E3 Innate And Learned Behaviour

Assessment Statements Obj

E31 Distinguish between innate and learned behaviour 2

E32 Design investigations to investigate innate behaviour in invertebrates including either a taxis or kinesis 3

E33 Analyse data from invertebrate behaviour experiments in terms of the effect on chances of survival and reproduction 3

E34 Discuss how the process of learning can improve the chance of survival 3

E35 Outline Pavlovrsquos experiments into conditioning of dogs 2

E36 Outline the role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong in young birds 2

Assessment statements from Online IB Biology Subject GuideCommand terms httpi-biologynetibdpbiocommand-terms

Behaviour The behaviour of an animal is the ways in which it reacts and relates to stimuli and the environment

Innate Behaviour Learned BehaviourInstinctive (Fixed Action Patterns) ndash

genetically based Based on experience

Not modified by the individual Modified by the individual by trial and error

Generally uniform low variation in population High variation within the population

Unaffected by environment (in the individual) Highly affected by the environment

Beneficial behaviours evolve through natural selection survival and reproduction

Capacity to learn may be product of natural selection rather than specific behaviours

ExamplesSuckling instinct in newborns

Migration of blackcapsHunting instincts

Examples Acquisition of language amp social skillsDomesticated behaviour in petsTraining dolphins to perform

Learning for SurvivalInnate behaviours can only be modified as a result of natural selection taking many generations Learning allows for behaviours to be modified by the individual in response to the environment giving a survival advantage

Many behaviours have an innate component such as birds learning birdsong which can then be modified by learning

Associative learning through classical conditioning pairs stimulus with response Animals can be conditioned to accordingly to positive stimuli (such as mate calls) and negative stimuli (such as danger)

With operant conditioning positive behaviours are rewarded (eg more food for foraging in one area) where negative are punished (eg pain as a result of dangerous actions)

Observation can be used as a method of learning as can imprinting learning which occurs at key periods of development and susceptibility to learning

Human children learn by lsquoMoney See Monkey Dorsquo Chimps donrsquot By Carl Zimmer

httpwwwnytimescom20051213science13essahtml_r=0

httpvimeocom5371237

How do you learn TOK Think of instances of learning in your own life To which of the following methods of learning might you attribute them bull Classical conditioningbull Operant conditioningbull Imprintingbull Observation imitation

If we think of learning as a lsquorelatively permanent change in behaviourrsquo can you think of examples of behaviours or responses you have unlearned Why

How might the role of the following affect your learning in a subject bull Feedbackbull Gradesbull Demonstrations or labsbull Discussion

Classically conditioning a human

Use operant conditioning on yourself ndash try the virtual skinner box above to

determine what the desired behaviours are in levels 1 2 and 3

This is a Creative Commons presentation It may be linked and embedded but not sold or re-hosted

Please consider a donation to charity via Biology4GoodClick here for more information about Biology4Good charity donations

IBiologyStephen