processing pheromones associated w/ sex and estrus detection

what protein turns the vomernasal organ on?

TRP2 protein

TRP2 protein expression is controlled by…

a single gene

what happens when a male mouse doesn’t express the TRP2 protein?

it can’t process the external input (male pheromones) for fighting other males

how does positive feedback affect behavior?

initially causes the animal to perform the behavior w/ greater frequency/intensity

how does negative feedback affect behavior?

causes the animal to perform the behavior less often/with less intensity

what are the three sequences within a motivational system?

• appetitive behavior

• consumatory

• functional consequences

what are functional consequences?

the goal/outcome of performing a consumatory behavior

what are abnormal behaviors?

deviating from what is normal or usual

what are the five questions to consider if a behavior is abnormal?

1. is the behavior only in captivity?

2. if seen in the wild as well as captivity, is the behavior performed in inappropriate circumstances or performed excessively?

3. does the behavior involve self-injury, affect social interactions, or have deleterious consequences on growth or repro

4. does the behavior induce signs of distress in the animal or its companions?

5. is the behavior seen only in a subset of individuals?

what is abnormal repetitive behavior?

• not seen in the wild

• often pathological

• involves repetitions

what is stereotypic behavior?

• abnormal repetitive behaviors that stem from frustration, CNS dysfunction, and attempts to cope

what are the 3 causes of stereotypic behavior?

• sustained elicitation (frustration)

• disinhibition (changes in CNS)

• reinforcement (trying to cope)

what is sustained elicitation (frustration)?

the animal is experiencing something they find frustrating repeatedly, causing the behavior on a regular basis

what is disinhibition (changes in CNS)?

the animal responds to questions in cognitive tests w/ repetitive answers (perservation)?

what is reinforcement (trying to cope)?

animal experiences something positive as a direct consequence of performing the abnormal behavior

stereotypies are often controlled by…

the ganglia motor system

what is recurrent persevation?

• randomness and responses

• innapropriate rpetition of responses

what are mantra effects?

normal repetitive behaviors that can be calming (like meditation)

stereotypies can become…

incurable as the animal ages

what is the subset of abornal behaviors called?

abnormal repetitive behaviors

are the three causes of stereotypic behaviors mutually exclusive?

no