Foraging Lecture Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is foraging?
The act of searching for resources
What is foraging?
The act of searching for resources
Foraging is a fundamental behavior observed in many species as they seek food and other resources necessary for survival.
What is prey selection in foraging?
Accept-reject decision: pursue or not after encountering a prey item
This decision-making process is crucial for optimizing energy expenditure and maximizing rewards.
What does patch foraging refer to?
Stay-switch decision: stay in patch or travel to a new patch
It involves deciding whether to continue exploiting a resource patch or to search for new ones.
What is an example of a foraging optimization problem?
Maximizing a reward in relation to a negative variable (e.g., time, effort)
Animals often face trade-offs between the rewards they receive and the costs associated with obtaining them.
What is the difference between foreground options and background options in foraging?
Foreground options are immediate and directly available; background options are potential opportunities
This distinction is important in decision-making processes during foraging.
When was foraging theory created?
In the 1960s
Behavioral ecologists began integrating economic principles into their research on animal behavior.
What is adaptive fitness in the context of foraging?
The main driving influence in Darwinian evolution, behaving like any other economic good
It suggests animals aim to maximize their adaptive fitness through their foraging behavior.
Fill in the blank: The decision to stay in a current patch or switch to a new one is known as _______.
patch foraging
This aspect of foraging behavior is crucial for resource optimization.
What assumptions does marginal value theorem make?
Each patch type is recognised instantaneously, travel time between patches is known
Individual is assumed to control when it leaves the patch
What are some reputed functions of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex?
Thought to be related to calculating background estimates
Reward outcome monitoring and behavioural adjustments
Effort based decisions
What is dysfunction in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex linked with?
Maladaptive patterns of cognition including depression, addictions, OCD
What is the role of the dACC in foraging?
The foreground option goes through a footage phase
What is the neurophysiology of patch leaving?
dACC neurons responded each time monkeys made a choice; responses increased with time spent in the patch
Encodes the relative value of leaving a patch
What is dopamine?
A monoamine transmitter which carries chemical signals from one neuron to the next target cell
What is phasic dopamine?
Dopamine neurons fire extra spikes in brief episodes
What is phasic dopamine important for?
Fast learning
What is tonic dopamine?
Dopamine neurons in the midbrain usually fire spontaneously at low rates
What is tonic dopamine important for?
Representing background reward rates of the types used in foraging decisions
What does prey selection depend on?
The environment
When are participants less selective?
In poor environments
Suggests participants learn the value of their environments
Symmetric model of prey selection
Single learning rate
Asymmetric model of prey selection
Two learning rates
Better fit to choice data
What is the role of threat?
Threat makes us more sensitive to negative information
