Innate Behavior

Innate Behaviorn Innate Behavior definedn Four Criterian Types of Innate Behaviorn Reflexesn Fixed Action Patternsn Reflexes and FAPs: similarities and differencesn Innate and Learned Behavior in Balance

Innate Behaviorn Innate behavior: a behavior that is not learned.n Four criteria:n Unlearnedn Invariantn Universaln Adaptiven How do we show that a behavior is unlearned?

Two Types of Innate Behaviorn 1) Reflexes (S à R)n Specifically, US à URExamples of Innate ReflexesUSURAllergens............................ Bronchial Constriction/SneezeFood in Mouth................. SalivationSexual Stimulation........... Physical ArousalTemperature Extremes... Sweat / ShiverBright Light....................... Pupil Constriction

Two Types of Innate Behavior cont.n 2) Fixed Action Pattern (FAP): Specificsequence, or pattern, of behavior elicited by aspecific stimulus (“releaser,” or “sign stimulus”)n Stickleback fish (Tinbergen, 1951)n FAPs are neither intentional nor purposefuln Spiders and cocoon buildingn Greylag goose (Lorenz & Tinbergen, 1938)n “Motivational conditions” sometimes needed

Reflexes and FAPs: Similarities andn Similaritiesn Four criterian Specific stimulusn DifferencesDifferencesn Reflex: 1 actionFAP: More than 1 action / behaviorn Reflex: part of organismFAP: whole organismn FAPs in humans?

Balancing Innate and Learned Behaviorin NatureDo all organisms need the ability to learn in orderto survive?n Static vs. dynamic environmentsn The advantage of learningn The cost of learning

Effects of Repeated Stimulationn Habituationn Related Phenomenan Sensitizationn When habituation? When sensitization?n Dual Process Theory

Habituationn Habituation: a decrease in the strength of abehavior / responsen White noise; Intermittent weak stimulusn Adaptive:n Avoid sensory overloadn Keeps us open to new stimulin Stimulus-specific

Phenomena Related to Habituationn Spontaneous Recoveryn Recovery of a habituated response, after a breakn Need a reasonable amount of timen Retention of Habituation (Long-term Habituation)n Complete spontaneous recovery may not occurn Dishabituationn Recovery of habituated response after a newstimulus is presented

Habituation-related Phenomena cont.n What is common, and what is different (in terms ofprocedure and what is measured) between:n Spontaneous recovery and Dishabituation?n Common: measure amount of response to stimulusn Difference: Spontaneous recovery has span of time;Dishabituation presents a single novel stimulusn Procedures used to demonstrate stimulusspecificityof Habituation and Dishabituation?

Sensitizationn Sensitization: an increase in the strength of abehavior / responsen Annoying moviegoer; Gunfiren NOT stimulus-specific! The presentation of onestimulus may increase the response to anotherstimulus (dishabituation occurs)

When Habituation? When Sensitization?Dual Process Theoryn States that each stimulus presentation results in twoopposite processes, also called ‘Habituation’ and‘Sensitization.’ Any change in behavior is a netresult of these two processes.n Both Hab. and Sens. together (collectively) are adirect function of the frequency of stimulation.n Higher intensity à Sensitizationn Lower intensity à Habituationn Moderate intensity à Sensitization, then Habituation

When Habituation, when Sensitization?cont.Dual Process Theory cont.n Habituation is a continuous process: it continues toincrease with stimulus presentation; starts to decayonly after stimulus ceases.n Sensitization is a temporary process: it begins todecay while the stimulus is still being presented.

When Habituation, when Sensitization?cont.FrequencyStimulus Frequency and Intensityn Both are direct functions of stimulus frequencyIntensityn Sensitization: direct function of stimulus intensityn Habituation: inverse function of stimulus intensity