Innate and learned behaviour

Nature of science:

Looking for patterns, trends and discrepancies—laboratory experiments and field investigations helped in the understanding of different types of behaviour and learning. (3.1)

• Innate behaviour is inherited from parents and so develops independently of the environment.
• Autonomic and involuntary responses are referred to as reflexes.
• Reflex arcs comprise the neurons that mediate reflexes.
• Reflex conditioning involves forming new associations.
• Learned behaviour develops as a result of experience.
• Imprinting is learning occurring at a particular life stage and is independent of the consequences of behaviour.
• Operant conditioning is a form of learning that consists of trial and error experiences.
• Learning is the acquisition of skill or knowledge.
• Memory is the process of encoding, storing and accessing information.

Applications and skills:

• Application: Withdrawal reflex of the hand from a painful stimulus.
• Application: Pavlov’s experiments into reflex conditioning in dogs.
• Application: The role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong.
• Skill: Analysis of data from invertebrate behaviour experiments in terms of the effect on chances of survival and reproduction.
• Skill: Drawing and labelling a diagram of a reflex arc for a pain withdrawal reflex.

• It is easy for us to guess how the behaviour of an animal might influence its chance of survival and reproduction. Is intuition a valid starting point for scientists?

Aims:

• Aim 7: Data logging using an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor to analyse neuromuscular reflexes.
• Aim 8: Experiments with animals—implications of today’s animal policies for experimental science in Pavlov’s experiments.

• Drawing of reflex arc should include the receptor cell, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron and effector.