Flashcards in biology chapter 13 Deck (25)
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1
reflexes
are simple, automatic responses to simple stimuli
2
simple reflex
is controlled at the spinal cord
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complex reflex patterns
involve neural integration at a higher level-- the brainstem or even the cerebrum
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fixed action patterns
are complex, coordinated, innate behavioral responses to specific patterns of stimulation in the environment
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releaser
the stimulus that elicits the behavior
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circadian rhythms
daily cycles of behavior
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habituation
is one of the simplest learning patterns, involving the suppression of the normal startle responses to stimuli
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classical conditioning (pavlovian)
involves the association of a normally autonomic or visceral response with an environmental stimulus
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pseudoconditioning
is a phenomenon which can be confused with true classical conditioning. The so called "neutral" stimulus is able to elicit the response even before conditioning, and hence is not really a neutral stimulus
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positive reinforcement
includes providing food, light, or electrical stimulation of the animal's brain "pleasure centers"
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negative reinforcement
involves stimulating the brain's pleasure centers. Links a certain behavior to the ceasation of an aversive stimulus
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punishment
involves conditioning an organism so that it will stop exhibiting a given behavior pattern. After, the organism is less likely to repeat the behavioral response
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extinction
is the gradual elimination of conditioned responses in the absence of reinforcement, ie the "unlearning" of the response pattern
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stimulus generalization
is the ability of a conditioned organism to respond to stimuli which are similar, but not identical, to the original conditioned stimulus
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stimulus discrimination
involves the ability of the learning organism to differentially respond to slightly different stimuli
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stimulus generalization gradient
is established after the organism has been conditioned, whereby stimuli further and further away from the original conditioned stimulus elicit responses with decreasing magnitude
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imprinting
is a process in which environmental patterns or objects presented to a developing organism during a brief "critical period" in early life, become accepted permanently as an element of their behavioral environment, ie "stamped in" and included in an animal's behavioral response
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critical periods
are specific time periods during an animal's early development when it is physiologically able to develop specific behavioral patterns
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intraspecific interactions
are interactions that occur as a means of communication between members of a species
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reproductive displays
are specific behaviors found in all animals including humans. Many animals have evolved a variety of complex actions that function as signals in preparation for mating
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agonistic displays
are such things as dog's display of appeasement when it wags its tail or the dog's antagonistic behavior when it directs its face straight and raises its body
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territoriality
serves the adaptive function of distributing members of the species so that the environmental resources are not depleted in a small region; furthermore, intraspecific competition is reduced
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pheromones
animals secrete this substance that influence the behavior of other members of the same species
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releaser pheromones
trigger a reversible behavioral change in the recipient. For example, sex attractant pheromones, but also, releaser pheromones are secreted as alarm and toxic defensive substances
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