Exam 1 Lecture 3 Flashcards
non-functional behavior
Behavior that does not seem to affect reproductive success
but does not harm it significantly.
functional behavior
Actions that support survival and reproduction, ultimately
ensuring the passing of genes to the next generation.
dysfunctional behavior
Behaviors that hinder an organism’s ability to survive or
reproduce, often due to neurophysiological damage or maladaptive evolutionary traits.
what can cause dysfunctional behavior?
When the nervous system is damaged or atypical for the species, damage to a neurophysiological pathology can lead to behavior that is not adaptive or suitable for the organism’s natural environment. ex: difficulty getting food or avoiding predators
What lags behind which evolution or environment?
Evolution lags behind changes in the environment, leading to a mismatch in an organism’s traits and its current ecological conditions. ex: Humans evolved to crave sugary and fatty foods because they were rare and beneficial in our ancestral environment, but today they are abundant and not healthy. humans also evolved to store food in times of famine but today that leads to obesity and health issues
Why do we eat candy bars over fruit?
Because long ago there were no candy bars and therefore no excess sugar in our diet. Today we have evolved to tolerate that sugar, and therefore we eat it.
Do species with long life spans evolve slowly or quickly? short life spans?
Species with long lifespans (humans) evolve slowly meaning maladaptive traits take longer to leave the gene pool; species with shorter lifespans (flies and rodents) evolve quickly.
Is a behavior predisposed by genes or determined by genes?
predisposed
What is the EEA?
Environment of Evolutionary Adaptation
The EEA refers to the environment in which human ancestors
evolved over the last several hundred thousand years.
How are eyeglasses an example of beneficial environmental change?
Eyeglasses, which were not common until a couple of
hundred years ago. In the past, poor vision would have been
detrimental, but today, eyeglasses are part of the ecological
niche that enables people with poor vision to function in
society. this trait emerged quickly in response to recent envrionmental changes
which is selected out more quickly mildly dysfunctional traits or highly dysfunctional traits
Traits that are mildly dysfunctional may persist for many
generations before being eliminated, while highly dysfunctional traits are more likely to be selected out quickly.
Rodent behavior experiment
First Phase: A rodent enters a compartment, where an electrical
shock is given after crossing a threshold.
Phase Transition: When the gate is closed, the shock is turned off, and
the rodent is allowed to move without further shock.
Rodent’s Reaction: The rodent initially runs into the shock zone but continues to repeat this behavior despite the new
environment offering no shock.
This is an example of vicious circle behavior where the
rodent continues a harmful behavior learned early on, unable
to adapt to new conditions.
vicious circle behavior
A term used to describe an individual’s inability to break from
a harmful behavior due to past reinforcement, even when
new conditions should offer a better alternative.
Why in the rodent behavior experiment did the animal not learn?
Early-phase learning (the shock phase) interferes with the
animal's ability to learn new contingencies.
generational environmental change
Behavior that once worked is no longer effective when the
environment changes across generations.This reflects the challenge of inherited behaviors.
Sickle cell anemia pros and cons
Sickle Cell Anemia is caused by a recessive gene that
distorts red blood cells into a sickle shape.This condition is detrimental.
The same gene responsible for sickle cell anemia provides protection against malaria when only one copy of the gene is present. (2 copies leads to sickle cell) this is an example of a genetic trade off
intra-generational environmental change
Behavior that worked in the past no longer works within a
single generation when the environment shifts.
can anything be done about sickle cell anemia?
Recent advances in treatment (such as drugs for sickle cell anemia) show that genetic traits, like sickle
cell anemia, are not strictly deterministic.Medications can alter the outcome of a genetic condition, showing the interaction between genes and the environment.
genetic predisposition
Genes influence traits but do not strictly determine them.They interact with the environment to shape phenotypes.
genetic determinism
The belief that genes solely determine traits is incorrect; the
interaction between genes and the environment plays a
crucial role in shaping behavior and health outcomes.
what happens when beneficial traits are not recognized?
Sometimes, beneficial traits are not recognized, leading to
dysfunctional behavior or the lack of appreciation for certain
advantages.
Moles and their lack of vision is considered dysfunctional—what is the benefit to having this dysfunctional trait?
Moles have eyes but lack the red noise that sends messages to the brain.
Given their underground habitat, vision is not particularly
useful, though it might still offer some advantage depending
on the soil.
Despite the lack of vision, they have developed specialized tactical systems, including whiskers, which allow them to navigate and process their environment more
effectively.
The brain area responsible for processing visual stimuli in other
species has been repurposed in these moles for tactile stimuli,
indicating an adaptation to their specific environment.
Our trait of encouraging persistence when faced with challenges has its benefits, but what are some maladaptive examples of having this trait?
In casinos, the slot machine design encourages
gamblers to continue playing by presenting nearly
winning combinations (e.g., two cherries and a bell).
The close call creates an illusion that success is imminent, prompting further attempts.
This phenomenon also occurs in pigeons, which show
similar behavior when presented with nearly successful patterns.
What can cause an environmental shift?
Environmental shifts, such as changes in climate, predator-
prey dynamics, or the availability of resources, can lead to
behavioral adaptations that may no longer be as effective in
new environments.
