Emory NBB 201: Exam 2
Darwin's "General Principles of Expression" - ANSWER-Evolution of behavior, emotion
and communication.
Behaviorism - ANSWER-Evolution and genes don't matter, learning does. Didn't
include: mechanisms, comparisons or natural environment
Behaviorism (vs Ethology) - ANSWER-Location: N America
Foundation: Psychology
Focus: white rat
Interest: learned behavior
Method: lab control of variables
Ethology (vs Behaviorism) - ANSWER-Location: Europe
Foundation: Zoology
Focus: birds, insects, fish
Interest: instinctive behavior
Method: field observations and experiments
Ethology - ANSWER-The systematic study of behavior of animals.
Proximate Cause - ANSWER-"How" explanation of behavior
1: Genetic-developmental causes
2: Sensory motor mechanisms
Ultimate Cause - ANSWER-"Why" explanation of behavior
1: Historical pathways
2: Selective pressures
Natural environment vs lab environment - ANSWER-Natural: causes bigger brains than
in the lab
Lab: even enriched environments cannot compare to the stimulation of the natural
environment
Tinbergen's 4 Why's - ANSWER-To fully understand behavior we need to ask Qs about
1: Function
2: Causation
3: Development
, 4: Phylogeny (evolutionary history)
Original Ideas of Ethology - ANSWER-A: Understand how behavior has evolved
B: Emphasis on inherited behavioral responses
C: Analysis fixed action patterns
Instinct - ANSWER-A behavioral patter that is fully functional from the first time it's
performed
Fixed Action Pattern - ANSWER-Unit of inherited behavior
- no learning is necessary
- once triggered, continues until completion even if inappropriate
- leads to refractory period
- requires releaser (sign stimulus)
- response threshold can change depending on conditions
- can change over time due to maturation and experience
Sign Stimulus/releaser - ANSWER-Activates a FAP
- can be simple features
- can be exaggerated (supernormal stimulus
Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM) - ANSWER-Biological mechanism for triggering a
FAP
- special neurosensory mechanism that releases the FAP and is responsible for
selectivity to a special combination of stimuli (the releasers)
Supernormal Stimulus - ANSWER-Exaggerated sign stimulus that elicits an
exaggerated response
Human Ethology: FAPs ex - ANSWER-Babies: rooting, grasping, babinski reflex, etc
Human Ethology: IRMs ex - ANSWER-Nucleus accumbens/mesolimbic dopamine
pathway: activated by cuteness, releases parental care
Human Ethology: Instincts ex - ANSWER-Universal facial expressions of emotion
(happiness, disgust, sadness, surprise, fear, anger, contempt) and natural smiling
Evidence for Universal Facial Expressions of Emotion - ANSWER-- Cross cultural (and
not attributable to exposure to western media)
- Congenitally blind people show them also
Natural (Duchenne) Smile Characteristics - ANSWER-- lip corners pulled up (zygomatic
major)
- muscles around the eye contract (orbicularis oculi)
- mediated by the basal ganglia (reptilian brain)
- may be instinctual/universal
Darwin's "General Principles of Expression" - ANSWER-Evolution of behavior, emotion
and communication.
Behaviorism - ANSWER-Evolution and genes don't matter, learning does. Didn't
include: mechanisms, comparisons or natural environment
Behaviorism (vs Ethology) - ANSWER-Location: N America
Foundation: Psychology
Focus: white rat
Interest: learned behavior
Method: lab control of variables
Ethology (vs Behaviorism) - ANSWER-Location: Europe
Foundation: Zoology
Focus: birds, insects, fish
Interest: instinctive behavior
Method: field observations and experiments
Ethology - ANSWER-The systematic study of behavior of animals.
Proximate Cause - ANSWER-"How" explanation of behavior
1: Genetic-developmental causes
2: Sensory motor mechanisms
Ultimate Cause - ANSWER-"Why" explanation of behavior
1: Historical pathways
2: Selective pressures
Natural environment vs lab environment - ANSWER-Natural: causes bigger brains than
in the lab
Lab: even enriched environments cannot compare to the stimulation of the natural
environment
Tinbergen's 4 Why's - ANSWER-To fully understand behavior we need to ask Qs about
1: Function
2: Causation
3: Development
, 4: Phylogeny (evolutionary history)
Original Ideas of Ethology - ANSWER-A: Understand how behavior has evolved
B: Emphasis on inherited behavioral responses
C: Analysis fixed action patterns
Instinct - ANSWER-A behavioral patter that is fully functional from the first time it's
performed
Fixed Action Pattern - ANSWER-Unit of inherited behavior
- no learning is necessary
- once triggered, continues until completion even if inappropriate
- leads to refractory period
- requires releaser (sign stimulus)
- response threshold can change depending on conditions
- can change over time due to maturation and experience
Sign Stimulus/releaser - ANSWER-Activates a FAP
- can be simple features
- can be exaggerated (supernormal stimulus
Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM) - ANSWER-Biological mechanism for triggering a
FAP
- special neurosensory mechanism that releases the FAP and is responsible for
selectivity to a special combination of stimuli (the releasers)
Supernormal Stimulus - ANSWER-Exaggerated sign stimulus that elicits an
exaggerated response
Human Ethology: FAPs ex - ANSWER-Babies: rooting, grasping, babinski reflex, etc
Human Ethology: IRMs ex - ANSWER-Nucleus accumbens/mesolimbic dopamine
pathway: activated by cuteness, releases parental care
Human Ethology: Instincts ex - ANSWER-Universal facial expressions of emotion
(happiness, disgust, sadness, surprise, fear, anger, contempt) and natural smiling
Evidence for Universal Facial Expressions of Emotion - ANSWER-- Cross cultural (and
not attributable to exposure to western media)
- Congenitally blind people show them also
Natural (Duchenne) Smile Characteristics - ANSWER-- lip corners pulled up (zygomatic
major)
- muscles around the eye contract (orbicularis oculi)
- mediated by the basal ganglia (reptilian brain)
- may be instinctual/universal
