Chapter 7

Genes

Influence behavior . It is inherited

Nervous System

Primary control of behavior development and changes.

Learned Behaviors

Cause neuron buildup in the brain.

The neural circuitry of the brain

The brain’s wiring—how it works and sends signals.

Caterpillar to Butterfly metamorphosis example

Behavior shifts from chewing to nectar sucking.

What happens to motor neurons controlling chewing and crawling after metamorphosis

since they are not needed again, they are lost during metamorphosis.

true/false : Hormones can affect behavioral patterns.

true

Morphological Changes example

New structures can alter feeding and locomotion.

Orinoco Crocodile

An example of size change shifts role from prey to predator.

Nest Temperature

Determines gender in many reptile species.

which androgens are released and also influencing the neural circuitry of the brain and how the animals perceive conspecifics.

Temperature will have a prenatal effect, affecting what

Zoo Enrichment

Improves animal adjustment and problem-solving skills.

Lack of enrichment leads to these behaviors.

Abnormal

Members of a species in a harsher environment will show

greater degree of territoriality as opposed to others

Feeding Strategies are changed based on

environmental conditions (seasons in black bears) and human influence

Bears alter feeding strategies with

Seasonal Changes

Social Factors

Influence behavior through status and competition.

Play Behavior

Voluntary activities linked to enjoyment and learning.

Attunement Play

A form of playing that connects newborns with their mothers.

Body Play

Exploration of body interactions with the environment.

Object Play

Playing with items to stimulate curiosity.

Social Play

Engaging with others through activities like wrestling.

Cognitive Benefits

Play enhances learning and perceptual abilities.

Physical Benefits

Play improves strength, coordination, and reaction time.

Play

Activity allowing practice of social skills, cognitive skills, and physical skills

Conspecifics

Members of the same species.

Communication Skills

Ability to send and read signals.

Social Bonds

Connections formed between individuals.

• This window is longer.

• If an animal doesn’t learn something during this time, it might still learn it later — just not as well.

• Learning is strongest and fastest during this period.

Sensitive period

the nervous system development is espoecially sensitive to certain sensory stimuli

The increased receptivity during sensitive periods is usually because

Behavioral Transformation

Change in behavior due to environmental stimuli.

Duration Variation

Sensitive periods differ across species and individuals.

Environmental Stimuli

External factors influencing behavior development.

Behavior Reversibility

Ability to alter behaviors learned during sensitive periods.

Deprivation Effects

Lack of stimuli can reverse learned behaviors.

Resilience of Learned Behaviors

Behaviors learned during sensitive periods are durable.

Timing of Sensitive Periods

Often occurs early in an organism's life.

Parental Learning

Learning from parents during early life stages.

Internal Factors

Hormonal and nervous changes initiating sensitive periods are an example of

External Factors

Environmental variables triggering sensitive periods.

Imprinting

Learning specific cues during a sensitive period.

Smoltification Period

Time when salmon imprint on stream odors.

Neuronal Networks

Connections in the nervous system for sensory processing.

Plasticity Decrease

Reduced adaptability of the nervous system over time.

Konrad Lorenz

Studied imprinting in greylag geese.

Filial Imprinting

Young animals follow and bond with their mother.

Sexual Imprinting

Learning mate characteristics from close relatives.

Maternal Attachment

Bond established between mother and offspring.

Precocial Young

Offspring able to walk shortly after birth (ungulates/hoofed mammals)

Maternal Responsiveness

Mother (NOT “BIRTHING PERSON”) displays care in presence of young. SHE is forming a bond with young

Maternal Selectivity

Mother directs care only to her own offspring.

Olfactory Information

Smell cues for maternal selectivity in ungulates.

Auditory Recognition

Sound cues for maternal attachment in seals.

Brood Care

Parental care for large numbers of offspring. Like certain insects and ants.

Cichlid Parental Care

Care for eggs and larvae in cichlid fish.

Substrate Brooders

Lay eggs on open surfaces like rocks.

Secretive Cave Brooders

Lay eggs in hidden cave environments.

Mouth Brooders

Care for young in the mouth.

Ovophile Mouth Brooders

Care for eggs in the mouth.

Larvophile Mouth Brooders

Care for larvae in the mouth.

Parental Roles

Different tasks for male and female parents.

Fry

Newly hatched fish or young offspring.

Imprinting on Young

Parents recognize offspring shortly after birth.

• coined by Lorenz

• It’s like a tiny window of time.

• If learning doesn’t happen during that time, the animal might never learn it at all.

• It’s very short, very specific.

• same in duration between species and within a species

Critical period