DAT Biology Animal Behavior

reflexes

automatic responses to simple stimuli; recognized as reliable behavioral responses following a given environmental stimulus

simple reflex

reflex controlled at the spinal cord, connecting a two-neuron pathway from the receptor to the motor

afferent neuron (receptor)

a neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system

efferent neuron (motor)

a neuron that conducts impulses away from the CNS to muscles and glands

startle response

response to sudden strong stimulus like a loud noise

reticular activating system

system that integrates many neurons to control sleep-wake transitions and behavioral motivation

innate

inborn; natural

releaser

the stimulus that elicits a behavior

fixed-action patterns

complex, coordinated innate behavioral responses to specific patterns of stimulation in the environment; relatively unlikely to be modified by learning

circadian rhythms

daily cycles of behavior; dependent upon natural phases of light and dark

adaptive responses

learned behavior from interaction with the environment

habituation

learning pattern involving the suppression of the normal start response to stimuli; repeated stimulation results in decreased responsiveness to that stimulus

spontaneous recovery

the disappearance of habituation once a stimulus is no longer regularly applied

classical (Pavlovian)

conditioning in which a automatic response is associated with an environmental stimulus

conditioned reflex

An automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus.

arbitrary stimulus

stimulus whose characteristics do not normally invoke a certain response

unconditioned stimulus

in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits an unlearned, automatic response

unconditioned response

in classical conditioning, an unlearned, automatic response

conditioning

the establishment of a new reflex by the addition of a new, previously neutral stimulus to the set of stimuli that are already capable of triggering the response

operant conditioning (instrumental)

conditioning involving responses to stimuli with the use of reward or reinforcement

operant response

a response that operates on the environment to produce certain consequences

positive reinforcement

associates reward with performing a certain action

negative reinforcement

associates a reward with NOT performing a certain action

punishment

associates an unpleasant consequence with a behavior so that subject will avoid behavior

habit family hierarchy

organization of possible responses to a stimulus by probability of occurrence

extinction

the gradual elimination of conditioned responses in the absence of reinforcement; the unlearning of a response pattern

stimulus generalization

the ability of a conditioned organism to respond to stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to the original conditioned stimulus

stimulus discrimination

involves the ability of the learning organism to respond differentially to slightly different stimuli

stimulus generalization gradient

established after the organism has been conditioned, whereby stimuli further and further away from the original conditioned stimulus elicit responses with decreasing magnitude

imprinting

process in which environmental patters or objects presented to a developing organism during a brief critical period in early life become accepted permanently as an element of its behavioral environment

critical period

a specific time in development when certain skills or abilities are most easily learned

reproductive displays

specific behaviors that function as signals in preparation for mating

agonistic displays

any social behaviors related to fighting, including threats, retreats, placation, and conciliation

pheromones

chemicals secreted by animals that influence the behavior of other members of the same species

releaser pheromones

pheromones that automatically trigger a specific and reversible behavioral response, such as attraction, alarm, or defense

primer pheromones

pheromones that produce long-term behavioral and physiological alterations; such as role determination and reproductive capacities