Psych 302 Unit 3

Front 1

Ethologists

Back 1

scientists who study how animals behave in their natural environments. usually in natural habitats

Front 2

Reflex

Back 2

a stereotyped pattern of movement reliably elicited by presenting a stimulus

Front 3

Spinal Arc Reflex

Back 3

stimulus-->sensory neuron-->interneuron--->muscle is stimulated.

Brain is NOT included.

stretch receptors continue to stimulate the motor neurons and muscle fibers until a muscle contraction is achieved.

Front 4

Tropism

Back 4

a movement or change in orientation of the entire animal

Front 5

Kineses

Back 5

direction of movement is random in relation to a stimulus.

wood louse seeking humidity

Front 6

Taxes

Back 6

direction of movement is determined by where the stimulus is coming from

maggot moves away from light

Front 7

Fixed Action Patterns (3 characteristics)

Back 7

1. all members of a species do it
2. behavior is not a result of prior learning
3. behaviors occur in rigid order even if inappropriate

Front 8

Sign Stimulus:

Back 8

specific to FAP, begins the FAP

Front 9

Reaction Chain

Back 9

progression from one behavior to the next depends on the presences of the appropriate external stimulus.

hermit crabs

Front 10

habituation

Back 10

a decrease in the strength of a response after a presentation of a stimulus that elicits the response

STIMULUS SPECIFIC (not just a loud sound, but something specific)

Front 11

how is habituation a good function for an animal to have?

Back 11

to be continually startled or distracted would be a waste of time and energy

Front 12

6 Principles of Habituation:

Back 12

1) Large decrease in response at first, then smaller decrements
2)Response recovers if stimulus is not presented for sometime.
3) habituation proceeds more rapidly in 2nd series.
4)Habituation proceeds more rapidly with weak stimuli and may never occur with an intense stimulus.
5)Overlearning (below-zero)= no observable response to stimuli
6) some generalization across similar stimuli

Front 13

Aplysia

Back 13

only a few thousand neurons
habituation was observed in gill withdrawal reflex
sensory neurons release less and less excitatory neurotransmitters.

=simple systems approach

Front 14

human universals

Back 14

found in human cultures throughout the world

Front 15

6 universal facial expressions:

Back 15

happy
sad
angry
scared
disgust
suprised